Quote from: Fubar on November 12, 2025, 08:31:09 AMPlus a patch war has once again broken out since not all unit patches have been reviewed by the heraldry nerds and since you can't wear OCPs without a unit patch and your unit patch has to have all the right colors not touching the wrong colors like two siblings fighting in the back of the sedan, parents are stuck trying figure out what they're supposed to do.

The patch thing is all sorts of weird too. 110-3 states units can continue to use non-compliant patches until they run out of stock.... so as far as OCPs go, which says the patches must be 110-3 compliant... which part of 110-3 do they need to comply with.  The design criteria, or can the old stock be used? 

Also, I know of a wing that basically redesigned all of their unit patches to be 110-3 compliant, but roughly 75% of the "approved" patches still aren't compliant, but wing approved them soooo how does that work when someone calls them out for wearing a "non-compliant approved" patch on the OCPs... Thought that's not so much an OCP problem as a wing not understanding the heraldry regs.

Quote from: Fubar on November 12, 2025, 08:31:09 AMThere is also a number of cases of squadron commanders banning the OCP uniforms from their units until everyone can get them because they don't want to have a mixture of ABUs and OCPs in formation. Commanders say the regs give them the authority to set the UOD, others say the regs say the UOD is the type (such as field) not the specific version of the uniform. Just wait until the new parents find out they're buying ABUs for their kids while the unit knows full well everyone will be switching in a month or two.

My unit is doing that as well to some degree. No one can wear the OCP until a class on how to wear them is provided, though there's no schedule as to when that class will take place.  There has been precedence set to not side with the commanders who are banning wear of the OCPs though.  There was an instance, I cant remember if it was a wing hosted course or a conference where someone was told that if they didn't wear a specific UOD to the activity they could not participate.  I think it was region or National that found out and said if the member shows up in a CAP uniform, they can participate regardless of the UOD so long as it doesn't present a safety issue for the activity.   So commanders banning the wear of an authorized uniform may not fly for long.

Its all a mess... as is every uniform transition. 

Brilliant PR move to announce killing the glider program as a note in the PROPS newsletter on the same day the OCP uniform was announced.

Quote from: Shuman 14 on November 06, 2025, 07:47:15 PMAlso a well written Change Letter, everything spelled out clearly, which patches where, and what can and cannot be worn, with pictures.

You'd think so, but people are already arguing over the "AUX" patch which some people purchased when the OCP design first leaked and they're slightly different than the version Vanguard sells. The reg doesn't define what an "AUX" patch is, so some feel by default it has to be what Vanguard sells since NHQ told them what it needed to look like, others claim the patch meets the requirements as spelled out (albeit vaguely) in the regulation.

There is also quite a bit of disagreement of what has to be sewn versus velcro, confusion among parents since the pictures in the ICL didn't match what the national commander wore in her wink-wink announcement video, and some feel the flight suit variation is authorized since it's part of the AFI that the ICL references. Plus a patch war has once again broken out since not all unit patches have been reviewed by the heraldry nerds and since you can't wear OCPs without a unit patch and your unit patch has to have all the right colors not touching the wrong colors like two siblings fighting in the back of the sedan, parents are stuck trying figure out what they're supposed to do.

There is also a number of cases of squadron commanders banning the OCP uniforms from their units until everyone can get them because they don't want to have a mixture of ABUs and OCPs in formation. Commanders say the regs give them the authority to set the UOD, others say the regs say the UOD is the type (such as field) not the specific version of the uniform. Just wait until the new parents find out they're buying ABUs for their kids while the unit knows full well everyone will be switching in a month or two.

So you know, it's a regular Tuesday in the Civil Air Patrol.

Quote from: CAPJOE on November 07, 2025, 07:59:26 AMOn the other hand, ever since I was in the service, over 35 years ago, I've always taken pride in my spit shined boots. Most of the time it's been relaxing to spend an hour or two doing them.

I've worn black combat boots since 1981. I'm on my THIRD set of jumpboots since 1986 and my second set of flight boots since 1987. I wore the rough-out boots from 2007 to 2013. Amazing move.

I'll miss my jumpboots and flight boots, sure. But only a little.

They have axed the glider program.   

QuoteLeaders,
After careful review and thoughtful deliberation, as well as evaluation and consultation with the Board of Governors, we have made the difficult decision to discontinue our national glider program.
This decision was not made lightly. Over the past eight months, the Glider Program Working Group conducted a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the program's maintenance, safety, instructor availability, fleet condition, and alignment with Civil Air Patrol's mission. We are thankful for the challenging work they did. While multiple options were considered to sustain operations, each would require significant additional resources, funding, and authority not currently available.
Our aging fleet, limited instructor pipeline, and increasing maintenance demands have made it clear the Civil Air Patrol Glider Program is no longer sustainable. Based on the data, the ability to reach less than 6% of cadets annually, and the costs to recapitalize, the most responsible course is an intentional, well-planned deactivation that preserves safety, honors the contributions of our members, and positions CAP to focus resources where they can have the greatest impact. To see a more detailed breakdown of the decision, click here for the executive summary of key factors.
We recognize how meaningful the glider program has been to many of our cadets, instructors, and volunteers. Your passion and dedication have inspired thousands of cadets to take flight, both literally and figuratively. We share your pride in what this program has achieved and the opportunities it has provided. More details about the transition timeline and next steps will be shared as the process begins. In the meantime, please continue to care for the assets as you normally would.
We also look forward to engaging those in our glider community in other meaningful ways to instruct and mentor our cadets in powered aviation opportunities. Thank you for your input, professionalism, and continued commitment to CAP's mission of saving lives and shaping futures. Very respectfully, Maj. Gen. Regena M. Aye National Commander/Chief Executive Officer Kristina E. Jones, CFRE Interim Chief Operating Officer

Quote from: GroundHawg on November 06, 2025, 12:42:58 PMSo happy to be rid of the black boots

On one hand, because of looks, I'm glad we're going to the brown suede boots. On the other hand, ever since I was in the service, over 35 years ago, I've always taken pride in my spit shined boots. Most of the time it's been relaxing to spend an hour or two doing them.

Excellent!

Also a well written Change Letter, everything spelled out clearly, which patches where, and what can and cannot be worn, with pictures.

Other than having to get silver on blue rank sewn on a Patrol Cap, I'm good to go right now and didn't have to buy anything new.

Still need black boots if you wear the Blue BDU.

So happy to be rid of the black boots