Sewing things on BDUs

I'd rather we have ABUs . Those have Velcro I believe, for the patches and tapes?

I'd rather we have ABUs . Those have Velcro I believe, for the patches and tapes?

No.

We do not, they do not.

I'd rather we have ABUs . Those have Velcro I believe, for the patches and tapes?

If I recall correctly, only ACU's (the US Army's utility uniform) have Velcro.

I'd rather we have ABUs . Those have Velcro I believe, for the patches and tapes?

If I recall correctly, only ACU's (the US Army's utility uniform) have Velcro.

They do, however Soldiers now have the option to sew on name and branch tapes as well as rank and skill/combat badge insignia.  IMO the velcro is generally more convenient and cheaper, however it can be frustrating during laundering.  It also tends to wrinkle fairly easily, especially after a few washes.

Velcro nametapes, branchtapes all equal bad juju.

I still don't think it would be the worst idea for us to go to a modified version of what the AF tried back in the early '90s: no insignia on BDU's except the Velcro flight suit-type nameplate.  It didn't last long because officers weren't getting saluted properly...but that wouldn't be a problem for us, now would it?

I am currently in the prosses of putting on my Model Rocketry Badge. How should I attach this. Sowing it is hard because of it being on a pocket or is there a special way of attaching it.

I am currently in the prosses of putting on my Model Rocketry Badge. How should I attach this. Sowing it is hard because of it being on a pocket or is there a special way of attaching it.

That's sewing. And it's a patch, not a badge. A badge is made of metal, with pins on the back.

Many people I know just machine sewed it through the pocket.

I am currently in the prosses of putting on my Model Rocketry Badge. How should I attach this. Sowing it is hard because of it being on a pocket or is there a special way of attaching it.

If the pocket matters a lot to you and you could get a new uniform when you want to replace/remove said patch, glue it. Do you ever use the top pockets is a great question to ask yourself, or are you trying to save something that's useless to you?

I got it all taken care of, thanks guys!

I couldn’t stitch a straight line if my life depended on it, and I have no intention of learning now.

The tailor I use is very good. I pin the stuff into place, and provide pictures from 39-1 that shows how everything is supposed to look.

No problems to date, and my uniforms don’t look like some guy with two left thumbs sewed on the patches.

It is important to wash everything first, so it doesn’t pucker……

I had to learn when I was a Boy Scout.  My mother had arthritis and couldn't sew very well...which is how I learned (trial and error).  I'd never make it as a tailor but I don't embarrass myself.  My sewing usually looks good.

After my parents divorced, and my stepmom refused to sew things on for me, I had to learn quick. To this day, I do all my own sewing of patches. Trial and error usually, but I'm not being inspected anymore so close enough is good enough.

After my parents divorced, and my stepmom refused to sew things on for me, I had to learn quick. To this day, I do all my own sewing of patches. Trial and error usually, but I'm not being inspected anymore so close enough is good enough.

So attention to detail is not applicable to SMs?

After my parents divorced, and my stepmom refused to sew things on for me, I had to learn quick. To this day, I do all my own sewing of patches. Trial and error usually, but I'm not being inspected anymore so close enough is good enough.

So attention to detail is not applicable to SMs?

I am the weirdo who can spot if a cadet's rank insignia is off by more than 1/8" at 10 yards. Without my glasses. I have corrected cadets and placed their insignia correctly by eye and have been proven right afterward 99.9% of the time. If mine isn't done right the first time I rip it off and do it again. Close enough for me is no more than a 1/8" margin of error.

I have had enough of "sloppy seniors". Our current CC is a 1984 Spaatz cadet. I came from the strictest cadet squadron on the planet. A bunch of our new seniors have either come from cadet side or the military. I am in charge of D&C for the seniors.

In answer to your question...not on my watch. Not in my unit.

An 1/8" error is a lot when all you have to work with is 1/8" - probably the most common / OCD-aggravating error I see
is too much or too little blue around the grade on field uniforms.

Guess what I should have said was a 1/8" error of margin with regards to placement. I already have the correct amount of blue showing on insignia. Also, to get rid of those stupid cables/flags/whatever they are calling flyaway threads on the tapes I cut the ends into a triangle when I fold them under. And sear them with a lighter.

Sorry if I sounded like a uniform nutzi. I am what I am. I grew up in an era where we were constantly hounded on appearance in uniform. We honestly believed we were the best of the best because we looked and acted like it. Makes me ADD/OCD crazy when I see a "sloppy senior" in charge of cadet programs, one who can't be bothered to learn how to salute or stand at attention or wear their uniform without looking like Hawkeye Pierce. The cadets learn by example, and if we're setting the wrong example, we've failed.

/soapbox

No need to justify your stance here, I'm with you.  Right is right.

Guess what I should have said was a 1/8" error of margin with regards to placement. I already have the correct amount of blue showing on insignia. Also, to get rid of those stupid cables/flags/whatever they are calling flyaway threads on the tapes I cut the ends into a triangle when I fold them under. And sear them with a lighter.

Sorry if I sounded like a uniform nutzi. I am what I am. I grew up in an era where we were constantly hounded on appearance in uniform. We honestly believed we were the best of the best because we looked and acted like it. Makes me ADD/OCD crazy when I see a "sloppy senior" in charge of cadet programs, one who can't be bothered to learn how to salute or stand at attention or wear their uniform without looking like Hawkeye Pierce. The cadets learn by example, and if we're setting the wrong example, we've failed.

/soapbox

That "sloppy senior" probably was in charge of cadet programs because no one else wanted the job.

Then you probably shouldn-... I mean -uh- my squadron commander is the best, sir! She *ALWAYS* wears her uniform and when she does it always looks *PERFECT*. 

Guess what I should have said was a 1/8" error of margin with regards to placement. I already have the correct amount of blue showing on insignia. Also, to get rid of those stupid cables/flags/whatever they are calling flyaway threads on the tapes I cut the ends into a triangle when I fold them under. And sear them with a lighter.

Sorry if I sounded like a uniform nutzi. I am what I am. I grew up in an era where we were constantly hounded on appearance in uniform. We honestly believed we were the best of the best because we looked and acted like it. Makes me ADD/OCD crazy when I see a "sloppy senior" in charge of cadet programs, one who can't be bothered to learn how to salute or stand at attention or wear their uniform without looking like Hawkeye Pierce. The cadets learn by example, and if we're setting the wrong example, we've failed.

/soapbox

That "sloppy senior" probably was in charge of cadet programs because no one else wanted the job.

No. She railroaded me out of the job and tried to take over the unit. True story. She looked good on paper but...let's just say train wreck would be the kindest term I could use to describe her. Absolutely REFUSED to attend the senior D&C program I set up to eliminate the problem. The one who took over after she...left...was amazing, but by then I was mired in college and work and left for 6 years.