Plastic-Encased Grade Insignia: Why?

[SarDragon]

The pin backs were the big issue.

Really? Why? Snag too much on stuff in the cockpit?

BTW, became a Patron Member tonight, figured the least I could do is send my 35 USC in. 

Snagging harnesses, and coming off. Don't need the FOD. Also, stick one on the shoulder of a shirt, like you would on a flight suit, and see how it feels.

[Shuman 14]

Not to sound ignorant, but how are the plastic coated ones attached then?

[SarDragon]

Not to sound ignorant, but how are the plastic coated ones attached then?

Sewn on, very carefully, with a heavy duty machine. Or, like a2capt did, pre-punch them. I tried gluing some to Velcro, but the glue attacked the plastic.

[Shuman 14]

Not to sound ignorant, but how are the plastic coated ones attached then?

Sewn on, very carefully, with a heavy duty machine. Or, like a2capt did, pre-punch them. I tried gluing some to Velcro, but the glue attacked the plastic.

OK, so why not just subdued sew-on rank or order some State Defense Force non-subdued sew-on rank? Seems like that would be much simpler to do? 

[SarDragon]

Not to sound ignorant, but how are the plastic coated ones attached then?

Sewn on, very carefully, with a heavy duty machine. Or, like a2capt did, pre-punch them. I tried gluing some to Velcro, but the glue attacked the plastic.

OK, so why not just subdued sew-on rank or order some State Defense Force non-subdued sew-on rank? Seems like that would be much simpler to do? 

The AF sez we gotta use the plastic stuff on the green bags, so that's what we do. Makes little sense, but them's the rules.

[Shuman 14]

Not to sound ignorant, but how are the plastic coated ones attached then?

Sewn on, very carefully, with a heavy duty machine. Or, like a2capt did, pre-punch them. I tried gluing some to Velcro, but the glue attacked the plastic.

OK, so why not just subdued sew-on rank or order some State Defense Force non-subdued sew-on rank? Seems like that would be much simpler to do? 

The AF sez we gotta use the plastic stuff on the green bags, so that's what we do. Makes little sense, but them's the rules.

And what do actual USAF personnel use on their uniforms... if I can ask?

[Panache]

And what do actual USAF personnel use on their uniforms... if I can ask?

Subdued embroidered grade insignia and/or their grade on a leather "wings" name patch, if I recall correctly. 

[flyboy53]

And what do actual USAF personnel use on their uniforms... if I can ask?

Subdued embroidered grade insignia and/or their grade on a leather "wings" name patch, if I recall correctly.

Or custom cloth flight patches or name tags.....

[bosshawk]

Just to muddy the waters a bit, guys, the Army had sew-on insignia in the late 50s: I know, I wore fatigues in those days and had my rank and branch sewn on.  I wore flight suits in Korea in 63-64 and I seem to recall sew-on insignia then, actually on the flight suit collars.  Wings went on a leather patch on the left chest.

[raivo]

And what do actual USAF personnel use on their uniforms... if I can ask?

On the leather A1 jacket, you wear a leather nametag with your name/rank on it.

On the flightsuit itself or on the green flight jacket, enlisted members wear a cloth tag with their name/rank, and officers wear cloth subdued rank on the shoulders and a cloth tag with their name only.

[Panache]

Well, the best reason I've seen for the existence of plastic-encased grade in the first place seems to be "prevent FOD hazards".  Also maybe to prevent them from coming loose and flying around the cockpit during high-G maneuvers?  That would make sense if embroidered cloth grade weren't in use yet.

[AlphaSigOU]

Not to sound ignorant, but how are the plastic coated ones attached then?

Sewn on, very carefully, with a heavy duty machine. Or, like a2capt did, pre-punch them. I tried gluing some to Velcro, but the glue attacked the plastic.

OK, so why not just subdued sew-on rank or order some State Defense Force non-subdued sew-on rank? Seems like that would be much simpler to do? 

The AF sez we gotta use the plastic stuff on the green bags, so that's what we do. Makes little sense, but them's the rules.

I think it was more CAP's idea of being distinctive than Ma Blue's.  She probably said 'no problem'. 

[Al Sayre]

Pin on grade in a military aircraft cockpit with crossover shoulder harnesses would be very uncomfortable to say the least...

[PHall]

Not to sound ignorant, but how are the plastic coated ones attached then?

Sewn on, very carefully, with a heavy duty machine. Or, like a2capt did, pre-punch them. I tried gluing some to Velcro, but the glue attacked the plastic.

OK, so why not just subdued sew-on rank or order some State Defense Force non-subdued sew-on rank? Seems like that would be much simpler to do? 

The AF sez we gotta use the plastic stuff on the green bags, so that's what we do. Makes little sense, but them's the rules.

I think it was more CAP's idea of being distinctive than Ma Blue's.  She probably said 'no problem'. 

We can be distinctive with the cloth full color grade insignia on the blue background like we wear on the BDU's today.
And the cloth insignia is much easier to sew on and is cheaper too!

[Panache]

We can be distinctive with the cloth full color grade insignia on the blue background like we wear on the BDU's today.
And the cloth insignia is much easier to sew on and is cheaper too!

What do you think you're doing, bringing logic and common sense into a uniform thread?   

[PHall]

We can be distinctive with the cloth full color grade insignia on the blue background like we wear on the BDU's today.
And the cloth insignia is much easier to sew on and is cheaper too!

What do you think you're doing, bring logic and common sense into a uniform thread?   

Being the rebel I truly am!

[Mustang]

And what do actual USAF personnel use on their uniforms... if I can ask?

Subdued embroidered grade insignia and/or their grade on a leather "wings" name patch, if I recall correctly.

USAF aircrew haven't worn leather nametags in 20 years; they're all embroidered now, and only enlisted put their rank on them. It's wings, first and last name only for officers.

I say, don't like plastic encased rank? Don't wear it. Go slick-shouldered.

[68w20]

And what do actual USAF personnel use on their uniforms... if I can ask?

Subdued embroidered grade insignia and/or their grade on a leather "wings" name patch, if I recall correctly.

I say, don't like plastic encased rank? Don't wear it. Go slick-shouldered.

Is that authorized?  I'm not seeing it in 39-1.

[Panache]

Subdued embroidered grade insignia and/or their grade on a leather "wings" name patch, if I recall correctly.

USAF aircrew haven't worn leather nametags in 20 years; they're all embroidered now, and only enlisted put their rank on them. It's wings, first and last name only for officers.

I stand corrected.

I say, don't like plastic encased rank? Don't wear it. Go slick-shouldered.

Please read my original post.  I wasn't complaining.  I was simply asking a historical question.

[Private Investigator]

Not to sound ignorant, but how are the plastic coated ones attached then?

Sewn on, very carefully, with a heavy duty machine. Or, like a2capt did, pre-punch them. I tried gluing some to Velcro, but the glue attacked the plastic.

I happen to be in a dry cleaner and notice the owner had a picture of her husband in Army uniform. I asked if she did uniforms. She chuckle and say she did his for 20 years, AND, everyone in his squad, platoon, company and eventually battalion. That is how they bought the store, cool story actually