Optional Uniform Wear?

[Infinite]

I have a few questions regarding some optional wear uniform items. Before I bother my SASI/ASI with these questions, I figured I'd post here in case anyone else had similar questions. Feel free to add questions yourself.

1.) Service Cap
a) Does the black brim have to be polished? Is that even a polishable material? (I have not found any evidence that it should be polished, but a former cadet did attempt to reprimand me for not having it polished. However, said cadet did not have one, nor does most of the Corps.)

2.) Button-up Blue Sweater
a) As an officer, do I use my black epaulets for rank? Or do I use my metal full-size epaulets? (I have only worn the sweater as an enlisted cadet, where I used the only rank available to me (metal chevrons), however, I know active-duty Air Force would use epaulets. I am only issued one pair of black epaulets.)

Thanks for reading and hopefully answering :)

[StormCrow]

To answer your questions:

1. Yes, it should be polished, and there is a certain oil that you can use to polish it...I forgot its name but I am sure you can get that information.

2. With the Air Force Blue Sweater you should use your soft rank. The Big Metallic rank is for use with the Class B Wind Breaker, and, in the old days, the Hap Arnold Service Jacket.

[ang1sgt]

And there is something called "AFI 36-2903, DRESS AND PERSONNEL APPEARANCE OF AIR FORCE PERSONNEL"

This lists everything that can be worn together and what can't be worn. This same Air Force Instruction is talked to in the AFJROTC Dress and Appearance Standards also. It is out there, it CAN be searched for and it CAN be found. I would take this information over word of mouth any day of the week, and you'd better believe an Instructor or a Unit Inspector would too.

[rightstuffpilot]

Sorry ANG1SGT,
The only authorized uniform information for Civil Air Patrol is CAPM 39-1. We do not default to the AF Mannual. If it isn't in CAPM 39-1 it is NOT authoritzed for CAP wear/use. FYI: There is a table of what can be worn with each combination along with pictures in CAPM 39-1.

[Billyd]

Sorry ANG1SGT,
The only authorized uniform information for Civil Air Patrol is CAPM 39-1. We do not default to the AF Mannual. If it isn't in CAPM 39-1 it is NOT authoritzed for CAP wear/use. FYI: There is a table of what can be worn with each combination along with pictures in CAPM 39-1.

Pay attention to details, cadet. The OP is AFJROTC NOT CAP. Therefore, Top is correct as JROTC defaults to their parent service Dress and Appearance guidance. Also, if you check, you will find that CAPM 39-1 is based on AFI 36-2903. You owe Top an apology.

[Startingover]

Pay attention to details, cadet. The OP is AFJROTC NOT CAP. Therefore, Top is correct as JROTC defaults to their parent service Dress and Appearance guidance. Also, if you check, you will find that CAPM 39-1 is based on AFI 36-2903. You owe Top an appology.

And in addendum...

Cap Regs also state that they conform with the Air Force standards of Dress and appearance, so that would still draw you to the conclusion of going all the way to the 36-2903.

That manual is the god of any Air Force related wear, and speaking of, we need a link on here to it for reference...

Here we go: http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/afi36-2903.pdf

ahh.... thats better...

[Airbourne Infantry]

An good oil to use if you're trying polish a service cap brim is called "Leather Luster". It's sold at Postal Exchanges and it's pretty cheap in price. Keep in mind though that it's going to take awhile to make it look good (which is exactly why I would much rather wear the Flight Caps).

[C/Major Black]

So true, its kinda hard to get that perfect luster shine on service cap, so prefer the Beret, it only needs a lint brush, and it looks intimidating as for me being a Flight Commander.

[rightstuffpilot]

CAPM 39-1 may be based on that, however, CAPM 39-1 still supercedes it. Yes, I'm a cadet. I'm also 20, a college grad, and a commercial pilot and will be a Captain in less than a year. I'm not stupid and don't have to be called "cadet" as though its punishment. Respect is earned by subordinates and not dolled out. I was respectful and I believe you aught give me the same treatment. It was an easy mistake. Punish in private, praise in public.

[Billyd]

CAPM 39-1 may be based on that, however, CAPM 39-1 still supercedes it. Yes, I'm a cadet. I'm also 20, a college grad, and a commercial pilot and will be a Captain in less than a year. I'm not stupid and don't have to be called "cadet" as though its punishment. Respect is earned by subordinates and not dolled out. I was respectful and I believe you aught give me the same treatment. It was an easy mistake. Punish in private, praise in public.

No, CAPM 39-1 does NOT supersede AFI 36-2903, it supplements it. For you to tell Top he was wrong, is where you went wrong. And cadet is the proper form of address for you, for JROTC, ROTC and those attending USAFA and the USMA. If I was speaking to a student at the USNA, I would address him/her as midshipman. To address you any other way would have been disrespectful.

As to you being 20 and a college grad, that and a $1.00 might get you a cup of coffee at the local Denny's. I am in my 40's, a college grad, and a veteran. To this day, I am addressed as Sergeant or Technical Sergeant, a title I worked hard to earn. I have now embarked upon my second career and plan to be as successful, if not moreso, than with my first.

I hope you pay a bit more attention to details when you are at the controls because the men and women behind you are trusting you with their lives and you never know, I may be one.

[rightstuffpilot]

CAPM 39-1 Page 1-1:
Civil Air Patrol prescribes wear policy and the
use of CAP emblems, insignia, and badges on the CAP distinctive uniforms. Table 1-3 describes items that may be authorized by wing/region commanders. COMPLIANCE WITH THIS PUBLICATION IS MANDATORY. Any variation from this publication is not authorized. Items not listed in this publication are not authorized for wear. NOTE: CAPMart may sell items
that are not authorized for wear with the USAF–style or CAP distinctive uniforms. This publication is the sole source for wear instructions and authorized items for various uniform combinations as prescribed within.

Enough said. Back to the topic at hand.

[Billyd]

Cadet,

I am going to tell you a little story here. Pay attention, because this is the only time I will tell it.

Once upon a time, I was a cadet in CAP. I joined when I was 13 (the earliest a cadet could join at that time) and I progressed through the program from Cadet Airman Basic to Cadet Major. In March of 1985, I was removed from the cadet program and entered the senior member program as I enlisted in the United States Air Force. At that time, I became a 1LT in CAP. I remained a member in good standing until the birth of my son in 1993. At that point, I had been a member of CAP for about 15 years, give or take a month or two. What that means is, by the age of 20, I had stopped being a cadet and had stopped behaving as a cadet. At the age of 20, I was preparing for an assignment overseas as an Airman in the world's greatest Air Force.

From March of 1985 to April of 2005 I was on active duty with the Air Force. Which means I wore Air Force blue for over 25 years. I have read not only CAPM 39-1 from cover to cover several times, I have also read AFR 35-10 and AFI 36-2903 (which replaced AFR 35-10) cover to cover as well. A habit I developed while still a cadet in CAP.

You took offense to someone (me) pointing out that you posted a reference to an irrelevant source document to the question at hand. The OP is in AFJROTC not CAP and therefore CAPM 39-1 DOES NOT APPLY. So, why don't you remove those diamonds from your fourth point of contact and act like the adult you want to be treated as.