Squared away uniform tricks.

[Drill for life]

I started this thread to see how far you guys go to make yourself make good in your uniform. I do every-thing possible. I crease my shirt, BDU's, cardboard, Shine boots. I do everything I can to make myself stand-out in this sea of vas uniform wearers. What do you guys do? If you have any secrets feel free to tell them. I might even share some;).

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

My secrets:

1. If you ace uniform inspection one week, don't change anything.

2. Check, recheck, and check again.

3. Elbow grease will always do the trick.

[TruBlu]

One little trick that I picked up is this: in regards to medals, you can mount them all on a ribbon rack for ease of placement on the uniform. This can be done by taking out the back of the ribbon where it is mounted on the coat (the pin and all that), and slide it right on a ribbon rack. For some medals, this could require some hot glue because they don't just slide on. But wearer be ware! The medals that you modify won't be able to go back the way they were. I only recommend this if you won't be receiving any more medals, or you have sets of threes (three medals per bar, ad more bars as you add medals). If you do choose to do this, make sure you have access to replacement medals because you can never really PLAN on receiving another one, or you may joust foul it up.

I plan on doing this to my national awards after this year when I won't be eligible to get anymore of them (this will make three, so good number). But I've seen plenty of senior cadets that have been in our unit do this, even helped one guy mount them, and it works and looks really professional if you don't have all the time in the world to mount our medals.

[PhoenixCadet]

cardboard

In addition to the usual sticking cardboard under your insignia, ribbons and badges - cardboard also comes in handy when ironing your uniform. When ironing the pockets of your BDU blouse or other uniform shirts that have pockets, un-button the pockets, and stick a piece of cardboard under it, and iron over it that way.

I see way too many Cadets who simply iron over the pockets with the buttons underneath them. It gives the pocket two white rings, which don't look good at all.

-PC

[Drill for life]

I totally disagree with you. I think the white rings add a sort of nice feeling to the uniform. I have never made below a 100 on a uniform inspection,ever. So I shouldn't have to change anything.

[PhoenixCadet]

I totally disagree with you. I think the white rings add a sort of nice feeling to the uniform. I have never made below a 100 on a uniform inspection,ever. So I shouldn't have to change anything.

I don't know whether to take that as truth, or a joke.

Watch yourself, Cadet. You started this thread, and I quote "to see how far you guys go to make yourself look good in uniform". I gave an opinion regarding something I thought discredited the uniform, and don't need your attitude. If you've "never made below a 100 on a uniform inspection, ever", why did you post this? Why didn't you post a "here's a list of things you should to do achieve my greatness" thread?

:sleepy:

Also - given that we're Cadets, and Cadets let things slip (a lot), I'll let someone who's actually in the military confirm whether or not it's sat to have white rings on your BDU's. It doesn't look sharp at all.

-PC

[PhilK]

Also - given that we're Cadets, and Cadets let things slip (a lot), I'll let someone who's actually in the military confirm whether or not it's sat to have white rings on your BDU's. It doesn't look sharp at all.


Back in the BDU days of the Army I didn't really like the button rings that I would get when I would take my uniforms to be pressed.

The thing you probably don't realize yet, is that after so many times pressing the flaps with the buttons underneath the flap the material will wear away and you have a nice button sized hole in your BDUs.

There were a few "alterations" we did to our BDUs to ensure that we didn't have to worry about the button holes....but those are things you do not discuss with outsiders. :)

[Billyd]

Now, I know that an Officer in the United States Army (Ok, ANG) wouldn't perform, or cause to be performed, unauthorized alterations:devil: However, the way I found to avoid "burn through" with my BDUs, was to unbutton the pocket and press the flap from the underside and then the pocket and re-button the pocket. And, yes, the white rings from the buttons make the uniform unserviceable.

[armysc_25b]

I didn't have as much of a problem with the rings on the buttons with BDU's the way I ironed my uniforms. To this day, I still have 2 sets of BDU's in my wall locker, one of which I last had pressed when I arrived here in March 2007. The appearance of the press is still there (I've worn that set of BDU's 4 or 5 times, but I take care to not throw my uniform to the ground and stuff when I take them off). Both tops have a small ring where the buttons are, but it's more so because of the starch in the uniform than ironing too much over those spots. Be it BDU's or ACU's, I have a thing for perfection on insignias... my pin on insignias were positioned exactly as prescribed by regulation on my BDU's, and my ACU's each set has the patches placed so they aren't crooked or anything funny like that. I took it a step further and have a set of patches (shoulders, rank, & name tapes) for each uniform so I don't have to fight with the velcro in those places becoming weak from constantly pulling those items off.

As far as Class A's go, once I put them together and have everything in place, I take care to not mess anything up and I leave them assembled until it's time to have them cleaned again. No cardboard or anything like that on the A's, but once the uniform is on everything is sharp, with minor deficiencies at most dependant on the viewer's eye and their perspective of the deficiencies in the jacket and how I worked around them.

[ang1sgt]

Reality...

Even as a First Sergeant, there are times you need to let the Uniform stuff slip. Gosh, it's not about looking sharp and creased when under an F-16 bleeding hydraulic lines!

What "I" cared about as a First Sergeant was that people took some pride in their Uniforms. When things were getting tattered, they were replaced. When a boot got scuffed, they made the attempt to make it black and polished again. The time and effort to be over and above the regulations is a waste of time, and those that strive for it while Sharp, does it really make them a better Soldier, or are they looking for that extra attention. You have to ask yourself that. I'll take 6 hard workers that I can count on any time over a dozen spit polished and creased worry warts.

But that is just my opinion!

A little Side note. I just got back from Arlington National Cemetery to pay my respects to friends, relatives and fellow Soldiers in Arms. I watched both the Army Honor Guard and the USAF Honor Guards in action. As their buses left the area, not a Soldier was sitting down in the seats of those buses. Everyone was standing at attention! I thought it was interesting!

[ClearShot89]

One thng I constantly found myself doing because I didn't want to puncture anymore holes in my dress shirt for my AFJROTC, was taking a new or unused toothbrush and scrubbing the sweat ring around the collar to reduce the staining that most cadets had in my old unit.

I'll take 6 hard workers that I can count on any time over a dozen spit polished and creased worry warts.

I was one of those creased worry warts, but I didn't make it where everything bothered me, I fixed things throughout the day and it was fine. And although the ranks really meant nothing, when I held cadet officer positions, I found it necessisary for myself and other cadet officers to preserve a professional looking uniform, so the newer cadets would look at how good you can really look in uniform.

[soccermark23]

Black, with or without safety toe, plain rounded toe or rounded capped toe with or without perforated seam. Zipper or elastic inserts optional, smooth
or scotch-grained leather or man-made material, and may have a high gloss
or patent finish, optional.

This is taken straight from AFI 36-2903 which covers dress and appearance for Air Force Personnel and I thought it necessary to point out this little blurb which covers the wear of combat boots. Notice, the boots don't have to be shined, as that is clearly pointed out as optional. I'll be the first to admit that my boots aren't shiny and polished. It wouldn't be worth the time as they would get completely scratched up after about 15 minutes. I do however make sure they stay black and serviceable.

[armysc_25b]

I'll take 6 hard workers that I can count on any time over a dozen spit polished and creased worry warts.

For me, it was about what was practical for that day. On Monday's in Korea, we had our motorpool maintenance days, and I wore BDU's that weren't pressed and my boots had whatever shine they previously had on them. Days where I knew I'd be going to a field site or doing heavy work my uniform would reflect that. Days where I'd be in the shop or around the unit my uniform would be pressed and boots shined. I wanted to present a stellar appearance at all times, and dependant on the situation that's how I presented myself.

[C/SSGT Seifer]

One little trick that I picked up is this: in regards to medals, you can mount them all on a ribbon rack for ease of placement on the uniform.

I have tried this, but I can't take off that safety pin like thing. I messed up one of my medals putting it on my uniform that it bent the safety pin in to an "L" shape so unless I can replace that with a ribbon rack it is useless to me.

[TruBlu]

I have tried this, but I can't take off that safety pin like thing. I messed up one of my medals putting it on my uniform that it bent the safety pin in to an "L" shape so unless I can replace that with a ribbon rack it is useless to me.

Yeah like I said its risky, but it looks sharp as hell if you get it right. And those damned pins always get bent for me! I always have to rework them to get them back into shape... It gets really annoying when you have 3 or so because you have to deal with the other ones on there (can't wait 'till 4, 5, 6, etc., even more fun!).

[Drill for life]

That sounds reall cool(but hard at the same time).Our BNCO,SGT MAJ,XO, and myself are going to order N-Medal for our ribbons for our cadet ball this year. It's going to look great.

[TruBlu]

That sounds reall cool(but hard at the same time).Our BNCO,SGT MAJ,XO, and myself are going to order N-Medal for our ribbons for our cadet ball this year. It's going to look great.

Its very tedious work, yes. What is "N-Medal?"

[Drill for life]

That is the beginnig of the ribbon number so we can order ribbons. I'm going to get team ribbons,good conduct,profiency, and a couple other of my ribbons(converted to medals). It is oing to be exspensive but worthwhile.

[TruBlu]

That is the beginnig of the ribbon number so we can order ribbons. I'm going to get team ribbons,good conduct,profiency, and a couple other of my ribbons(converted to medals). It is oing to be exspensive but worthwhile.

Wait I'm confused. Maybe I misunderstood you, but what I got out of that post was that you were ordering medals not issued to you for ribbons that were issued to you? Is it standard procedure in AJROTC to issue yourself a medal if that is what you are saying?

[Drill for life]

I sked my SAI and AI if I could order the drapes for my Drillteam,Color Guard,Raider,Good Conduct,Personal Appereance, and profiency for the Cadet Ball and they said as long as I paid. I just have to order them. Some units issue just the ribbon and some units issue a medal instead of the ribbon. I'm going to wear my MOH(Medal of heroism) also.

[Armed Drill Addict]

I sked my SAI and AI if I could order the drapes for my Drillteam,Color Guard,Raider,Good Conduct,Personal Appereance, and profiency for the Cadet Ball and they said as long as I paid. I just have to order them. Some units issue just the ribbon and some units issue a medal instead of the ribbon. I'm going to wear my MOH(Medal of heroism) also.

That's not uncommon I have ordered the medals for my ribbons from AJROTC for the teams when they allowed me to. Mostly I only did them for my teams that I felt I had put alot of work into.

[TruBlu]

I sked my SAI and AI if I could order the drapes for my Drillteam,Color Guard,Raider,Good Conduct,Personal Appereance, and profiency for the Cadet Ball and they said as long as I paid. I just have to order them. Some units issue just the ribbon and some units issue a medal instead of the ribbon. I'm going to wear my MOH(Medal of heroism) also.

Oh I see. I don't agree with it, but I see what you are saying. Okey dokey. And its good that you will be wearing your medal of heroism, I'm glad you have come to terms with that.

[ArmyJrotc Raider]

PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!! After that being said, I wanted to tell you guys about a nifty trick I discovered on shining the brass discs on AJROTC class A's, but I found away to remove the "layer of laquer" on the discs. I believe the laquer is for shine free, but I spun the discs on a drill on some 500 fine grit sandpaper giving it the ultimate spin shine along with the removal, then of course when this is all done brasso. I am posting this because it helps ME get squared away, I do not recommend you do this if you do not know what I am talking about or your disc will look like a cat attacked it. Good luck on you next inspection!

P.S the better alternative to this is a piece of old denim and alot of brasso.