Uniforms as a Reward?

[PhoenixCadet]

He's going to where them on Thursday and that is the day we where going to hand out ACU's to cadet's who we think deserve it. He is one of those cadets.

This quote from another thread got me curious. I could never understand why certain programs award the right to wear a certain uniform to Cadets, versus simply giving them a medal, ribbon, cord, certificate, or any of the zillions of other types of award devices.

My personal take on the matter is that a uniform is a uniform, and should be used for that purpose - not as an "award". After all, if it's being given out as an award, chances are not every Cadet will be wearing it, thus, removing the whole "uniform" factor of the uniform.

YMMV.

-PC

[CAPSmith]

I do not believe that your organizations uniform should be used as a "reward." Part of what a uniform accomplishes is making everyone feel as though they belong and are part of the same team.

Authorizing specific uniforms for different people only serves to divide and segregate different groups and individuals - which is exactly opposite of its purpose. It leads to a breakdown in esprit de corps and can cause resentment and ill feelings in your unit.

So, no, I don't think that the uniform should be used as an incentive.

[TruBlu]

My take is this: If there are a limited number on supply, like the situation with the AF ABUs being in a transitional phase replacing the BDUs, then cadets who perform better than other cadets, thus deserving it more, should be issued that new style of uniform before the other cadets.

I know this is not necessarily what this quote is saying, but its not saying that either.

[armysc_25b]

When the Army first switched from BDU/DCU's to ACU's, there was an operational priority placed on who received them first. In that case, it was deploying units. They didn't go around the service and say "this Soldier is better than that, he's getting ACU's while the dirtbag is getting DCU's". Once the uniform became available Army wide (as in available at clothing sales), it was a first come first serve basis as to who got the uniform.

So, how does a cadet deserve a particular uniform more than another? I can see the leadership getting them first, since there's that "lead from the front" mentality, but that's about the ONLY reason I would pick and choose who got which utility uniform.

[TruBlu]

Originally Posted by armysc_25b

When the Army first switched from BDU/DCU's to ACU's, there was an operational priority placed on who received them first. In that case, it was deploying units. They didn't go around the service and say "this Soldier is better than that, he's getting ACU's while the dirtbag is getting DCU's". Once the uniform became available Army wide (as in available at clothing sales), it was a first come first serve basis as to who got the uniform.

So, how does a cadet deserve a particular uniform more than another? I can see the leadership getting them first, since there's that "lead from the front" mentality, but that's about the ONLY reason I would pick and choose who got which utility uniform.

I see what you are saying, but when applying it to a none deploy able high school corps with limited funds (at least my unit has limited funds), the idea of selection comes into play. You are right about leadership getting it first, but that's basically what I said. After all, the leadership would be comprised of deserving cadets that have shown their ability to perform. Then the uniforms should trickle down the CoC. Is it fair? Not entirely, but in units like the AFJROTC (I won't speak for other services because I am not adequately prepared to do so), a utility uniform like the BDU and the ABU are not required, and are limited a whole lot (only once a month may you wear them to an official event unless it is specified as a "special uniform" for certain things including drill, recruiting, etc.). So in issuing these uniforms, you really hit a conundrum: we don't need to issue them, but we have them, but not enough for everyone, and we don't want to get rid of them. What do we do? Well, lets issue these uniforms to those who will truly respect it and take pride in it (generally your leadership and cadets who have proved themselves, not the kid who jerks around incessantly and can't wear a standard blue uniform correctly by choice).

[soccermark23]

If you ask me that's completely idiotic and could lead to a severe degradation in the moral of the unit. It is really pointless in a situation like this to pick and choose who gets new uniforms, and you want to know one of the biggest issues?

Everyone is going to need to learn the proper way to wear the new uniform. They really should just wait until they have enough to outfit everyone. Then it's not like they are picking favorites and allows them to mass-brief everyone on proper wear and regulations.

[TruBlu]

Originally Posted by soccermark23

If you ask me that's completely idiotic and could lead to a severe degradation in the moral of the unit. It is really pointless in a situation like this to pick and choose who gets new uniforms, and you want to know one of the biggest issues?

Everyone is going to need to learn the proper way to wear the new uniform. They really should just wait until they have enough to outfit everyone. Then it's not like they are picking favorites and allows them to mass-brief everyone on proper wear and regulations.

I see your point, and its most certainly valid. But at the same time, you could look at it in the way that because it is not fully mandated yet, because there is a time frame on when everyone needs to have it but up until then you don't need it, you could "phase them in" if you know that more will come, just not now. So everyone will get them, but not at the same time.

Of course with me, its all hypothetical. In my unit, we have to buy ours no matter what, meaning you can spend your money whenever you want to get these uniforms because they aren't required anyways. The mandate for the uniform change still affects us all in the unit and BDUs will be obsolete in the near future in my unit, but like the AF, not immediately.

[soccermark23]

Originally Posted by TruBlu

I see your point, and its most certainly valid. But at the same time, you could look at it in the way that because it is not fully mandated yet, because there is a time frame on when everyone needs to have it but up until then you don't need it, you could "phase them in" if you know that more will come, just not now. So everyone will get them, but not at the same time.

Of course with me, its all hypothetical. In my unit, we have to buy ours no matter what, meaning you can spend your money whenever you want to get these uniforms because they aren't required anyways. The mandate for the uniform change still affects us all in the unit and BDUs will be obsolete in the near future in my unit, but like the AF, not immediately.

I think the real key is in not handing them out as rewards to people. If you are going to phase them in, then I would do it from the top down as was mentioned before. Start with the upper echelon of cadet leadership and work your way down. This would probably be the most justifiable way of doing it and would also make the most sense.

[Century0]

In my unit, all cadets are issued your standard class A/B uniform with tie/neck tab. However, only rifle team members and JCLC participants are issued ACUs, due to a limited supply. I believe this to be a valid reason, and as well, our unit does not want every cadet to be walking around in ACUs. These ACUs are for our own wear to rifle team competitions/JCLC, and are not authorized on school uniform days without prior approval of the SAI.

I believe this is a valid way to do it, but for a cadet to be issued ACUs and then wear them at the same time as everyone else has on a Class A/B uniform, it should only happen rarely or not at all.

Another thing my unit tried was that drill team would be authorized wear of black combat boots (this was during BDUs) with their uniform on all inspection uniform days. I did not agree with this so much either. It severely detracts from the look of the unit as a whole when you look at them together.

[flyBoy2010]

All cadets in my unit are issued the standard AF blues. However, all AS-III's are issued BDU's and all AS-IV's are issued ACU's (for an explanation of why we use ACU's instead of ABU's see: http://www.gruntsmilitary.com/board/...p?t=310&page=2)

This gives freshmen something to look forward to if they stay in the program. It is a good retention policy.