Uniform Care and Tips

Videos
Care
Beret:
  • Dunk alternately in hot then cold water until thoroughly soaked
  • ​Make sure you don’t get your headband wet
  • Place onto head and use your hands to mould into the desired shape
  • Let beret dry on your head
  • Place cap badge using the holes provided
  • Remove fuzz using a razor or fabric shaver
Trousers:
  • Hem trousers to correct length
  • To iron, place trousers on ironing board so you are able to iron creases down the front of each leg
  • Iron a crease from the front pleat down the centre of the leg
  • Iron a similar crease into the back of the leg, meeting the centre seam of the trousers
​Brassard:
  • Badges sewn on in black or navy thread,
  • Use discrete running stitches around the edge of the badge
  • Squadron ID badge is to be 6mm from the top edge, worn centrally
  • ATC Badge is to be worn immediately below and touching the Squadron ID badge
  • Other badges to be positioned according to the diagram below
  • Iron the brassard at on the reverse
Shirts:
  • Iron shirt at all over
  • Iron a single crease down each sleeve from the centre of the epaulette to the cuff
  • Remember to iron the collar, epaulettes and cuffs
Jumpers:
  • Excess fluff removed using a fabric shaver
  • Iron shoulder pads, epaulettes and pen pockets so they are flat (no 'ski-slopes'!)
Skirts:
  • Hem skirt to the correct length, if needed
  • Iron at all over
Parade Shoes:
  • Use only kiwi black polish and cotton wool or Selvyt cloth, along with brushes if necessary
  • Ensure shoe is clean and free of dust before polishing
  • Build up layers of polish using your ‘on’ brush, let it dry and rub it with your ‘off’ brush each time
  • Once the toecap is smooth, start bulling the shoe
  • Dip your cotton wool/cloth in water and get a small amount of polish on the cloth
  • Rub the cotton wool in small circles across the toe cap until all the polish has disappeared
  • Repeat until the shoe has a mirror nish
  • Rinse the toe cap under a tap once finished to remove water droplets
Tips
Beret:
  • Use your index and middle ngers to measure the 25mm above eyebrows
  • Mould multiple times to get the shape
Trousers:
  • Make sure there is only one crease down each leg—don’t get ‘tram lines’
  • Use steam or a damp cloth for a sharper crease
Brassard:
  • Take your time sewing and try to learn to do it yourself
  • Keep checking the position of each badge
  • Take care not to burn your badges when ironing
  • To make the brassard have a stiffer appearance, use starch carefully—but only if you know how to as it can ruin uniform
Shirts:
  • Use steam or a damp cloth for a sharper crease
  • To prevent your shirt burning, don’t use too high a temperature and keep the iron moving
Jumpers:
  • To prevent ski slopes, iron the epaulettes and pen pocket at, then roll them up and release them whilst they are still warm
  • Make sure you don’t make a hole whilst removing fluff from your jumper
Skirts:
  • Keep lining out of the way while ironing to prevent it from burning
Parade Shoes:
  • Polishing will take a long time—don’t give up
  • Try polishing whilst doing something else, e.g. - watching TV, to pass the time
© Air Cadet 101 - Harry Briggs