A General Guide to Uniform Standards and Care

No 1 Dress – Wedgewoods Used on formal occasions (such as a visiting officer), formal parades, drill competitions, inspections, ceremonies, ect.

No 1 Dress – Wedgewoods Consists Of: Beret Light Blue Shirt Black Tie Dark Blue Jumper (for cold weather) Brassard Belt (If trousers are worn) Trousers Skirt (Females only) Black Socks/Barely Black Tights Parade Shoes

No 2 Dress – Working Blues The base uniform for the air cadets. Used for normal cadet nights, section visits and general cadet activities.

No 2 Dress – Working Blues Consists Of: Beret Dark Blue Shirt Dark Blue Jumper (for cold weather) Brassard Belt (If trousers are worn) Trousers Skirt (Females only) Black Socks/Barely Black Tights Parade Shoes

No 3 Dress – CS95’s or DPM’s Used for field craft, outdoor activities and where appropriate at the discretion of the squadron CO.

No 3 Dress – CS95’s or DPM’s Consists Of: Beret DPM Shirt T-Shirt (matching DPM colour) Belt DPM Trousers Black Boots

General Dress Beret: The beret is to be worn with the badge central over the left eye, and the band 1” (approximately 2 finger widths) above the brow. Excess material is to be pulled down the right side of the head.

Moulding the Beret: Submerge the beret in hot water, keeping the band dry. Place on your head, and mould to shape. Submerge in cold water, again keeping the band dry. Mould to your head once more. Leave on your head for at least 30 minutes, preferably till dry. For the best results, do not heat the beret to dry it, as it looses shape quicker.

General Dress Stable Belt: A stable belt may be worn in general cadet activities, but never formally. (Not allowed on formal parade, inspections, ect) A stable belt may be worn by any cadet, but only when all others of the same rank, and the ranks above wear them. (Eg, a JNCO may wear a stable belt, but only when all other JNCO’s and SNCO’s do also)

Personal Cleanliness: General Dress Personal Cleanliness: Every cadet must be clean. Hair is to be tied back. (Where necessary) Must be clean shaven. (Unless medical or religious reasons permit otherwise) Male hair is not to touch the collar or the ears. Female hair is not to touch the bottom of the collar.

No 1 Dress - Wedgewoods

No 1 Dress - Wedgewoods Tie: The tie should be worn around the collar and be a “Full Windsor” knot. The tip of the tie should just reach the belt buckle.

Tying a Full Windsor:

No 1 Dress - Wedgewoods Variation: Their may be times, when wearing the jumper, it is necessary to remove the tie. If allowed to remove your tie, take the tie off, and wear the collar above the jumper, rather than tucked under.

RAF No 1 Other Ranks Dress Peaked Caps: Peaked caps are only to be worn by Cadet Warrant Officers, Lord Lieutenant's Cadets and Members of ATC Bands. Like the beret, these must be kept fluff free, and the peak and band are to be kept clean and to a high shine.

No 1 and No 2 Dress

Dark and Light Blue Shirt: No 1 and No 2 Dress Dark and Light Blue Shirt: The No1 light blue shirt is to be worn with the top button fastened, tucked into trousers, and the collar under the jumper if worn. Always wear with the sleeves down. The No2 dark blue shirt is to be worn with the top button undone, tucked into trousers, and the collar over the jumper if worn. The sleeves can be either down or folded up, depending on winter or summer dress.

Ironing the Shirt: Creases should run sharply down both the front and back of the sleeves. On the front; from the seam on the shoulder strait down to the cuff. On the back; directly opposite to the front crease. This should be from the armpit to the cuff. For females, two pleats should run down the back of the shirt; from the seam of the shoulder panel directly down across the shoulder blades. This should be a fold of ½” (about a fingers width) of material.

No 1 and No 2 Dress Brassard: The brassard is to be worn on the right arm, with the top loop around the epaulette, and the elastic band around the upper arm. If the sleeves of the shirt are folded up, the brassard should go over the shirt, rather than tucked in.

Brassard: To be ironed flat with no creases. Neatly sewn with matching thread.

No 1 and No 2 Dress Belt: The belt is to be worn with the buckle central, with the strap passing through the belt loops on the trousers, from left to right. The excess strap should barely pass through the first belt loop after the buckle. If this is too long or short, the position of the buckle on the strap should be altered using the clasp on the back of the buckle.

Maintenance: Frayed ends or overly excess strap should be removed to stop it showing. The buckle should be polished with a metal polish (such as “Brasso”) to remove scratches and should not be dull or marked.

No 1 and No 2 Dress Trousers: The trousers are to be worn belted, with the waist band sitting on your hips. The hem should just reach the tops of your parade shoes, but not be too long as to cover the laces.

Ironing the Trousers: Creases should run from the top and back pleats strait down to the hem. This can be done by matching up the seams on both sides of the leg, placing it flat on an ironing board, and ironing down the crease. The rest should be ironed flat.

No 1 and No 2 Dress Skirt: The skirt should be worn with the waist band sitting on your hips. It should just cover your knees, and be no shorter than the knee. Barely black tights must be worn with the skirt.

Ironing the Skirt: The whole skirt should be ironed flat with no creases.

No 1 and No 2 Dress Parade Shoes: The parade shoes are to be worn (unless where authorised to use different footwear, such as flying). For males, the whole shoe should be polished, with the toe cap bulled to a high shine. For females, the whole shoe should be bulled to a high shine.

Polishing the Parade Shoes: Use a duster cloth (or a silver polishing cloth for the best shine) and apply black polish (Kiwi preferably) in small circles. When this starts to feel tacky, dip the cloth in warm water and continue. Maintain this until it is smooth and shiny, and repeat. When the toe cap is well covered, with no scratches or dents, start using less polish for a higher shine.

No 3 Dress – CS95’s or DPM’s

No 3 Dress – CS95’s or DPM’s DPM Shirt: The DPM shirt is to be worn tucked into the trousers, with the top button undone and with the collar folded down flat. (the top button may be removed if necessary) An Air cadet flash and identification badge are to be worn, the flash 7.5 cm below the left shoulder crease, and the badge directly central above the left breast pocket.

Ironing the Shirt: Iron the same as the No1 and No2 dress shirts, with the exception of the back pleats for females, and iron the collar flat.

No 3 Dress – CS95’s or DPM’s T-Shirt: The T-Shirt must be a simple round neck. Only colours matching the DPM can be worn, such as black, green and brown.

No 3 Dress – CS95’s or DPM’s Belt: The belt must be worn through the belt loops, and fastened centrally at the front.

No 3 Dress – CS95’s or DPM’s Trousers: The trousers should be worn belted with the waist band sitting on top of the hips. The ties at the hem of the trousers are to be secured just above the top of the boot, so a little material hangs down past it. Iron the trousers as you would with No 1 and No 2 dress trousers.

No 3 Dress – CS95’s or DPM’s Boots: The boots should be black, and polished all over. Pay special attention to the seams and welts, as to maintain waterproofing. They do not need to be parade shoe standard, but should shine. Whilst doing a fieldcraft activity that requires stealth, avoid shine by matting the polish on your boots by applying a layer. Wrap the laces round the back before tying if they are too long

Remember – Always Check: Buttons and zips are done up. Ties are tucked away. There is no fluff or hairs on your uniform. (especially the beret) And You’ll Be Fine!

Any Questions?