CONCEPT: Proper Wear of the Air Force-Style CAP Uniform

APPROXIMATE TIME: 1 hour

1. Identify the primary Air Force-style uniform combinations:
• Short sleeve and long sleeve light blue shirt and flight cap
• Service Dress
• Battle Dress
• Green Flight Suit
2. Describe CAP grooming standards. 
3. Discuss the wear of the Air Force-style uniform as a tool to align the CAP with the military and public. 
4. Discuss the need to wear the Air Force-style uniform properly. 
5. Describe CAP weight standards for the Air Force-style uniform.  

SUGGESTED MATERIALS: No additional materials are required. Refer to the Instructor Information   link in the User's Guide for the basic materials to teach a class.

CAP and Air Force dress and grooming standards are a mixture of tradition and practicality. The uniform draws attention to the individual. The image you present will leave with everyone you meet a lasting impression about you, the Civil Air Patrol, and the entire Air Force. Any large business or organization that wants to be recognized as professional sets certain standards of dress and grooming. CAP and the Air Force are no different. The American public draws certain conclusions about military effectiveness based on the image that CAP members present. It's been said that a military officer can be picked out of a crowd just by the image he/she presents. Certainly, one's weight control, military bearing, and confidence are part of this image.

Uniforms must be clean, neat, correct in design and specifications, fitted properly, pressed, and in good condition (i.e., not frayed, worn out, faded, torn, etc.) All items are to be kept zipped, snapped, or buttoned. Shoes must be shined and in good repair. All service uniforms are authorized for year-round wear. 

This lesson discusses proper uniform wear and how uniform wear reflects on the Air Force and CAP’s images of professionalism. It identifies the primary Air Force-style uniform combinations, basic grooming standards, and CAP weight standards for the AF-style uniform. The underlying premise of this lesson is to emphasize to  CAP members how important it is to properly and proudly the Air Force-style uniform which goes a long way toward cementing a favorable image of the CAP in the eyes of the public.

1. Use CAPM 39-1 and the CD to show proper wear of each uniform. Where feasible, use a student to demonstrate proper wear. Have a student purposely do something incorrect with their uniform (e.g., flight cap tilted wrong way, gig line off, name tag not resting on top of pocket, belt buckle on wrong side of belt, …etc.) and ask others to identify the fault.
2. Use same reference to detail grooming and weight standards.
3. Use personal examples to emphasize how each one of us represents our unit and should always strive to the wear our uniform with pride. Discuss how the public and much of the military doesn’t get much exposure to the CAP so it’s critical that each time a CAP member encounters others his/her uniform must be razor sharp. First impressions are everlasting so make the best of it.

LESSON PRESENTATION:

Attention Step: (Slide 1) Air Force and CAP dress and grooming standards are a mixture of tradition and practicality. The uniform draws attention to the individual. The image you present will leave with everyone you meet a lasting impression about you, the Civil Air Patrol, and the entire Air Force. Any large business or organization that wants to be recognized as professional sets certain standards of dress and grooming for its personnel. The CAP is no different.

All members of CAP must be well-groomed and ensure that their personal appearance at all times reflects credit upon themselves and the CAP. CAP Manual 39-1 Attachment 2 defines maximum allowable weight standards for CAP members to wear the Air Force style uniform. Senior members who do not meet the standards of wear for the Air Force uniform for reasons of grooming or fitness are not barred from membership or active participation, but rather are restricted from wearing the military style Air Force uniform. In such cases, members may wear certain CAP unique clothing (reference CAPM 39-1).

Lesson Objectives: (Slide 2) These are the basic AF-style uniforms you will most likely wear so we’ll concentrate on the proper wear of these specific uniforms. As always, refer to CAPM 39-1 for complete listing of all CAP uniforms and for more details.

Main Point 1: (Slide 3) Overall, hair should be clean, well groomed, and neat. Avoid using an excessive amount of grooming aids (thus, it's not permissible to grow your hair long and slick it back with "Dippety Do" while in uniform).

Men: Men's hairstyles must have a tapered appearance on both sides and back, both with and without headgear. A tapered appearance outlines the individual's hair to conform to the shape of the head, curving inward to the termination point. The bulk, or thickness, of hair must not exceed 1-1/4 inches, regardless of length.

Women: Women's hairstyles must present a professional appearance. The hair must not extend in length on all sides below an invisible line drawn parallel to the ground at the bottom edge of the shirt collar at the back of the neck. Hair must not exceed 3 inches in bulk or be styled in a way that prevents proper wear of headgear. It must not be worn in an extreme or faddish style or in such a way that it violates safety requirements.

Mustaches: When worn, mustaches must not extend downward beyond the lip line of the upper lip or extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from the corner of the mouth.

Sideburns: When worn, sideburns must be neatly trimmed and tapered in the same manner as the haircut. They must be straight and of even width (i.e., not flared). They must end in a clean-shaven horizontal line. Sideburns must not extend below the lowest part of the exterior ear opening.

Main Point 1: (Slide 4)

Watch: Will be conservative.

Rings: A maximum of three.

Bracelet: You can wear one bracelet if it is conservative, presents a proper military image, is no wider than 1 inch, and doesn't subject the wearer to potential injury.

Earrings: Women may wear small conservative diamond, gold, white pearl, or silver spherical pierced or clip earrings with all uniforms unless safety considerations dictate otherwise. Only one earring or healing post may be worn on or in each earlobe.

Eyeglasses and other ornaments: Ornaments on the head, visible ornaments around the neck, and ornamentation on eyeglass lenses or frames are prohibited while on duty or in uniform. Conservative, clear, slightly tinted, or photosensitive lenses (which are practically clear under normal light) may be worn, indoors, outdoors, or in formation. A "faddish" style sunglass lens, to include a mirrored lens, is inappropriate.

Undergarments. You must wear proper undergarments with all uniforms. Long-sleeved undershirts will not be worn with the short-sleeved uniform shirt or blouse.

Women will wear bra and panties with all uniforms. They must wear an undershirt with BDUs.

Main Point 2: (Slide 5)

Shirt: Wear the shirt outside the trousers at all times. Sleeves may be rolled up. (You may not shorten the sleeves by cutting them.) If rolled up, sleeves will touch or come within 1 inch of the forearm when the arm is bent at a 90-degree angle.

Trousers: Trousers must be bloused over the combat boots.

Combat boots: Combat boots are the only footwear authorized for wear with the BDU.

Accouterments: Center the "Civil Air Patrol" tape immediately above the left breast pocket. Center the "Name" tape immediately above the right breast pocket.

Center regular size subdued cloth or subdued metal pin on grade insignia 1 inch from the edge of the collar and parallel to the edge of the collar.

Main Point 3: (Slide 6)

Male:

Rank Insignia: Wear gray embroidered epaulets with rank insignia.

"US" Insignia: Wear highly polished US without the circle. Align the bottom of the insignia halfway up the seam of the collar, resting on but not over, and horizontal to the ground.

Ribbons and Badges for all uniforms: See CAPM 39-1.

Female:

Rank Insignia: Wear gray embroidered epaulets with rank insignia.

"US" Insignia: Wear highly polished US without the circle. Align the bottom of the insignia halfway up the seam of the collar, resting on but not over, and horizontal to the ground.

Ribbons and Badges for all uniforms: See CAPM 39-1.

Main Point 4: (Slide 7)

Wear these dark blue pants with the bottom front resting on the front of the shoe/boot with a slight break in the crease. The back of the trousers' legs will be approximately 7/8 inch longer than the front.

Service skirt (women only). You may find this dark blue skirt with or without belt loops. The hem of the skirt may be no shorter than the top of the kneecap and no longer than the bottom of the kneecap.

Rank insignia: Wear gray embroidered epaulets with rank insignia.

Nametag (mandatory): Rests on but not over the top edge of the right pocket, centered between the edges of the pocket.

Tie (mandatory): Tip of the tie will be no more than 1-1/2 inches above or 1-1/2 inches below the top of the belt buckle.

Tie Tab for women is mandatory.

Main Point 5: (Slide 8)

Always wear this shirt tucked into trousers.

Rank Insignia: Wear gray embroidered epaulets with rank insignia

Nametag (mandatory): Rests on but not over the top edge of the right pocket, centered between the edges of the pocket.

Tie (optional): If worn, the tip of the tie will be no more than 1-1/2 inches above nor 1-1/2 inches below the top of the belt buckle.

Tie Tab for women is optional.

Flight Cap: This hat is worn slightly to the wearer's right with the vertical crease of the cap in line with the center of the forehead, in a straight line with the nose. The bottom of the cap is approximately 1 inch from the eyebrows in the front. Women may have hair showing in front of the flight cap.

Main Point 6: (Slide 9) The CAP Flight Suit  is a utility uniform worn to perform flying related duties. This lesson will detail how and where to wear this uniform. See the lesson and CAPM 39-1 for details.

Summary: (Slide 10) Today we’ve discussed the proper wear of the Air Force style CAP Uniform and grooming standards. I can’t over emphasize how important it is to always present yourself in a professional manner Everywhere you go in uniform you are the CAP so represent us with pride and distinction.