PLACEMENT OF BADGES AND INSIGNIA
Shoulder Badge (Shoulder Flash)
The shoulder badge is worn on both sleeves of the tunic only. The top of the badge is to be 2 cm below the shoulder seam.
Placement of the should flashes can be found on the following links: Left Sleeve and Right Sleeve.
Cap Badge
Your cap badge is worn on the left side of the wedge. The centre of the badge is positioned half-way between the front
and middle of the wedge and it is centred between the top and bottom of the wedge.
Rank Badges - LAC to FSgt
Your ranks belong half-way between the shoulder seam and elbow on both
sleeves of the tunic. When you are promoted you replace your current
rank with the new rank in the same way. LAC, Corporal, Flight Corporal,
Sergeant and Flight Sergeant badges are all placed this way as seen at
the following links. Left Sleeve and Right Sleeve.
Warrant officer ranks are placed slightly differently and can be found at the following links: Left Sleeve - Warrants and Right Sleeve - Warrants.
Proficiency Badge
Your first year proficiency badge is centred on the left sleeve of the
tunic. The bottom edge of the badge should be flush with the cuff top of
the cuff unless fitness, marksmanship or glider pilot familiarization
badges are worn, then the proficiency level badge will be places 1.0 cm
above these. This can be seen at the following image: Left Sleeve
Name Tag
If you have a name tag it is worn centred just above the flap of the
right breast pocket of the tunic. This placement of the name tag varies
slightly if you have medals. The placement of the name tag can be seen
at the following link: Right Breast Pocket.
First Aid Badge
If you have Emergency or Standard First Aid qualifications, your badges
should be centred on the right sleeve, 1.0 cm from the bottom of the
sleeve, or 1.0 cm above summer course qualification badges if worn. This
can be seen at the following link: Right Sleeve
ORIGIN OF THE UNIFORM
In
early wars, during the heat of battle, the fighting men could not
recognize each other and often fought their own friends. In those days,
people wore whatever they pleased and no one knew by sight alone who was
friend and who was foe. Clever generals dressed their men all the same,
or in a “uniform dress,” and scored many victories before this new
development in warfare became widely known. The story of the origin of
the Air Force Blue uniform is interesting.
At one time, England was a major supplier of uniforms and the materiel
for them. At the time of the October Revolution in Russia, there was a
large quantity of clothing in England that was originally ordered for
the old Russian Army. The cloth remained unused until at the end of the
First World War, the Royal Air Force (RAF) came into existence and
required uniforms. The result was that the RAF and original Royal
Canadian Air Force (RCAF) uniforms were the same colour as the old
Tsarist Russian uniform.
The
original cadet uniform was also blue. In 1968 the Army, Navy and Air
Force unified into the Canadian Armed Forces. At that time the Canadian
Forces adopted a single green uniform that remained for almost 20 years.
In 1994, the Air Cadet uniform changed once again to the present
traditional air force blue style.
DRESS REGULATIONS
Cadet Administrative and Training Order (CATO) 55-04, Air Cadet Dress Instructions (Apr 2006),
details the items of wear and the uniforms that you are allowed to
wear. Your squadron has a copy of this book. DND approves and issues on
loan, the uniform worn by air cadets. The care and custody of all items
of clothing issued are the responsibility of individual cadets and their
parents or guardians during the cadet’s service with the organization.
The
dress and appearance of air cadets in uniform shall, on all occasions,
be such to reflect credit to their unit and the Royal Canadian Air
Cadets. The uniform is to be worn only when attending authorized parades
or activities. When cadets appear in uniform in public, it is their
duty to be sure that their uniforms are properly maintained and
correctly worn.
CARE AND WEARING OF THE UNIFORM
You shall only wear your uniform when:
a. you are attending training or proceeding to or from the place where you train; or
b. you are attending ceremonies or functions at which the wearing of the uniform is appropriate and authorized.
The following paragraphs give you some regulations and hints about how to wear your uniform.
Wedge Cap
You wear your wedge on the right side of your head. The lower point of
the front crease of the wedge is to be in the centre of your forehead.
The front edge of the cap is to be 2.5 cm (1 in.) above your right
eyebrow. If you remember that the bird on the cap badge should look
toward the sky, you will always have the cap on the right side of your
head. To be sure the cap is 2.5 cm (1 in.) above the right eyebrow, you
can use the measurement of the width of two fingers. If your hair hangs
down on your forehead you should be sure to tuck it under your wedge
when in uniform.
When
you are outside you will always keep your head-dress on, even when you
are seated. You will also keep your head-dress on in a mall or store
unless you are seated. Remove your head-dress in a restaurant or church.
Turban
If you are a member of the Sikh religion you may wear a turban and
associated personal items. The turban will be air force blue. The hat
badge is centered midway on the front of the turban.
Tunic
When wearing the tunic you shall always keep all pockets buttoned. Be sure all front buttons (except the top) are also
fastened. You should keep your tunic well pressed. The sleeves of the
jacket shall be roll-pressed with no creases. Be sure your belt is even
with no twists. The black buckle of your tunic belt is to be centered.
The pockets of your tunic should not bulge. The following are links for
badge placement on the tunic:
Trousers/Slacks
Your trousers/slacks should be well pressed. Creases should be sharp.
Creases in male pants go up the front centre of each leg and extend to
the waist, inside the first belt-loops. Creases in female slacks go up
the front centre of each leg and extend to the corner of the pocket.
Rear creases extend up the centre of the pant leg and meet in the back
at the waistband, forming a “V.” Your trousers/slacks should reach the
point where the creases will be slightly broken on the top of the boots.
Males trousers are held up by a belt.
Note
– When ironing your pants and tunic you should use a pressing cloth. A
pressing cloth may be a towel, pillowcase or other piece of cloth. Some
people also use an open brown paper bag. The pressing cloth will prevent
your tunic and pants from becoming shiny due to ironing. You should
also use a pressing cloth when ironing your wedge and necktie. The
creases in your trousers/slacks sharpen with the use of a moist pressing
cloth or by wetting the crease itself.
Shirt
Your shirt should be neatly pressed when worn. The only crease in the
shirt should be down the centre of each arm beginning at the centre of
each epaulette. It may be helpful to starch the collar of the shirt to
prevent it from becoming limp.
Necktie
Your necktie should be ironed and tidy. The knot should be compact and the tie done up to the collar when worn, as illustrated here.
T-Shirt (Light Blue)
The light blue T-shirt is worn at summer camp. You will keep your
T-shirt well pressed with creases down the centre of each arm beginning
at the shoulder seam.
Turtleneck
You will wear your turtleneck during the winter. It is worn with the
neck band neatly folded down. The turtleneck is ironed with no creases.
Socks
You will wear the grey wool socks that are issued to you by your
squadron. If you are allergic to the material in the socks, you may wear
other socks made of a suitable material and colour. Another option is
to place sports socks under your issue grey socks.
Overcoat
Your overcoat may be worn when the weather is appropriate. You may turn
up and button the collar in severe weather. No rank Insignia or other
badges are to be worn on the overcoat. Your overcoat is to be kept
buttoned whenever it is worn.
Boots
Your black issue boots are laced straight across, as illustrated here.
Your Uniform is Government Property
When you joined cadets your parents signed your enrolment form. By
signing the enrolment form your parents have taken responsibility for
all parts of your uniform. As a result, you are always responsible for
all parts of your uniform. You should follow these rules:
a. Do not leave your uniform lying around.
b. Mark your name in every piece of your uniform.
c. Return damaged or poorly fitting parts of your uniform to your squadron supply and get new parts.
d. Be sure that any parts of your uniform that you return are signed off
when you return them. You have a right to insist on this, even to an
officer or senior cadet.
e. You must return your uniform promptly if you leave the squadron.
Deportment
When you are in uniform you should present a good appearance. Chewing
gum, slouching, hands in pockets, walking arm in arm, and similar
actions do not look good for a cadet in uniform. The way you behave in
uniform will affect what people think of all cadets. The pride you show
in your uniform is a reflection of the pride you have in yourself and
your squadron.
Make-up - Females
When you are wearing your uniform, you shall wear a limited amount of
make-up. You cannot wear false eyelashes, heavy eyeliner brightly
coloured eye shadow or coloured nail polish.
Jewellery
You shall not wear jewellery when you are in uniform, except wrist
watches, ID or Medic Alert bracelets. You can also wear rings as long as
they are not costume jewellery. Female cadets may wear plain gold stud
earrings in pierced ears. The ear-rings shall be round and not more than
7 mm (1/4 in.) in diameter. (Male cadets are not permitted to wear
ear-rings.) You cannot wear other types of ear-rings, but you may wear
sleepers while your ears are healing after piercing. Only one pair of
ear-rings/sleepers may be worn at a time.