Uniforms

Your Uniform is Government Property !

When you joined cadets your parents signed your enrollment form. By signing the enrollment 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.

e. You must return your uniform promptly if you leave the squadron.

The uniform you have just been issued is on loan to you for as long as you are an Air Cadet. It is important that you treat the uniform with the care and respect it deserves. Cadets requiring new uniform parts should speak directly with the Squadron Supply Officer. [More]

Click here for Dress Regs

NOTE: Official documents such as Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATO’s), including Dress Regulations, are in the Cadets Canada Org (CCO) file repository. Contact your Training Officer for details.

C3 – Daily duty dress.

C3A – Same as C3 without jacket.

C3B – Routine duty dress.

C3C – Same as C3 without tie (shirt collar is brought out above tunic collar for Army and Air Cadets only).

C3D – Same as C3, except shirt is replaced by crewneck sweater.

C3E – Service and travel dress. Same as C3 except shirt is replaced by t-shirt. Jacket carried or worn during travel.

C3F – Same as C3D less tunic.

C5 - Training dress (FTU) - The following may be worn: wide-brimmed tan summer hat, beret, toque, turban, balmoral, Glengarry, caubeen and khaki tam o’shanter. How to Wear and Care for FTU from 243Sqn.

C5B - Flying Clothing - The following headdress may be worn with flying clothing: wedge cap, beret, wide-brimmed tan summer hat, turban and toque.

C5D - Sports Clothing (PT) - Authorized physical fitness training, other occasions as ordered. Civilian sports attire must be conservative and no markings that could be deemed to be offensive or otherwise reflect discredit on the Cadet Program.

C1A

C3B

C3D

C3E

C3F

C5 FTU Wedge

C5 FTU Beret

Care of Your Dress Blue Uniform

Please follow these simple instructions:

Tunic (jacket)

Do not glue the badges on (the glue will destroy the uniform for future use by leaving a residue). See How to Sew on Badges.
Do not use a sewing machine to sew on the badges (the stitches destroy the uniform when removing them for higher rank badges).
When sewing on buttons and badges, use appropriate matching thread. When purchasing thread from a store take the badge with you for a colour match.
Wash the tunic when it is dirty.
Hang it on a hanger after you wear it to keep it wrinkle free.
If you need to iron the tunic, remember it is polyester and will melt if you use a high temperature. It is best to have a barrier between the tunic and the iron, for example, a cotton cloth to absorb the excess heat. Use a polyester setting on the iron. Ironing the tunic is not hard, at all. You just have to make sure it is not wrinkled. The trick is not to iron the sleeves or else you will create creases.
Put your name in the tunic so you can tell which is yours when you remove it.
Start at page 60 in Dress Regs for where to place badges.
Your name tag must be placed on the right-hand side of your tunic. It is placed on the top edge of the breast pocket, centered with the button. Pick the middle letter of your last name and place it above the button.

Pants

When ironing pants try to avoid double creases in the legs. These are known as train tracks.
Hang pants after wearing to keep them wrinkle free. Put the seams together so the creases are kept sharp.
You must have creases on both pant legs, and in the front and the back. The creases must go all the way up to the belt loops.
Do not iron on a high temperature, they are made of polyester and will melt destroying the pants. See video below.
Use a barrier between the iron and the pant leg to protect the material from accidental scorching or burning.
Do not use starch on pants. Starch will increase the chance of melting and leave a white residue.
Wash pants when required.
When hemming the pants, do not cut the excess material. When a cadet outgrows pants the returned pants are reissued to someone else.
Do not hem pants using a sewing machine. This leaves a permanent mark on the pant leg making them unusable once returned.

Shirt, T-shirt, Sweater

Wash your shirt, t-shirt or sweater after every wearing.
Use a pre-wash on the collar and under arms to prevent stains (makeup and sweat is difficult to get out if not washed regularly and pre-treated).
Iron your shirt before wearing. You should have creases in the centre of both of your sleeves. In order to find the exact place to iron the creases in, fold your flaps in half.

Tie

Wash and iron when required - use cold water wash.
You will be taught how to tie your tie by a senior cadet if you do not know how.
Your tie must be centred in the middle of your shirt. Use a Windsor knot.
See page 26 in Dress Regs.

Wedge

Keep you wedge lint and dirt free (try to keep it away from pet hair).
Wash your wedge when it gets dirty, gently in cold water, and let it lie flat to dry.
Put your name in it.

Overcoat

Keep it clean and wash it in the washing machine when it's dirty.

Socks

Wash your socks after every wearing - use cold water wash and hang to dry.

Boots

Store boots in a safe place where they will not get knocked around.
Cover them when not in use (many cadets use their polishing cloth for this).
Wipe all dirt of boots before polishing.
Kiwi polish is the recommended brand of polish for cadet boots.
Spend time on your boots every week (while watching TV is a good time to polish boots).
It takes time to bring up a good shine on a new pair of boots, but with regular attention the shine will come. If you need guidance on polishing boots, ask a senior cadet.
Put your name in them. If you leave them behind we know where to return them.
Your black issue boots are laced straight across, see page 27 in Dress Regs. You shall keep them in good repair and well shined.
Remove dust and dirt from a boot with a soft damp cloth (do not use this cloth for polishing); use an old toothbrush to remove dirt from the welts; use the toothbrush, with polish, to blacken the welts; and apply a moderate amount of polish to the area of the boot you will polish first. Use a polish cloth or other soft cloth wrapped around your index finger and dampened in cool water.

In order to achieve a mirror-like shine, you have to work hard on them. The trick is to put a bit of water and shoe polish and draw little circles on your booths until you can see your reflection. You should work one section of the boot at a time. Apply the polish in a circular motion. Start with larger circles to cover the area with polish. Use smaller circles as the polish works into the boot. Continue with the circular motion until you can no longer see the circles formed by the polish. You will have to continue applying coats of polish in this way until the boots have a high gloss. Considerable patience is required with new or previously unpolished boots.

Click on How to Polish Boots for more details!!!

How to Wear and Maintain Field Training Uniform (FTU C5)

Click Here. This document is from 243 Sqn. Dated Apr 2022. Information contain therein is subject to change. If in doubt talk to a staff member.

Here is a video by WO1 Burke from 5 Sqn that shows us How to Tie a Tie - Windsor Knot (3m22s)

Placement of Badges

2015 Badge Placement document - Click Here to View

Consult the Dress Regs document for insignia and badge placement, as well as, tie, hair and boot standards. Other uniform and badge documents exist there as well.

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. See page 60 on the Dress Regs document.

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.

Leading Air Cadet (LAC) Props

Your LAC props belong half-way between the shoulder seam and elbow.

Proficiency Badge

Your first year proficiency badge is centred on the left sleeve of the tunic. The bottom edge of the badge should be 7.0 cm above the bottom of the sleeve.

Name Tag

If you have a name tag it is worn on the flap of the right breast pocket of the tunic. The name tag is placed half-way between the button and the top of the flap.

First Aid Badge

If you have Emergency or Standard First Aid qualifications, your badges should be on the left-sleeve, centred, 7.0 cm from the bottom of the sleeve, or 1.0 cm above the proficiency badge, if one is worn.