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Monday, August 14, 2006

Berets strike back?

According to info that has been posted on both Cadetstuff and Civil Air Portal, it would seem the NBB graduates will once again be able to wear their berets at unit activities. This info supposedly comes from a seminar on uniform updates at the national conference. Call me crazy, but didnt we already see what happened the first time we allowed these distinct covers at unit activities? I like the idea of what the beret represents, but more often then not it simply breeds elitism into the corps.

Below is a more complete list of the supposed uniform changes and subjects discussed: (taken from Civil Air Portal)

"On the Corporate Blues:
Up to four CAP badges may be worn. Two above the ribbons, one on the left breast pocket, one on the right breast pocket. A sdqn or group commander may wear the command badge above the nameplate instead of one of the other badges.
Military ribbons may be worn on the corporate blues IF the granting service allows ribbons to be worn on civilian clothing. Military badges may NOT be worn on the corporate blues. This applies to the shirt and service dress versions. This does not apply to the corporate greys. As had been guessed, the specs on wearing the insignia on the flight cap with this uniform came from the Navy, as did the black windbreaker, which - without grade insignia - may be worn with any corporate uniform, and with grade insignia, may only be worn with the corporate blues.
Currently, no raingear or heavy outerwear is listed, so any civilian coats will do for these, but that may change.
The service cap is the AF service cap with a ‘grey’ band instead of black. Vanguard is stocking these bands already. They will also have CAP screw post buttons to hold the band on, however, these are not yet available.

On the bdu:
CAP has submitted an official request to the AF to obtain permission to wear the Goretex jacket with the bdu, using a blue slide on the tab. The slide will have “CAP” and full color grade insignia embroidered on it for seniors and “CAP” with a spot for grade insignia for cadets. This had gone through CAP-USAF, AU, and AETC, and is at the Air Staff at this time. Ms. Parker thinks the AF will approve it.
Berets – Apparently, the NB has approved blue berets for wear by graduates of NBB and Hawk at their units after the activity. It seems they have taken the step to prevent wing and unit commanders from changing this. This change was made yesterday. Ms. Parker didn’t have much information on it.
The national HSO has approached the AF about wearing a solid color boonie hat. The AF was receptive to this and they next step is for the NB/NEC to officially run it through CAP-USAF.
CAP has also submitted for approval, SM's wearing grade insignia on bdu caps.

On the AF flightsuit:
CAP has requested permission to use embroidered grade insignia for seniors. The proposed insignia are to be full color on green fabric. They would be an option to the plastic encased insignia currently used, not a replacement.
The new black leather jacket IS NOT authorized for this uniform."

Senior member grade on BDU caps? Im very on the fence about this one. While it would be nice to be able to have one's grade on the cap, I think this just opens up even more room for uniform violations. If there will be grade on the cap I think it needs to be like the cadets; cloth. If for some reason they decide to use pin on metal grade I think youre just opening yourself up for a world of bad AF-CAP relations. Berry-Boards anyone?

In regards to the flight-suit insignia: I for one find the plastic encased insignia much easier to swap out in the case of promotion through the use of velcro, but I suppose given the rate of promotion after Capt, youre not really looking at that much sewing to deal with in the first place. At least the insignia would be uniform with our BDU's.

1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

and now you wear one and wouldn't have it any other way. Like I told you..."If you're not a beret you just can't understand"

4:35 PM  

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