Dress Regulations

2019 Dress Instructions

An updated set of dress instructions has been published in 2019. The following page will be updated shortly to reflect the new regulations. In the mean time please refer to the new dress instructions.

Cadet Administrative and Training Order CATO 55-04: Dress Regulations for Air Cadets, details the items of wear and the uniforms that you are allowed to wear.

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.

PLACEMENT OF BADGES AND INSIGNIA

As a first year cadet you will not need to know where all badges belong on the uniform. This section will explain the placement of the badges you may wear as a first year cadet or after completing Proficiency Level One training.

You will be asked to re-sew the badges should they be out of specification. So pay close attention.

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. The bottom of the sholder flash should parallel the ground when standing at attention. See CATO 55-04 Annex F Appendix 8 and 9.

Leading Air Cadet (LAC) Props. Your LAC props belong half-way between the shoulder seam and elbow. See CATO 55-04 Annex F Appendix 8 and 9.

Proficiency Badge. Your first year proficiency badge is centred on the left sleeve of the tunic. It is worn immediately above the cuff. See CATO 55-04 Annex F Appendix 9.

Name Tag. The name tag is worn on the flap of the right breast pocket of the tunic. The bottom of the name tag is worn immedidately above the top of the flap.

First Aid Badge. If you have Emergency or Standard First Aid qualifications, your badges should be on the right-sleeve, centred, 1.0 cm from the cuff. See CATO 55-04 Annex F Appendix 8.

The placement of all other badges is described in CATO 55-04.

CARE AND WEARING OF THE UNIFORM

You shall only wear your uniform when:

you are attending training or proceeding to or from the place where you train; or
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. See Figure 2-14.

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. See Figure 2-14.

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.

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.

The cuffs of the trousers/slacks should be at the third eyelet of the ankle boots (counted from the bottom). Slightly longer pants (e.g. second eyelet) are acceptable to account for growth.

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. Figure 2-15 illustrates two methods of tying a necktie.

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.

Boots. Your black issue boots are laced straight across, as illustrated in Figure 2-16. You shall keep them in good repair and well shined. The following is one method used to get a good shine on boots:

remove dust and dirt from the 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. 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.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE UNIFORM

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:

Do not leave your uniform lying around.
Mark your name in every piece of your uniform.
Return damaged or poorly fitting parts of your uniform to your squadron supply and get new parts.
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.
You must return your uniform promptly if you leave the squadron.

PERSONAL APPEARANCE

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.

Hair-style. Figure 2-17 illustrates hair-styles for males and Figure 2-18 illustrates hair-styles for females.

The following additional details apply to male cadets:

hair must be taper trimmed at the back, sides, and above the ears to blend with the hairstyle; be no more than 15 cm (6 in.) in length and sufficiently short that, when the hair is groomed and wedge is removed, no hair shall touch the ears or fall below the top of the eyebrows ; be no more than 4 cm (1-1/2 in.) in bulk at the top of the head, gradually decreasing to blend with the taper trimmed sides and back; and be kept free from the neck to a distance of 2.5 cm (1 in.) above the shirt collar. Taper trimmed square back styles and shaving of all the hair on the head are permitted.
Sideburns shall not extend below a line horizontally bisecting the ear and shall be squared off horizontally at the bottom edge and taper trimmed to conform to the overall hairstyle.

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.

Jewelry. You shall not wear jewelry 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 jewelry. 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. (See Figure 2-19.)

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.