Dress Regulations
2019 Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Dress Instructions
An updated set of dress instructions has been published in 2019.
Please familiarize yourself with the changes.
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 shoulder 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 immediately 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 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:
- 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.