Uniform Tips
Uniform Tips
UNIFORM RESPONSIBILITY
As long as you are a cadet your uniforms are on loan to you. If you lose or damage any part as a result of malice or negligence on your part, the Commanding Officer may require you to replace the part. Upon your retirement from cadets after at least 2 years, you are permitted to retain your next of skin items, your cap tally and your core crest with authorization from the Stores Officer upon return of your uniform.
PARTS OF THE UNIFORM
NAME TAGS
Cadets are required to wear removable engraved name tags as per the Cadet Dress Regulations. At the time of enrolment and issuance of the uniform, you will receive ONE name tag. Additional name tags and the replacement for loss or damage can be ordered through the canteen using a Corps Request Form (located on the Bulletin Board outside the office). The Stores Officer will place a name tag order mid-month so cadets have name tags for Monthly Ceremonial Divisions.
SEAMAN'S CAP/WHITE TOP
- Worn in all orders of dress (except C4 and sports gear)
- Worn with Cap Tally (bow on the left)
- Chinstay must be sewn in
TUNIC
- Worn for C1, C2, C3 orders of dress
- All badges to be sewn on with proper colour thread in correct locations
- Must be worn with Lanyard and Tunic Belt
- Clean, free of Lint, no creases with ironing
- Name Tags worn over right pocket
- Medals for C1, Ribbons for C3
LANYARD
- Worn in C1 and C3 orders of dress
- Worn around neck, under collar
- Knot is placed on the first done up button, loops around second done up button, remainder in pocket
- Clean, always kept white
STU/WORKDRESS SHIRT
- Worn in C4 order of dress
- Worn with rank slip-ons
- Worn with black t-shirt
- Ironed with sharp crease down both sleeves
- Sleeves must be flat-rolled to past elbow
PANTS
- Worn in C4 order of dress
- Worn with rank slip-ons
- Worn with black t-shirt
- Ironed with sharp crease down both sleeves
- Sleeves must be flat-rolled to past elbow
BOOTS
- Worn in all orders of dress (except sports dress)
- Worn with Wool Socks
- Will be polished to a gloss finish
- Entire boot to be free of dirt
PARKA (INNER)
- Worn over all orders of dress, except sports
- Worn during fall/spring as outer wear
- Worn with Parka (Outer) as liner during winter
- Worn with rank Slip-ons
- Clean, free of lint
- *All cadets may not get issued, depending on corps clothing budget
TOUQUE
- Worn with all orders of dress in winter months (except sports dress), where required
- Clean, free of lint
CAP TALLY
- Worn on Seaman's Cap with bow tied on left side
TUNIC BELT
- Always worn with Tunic
- Worn counter-clockwise around waist
- Clean, Free of Lint
GUNSHIRT
- Worn in C1, C3, C3A orders of dress
- Worn under tunic
- Irons with sharp crease down centre and on both sleeves
- Clean, always kept white
BLACK T-SHIRT
- Worn in C4 and sports dress only
PANTS BELT
- Worn in all orders of dress, except sports
- Worn with Brass-On-Brass (buckle closure)
WOOL SOCKS
- Worn in all orders of dress (except sports)
- Worn with Parade Boots
- May be worn with a second pair of cotton socks underneath if material causes irritation
PARKA (OUTER)
- Worn over all orders of dress, except sports
- Worn during winter as outer wear
- Worn with Parka (Inner) as liner during winter
- Worn with rank Slip-ons
- Clean, free of lint
- *All cadets may not get issued, depending on corps clothing budget
WINTER GLOVES
- Worn with all orders of dress (except sports)
- Worn during winter months as outerwear
- Clean, free of lint
RANK SLIP-ON
- Worn with C4 Dress, and on Parka
- Clean, Free of Lint
BALL CAP
- Worn in C4 dress only
- Clean, Free of Lint
KEEPING YOUR UNIFORM UP TO STANDARD
AIt probably seems like there are a lot of rules to follow when wearing your uniform, but it is important that everyone strives to achieve the set standards detailed in Cadets and Canadian Junior Ranger Dress Instructions. When you are in uniform, and in the public eye, people notice how you behave. Conduct such as chewing gum, slouching, smoking on the street and walking hand in hand is forbidden.
You should wear your uniform with pride and always be on your best behaviour. You are representing the Sea Cadet organization and your community - that means giving the best impression that you possibly can.
UNIFORM CARE
Here are some tips, tricks and videos; sew badges and polish boots, tie your cap tally and wear webbing to name a few, to help you ensure you are well turned out whenever you are in uniform. Please refer to the Cadets and Canadian Junior Ranger Dress Instructions for the expected standard. Seek advice and support from your Divisional Petty Officer, a fellow cadet, or one of the seniors, if required.
A pressing cloth can be a towel or piece of cotton material laid over-top of your uniform clothing part you are ironing.
BADGES
Will be sewn on the cadet tunic neatly, using a thread which blends in with the material. Do Not glue your badges or corps crest. It ruins the tunic for the next cadet who needs it when you grow out of it and costs the corps to replace it.
See "Badge Placement" to find out where each of your badges should be positioned.
Click on the link below to watch a video on how to sew on your badges.
If you are concerned about making sure you have them in the right place, approach your Divisional Petty Officer or your Divisional Officer for assistance in confirming placement of badges before you sew them on.
SEAMAN'S CAP OR WHITE TOP
Worn so that the rim is one finger above your eyebrow, cap level on your head.
The front cap seam is centred directly over your nose.
Care Tip:
Hand wash your cap regularly in cold water and detergent, using an old toothbrush to scrub the dirt off.
Your chinstay is to be sewn inside your cap at the length that permits the stay to fit under your chin. You do not wear your chinstay unless you are told to.
Cap tally with "Royal Canadian Sea Cadets" should be centred so that the front cap seam is between the "I" and "A" of the word "Canadian".
Iron your cap tally before you tie it onto to your cap. Tie your cap tally with a neat bow, not more than 7.5 cm and not less than 5 cm across. The ends are of equal length. Centre your bow over the left ear vents.
Cap tallies with corps names shall be worn the same way, except centred accordingly
Do NOT cut off the ends of your tied cap tally until approved by your Divisional Officer. Tuck them in and under the band or bow until approved. If the ends are cut-off before confirmed to meet the standard, the Cap Tally is ruined and a new one needs to be requested.
Click on the links to see a step-by-step guide on how to tie your cap tally.
If you lose or damage your cap tally as a result of malice or negligence on your part, the Commanding Office may request you share in the cost to replace it.
BOOTS
Laced horizontally from side to side.
There are time-honored methods to bringing your boots up to the shiny standard you see on other boots. It takes time and patience, but hard work will bring great results.
Try the following:
Remove dust and dirt from boot with a soft damp cloth.
Use an old toothbrush to remove dirt from catwalks.
Use a toothbrush, with polish, to blacken the catwalks.
Apply a moderate amount of polish to the area of the boot you will polish first.
Use a polishing cloth or other soft cloth wrapped around your index finger and dampened with cool water.
You should work on one section 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.
Boots must be free of dirt, clean and evenly blackened to meet the standard. Don’t stop there. Continue applying coats of polish in this way until the boots have a high gloss, exceeding the standard and demonstrating what is possible and how it feels to have shiny boots.
Be patient, good boots take time.
Click here
to watch a video on how to polish cadet boots.
BLUE SEA TRAINING UNIFORM (STU) SHIRT - C5 ORDER OF DRESS
Sleeves are pressed with a crease along the upper edge of each sleeve.
Click here
to watch a video on how to iron the blue STU shirt.
GREY WOOL SOCKS
If you are allergic to wool, white sports socks can be worn under your grey wool socks, or a suitable grey replacement may be used.
PANTS
Pants are worn with a black narrow web belt with a gold buckle. Size it with a bit of growing room before your cut it to fit better. Tuck the excess in behind the belt buckle to hide it rather than wrapping around your waist too far. Try to have the top end no more than 2 inches beyond the buckle.
Pants are to be pressed to have creases down the centre of each leg.
Pants should be evenly hemmed to the level of the first boot lace closest to the toe.
Care Tip:
Wet your pants (with a spray bottle filled with water) when ironing to make sharp creases,
Use a pressing cloth (thin towel, or pillow case) when ironing, to prevent shininess and burning that can leave iron marks.
Click here
the link to watch a video on how to iron pants.
TUNIC
Sleeves shall be roll-pressed with no creases.
When your tunic is worn, it shall be fully buttoned, except for the first button down from the top.
Ensure all your pocket buttons are done up.
Do not fill your pockets with items so that they bulge out.
Be sure your belt is even, with no twists.
Tunic belt is to be worn under Web belts.
Care Tip:
Use a pressing cloth (thin towel, or pillow case) when ironing, to prevent shininess and burning that can leave iron marks.
LANYARD
Worn under the collar of your tunic.
The knot is at the level of your first fastened button.
Tuck the end of your lanyard into the inner corner of left breast pocket with the slack or bight hanging 8 cm below the level of the top of pocket. Make sure the pocket is done up.
WEBBING
Worn by guards, flag parties, gun crews, band members, quartermasters and members of gangway staff while on duty, Chief Petty Officers, duty yeomen, duty buglers, members of side parties, and drill teams.
Webbing consists of white web or plastic belt and white web gaiters which go around your ankles.
White belts shall not be worn without gaiters.
Gaiters shall be worn with the scalloped edges down, buckles to the outside, tab ends to the back and tucked into retaining loops.
Care Tip:
Hand wash your webbing regularly in cold water and detergent.
PARKAS
3-in-1 design.
Black, drawstring waist with fleece lining. The fleece lining should not be worn separately.
Your rank is attached to your shoulder epaulets/slipons.
When worn, parka shall be fully done up. When not worn, carried neatly folded over your bent left arm.
Can be worn on mandatory support weekends.
BLACK GLOVES
Wear with your parka when the weather is cold.
BLACK TOQUE
Worn so that the rim of the toque is one finger above the eye-brow.
Wool or acrylic.
The insignia is centered directly over your nose.
Worn only with the parka.