Uniform Tips NLCC
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.
Once a cadet is issued a uniform, parents/guardians are requested to provide a post dated cheque (June) for $75.00, each year, as a security deposit to encourage the return of the uniform at the end of the year. If the uniform is returned, the cheque is returned or destroyed at the direction of the parent.
PARTS OF THE UNIFORM
NAME TAGS
Name tags are optional for Navy League Cadets. The expectation is that it shall be worn when it can be provided to all. The type of name tag is a removable engraved name tags as per the the NL 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. The Stores Officer will place a name tag order mid-month, that includes both Navy League and Sea Cadets.
****UNIFORM PART PICTURES - are the best available at the time of publishing. Many parts are similar between Navy League Cadets and Sea Cadets. Pictures will be replaced as they become available.
SEAMAN'S CAP/WHITE TOP
- Worn with regular uniform unless otherwise directed
- Not worn with sports gear
- Worn with Cap Tally (bow on the left)
- Chinstay must be sewn in
TUNIC
LANYARD
- Worn around neck, under epaulettes
- Knot is placed on the second button, loops to the fourth button, remainder tucked into corner of left breast pocket
- Clean, always kept white
BLUE SHIRT
- Worn with black t-shirt(optional)
- Flat-ironed/roll press- NO creases on the sleeves
- Sleeves usually worn full length and buttoned at wrist
- Worn with rank slip ons/epaulettes
PANTS
- Black, Navy League pattern
- Worn with regular uniform
- Worn with white waist belt
BOOTS/BLACK FOOTWEAR
- Worn with regular order of dress and during drill practices
- Worn with black or wool Socks
- Will be clean and blackened, polished if possible
- 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
TOUQUE
- Worn in fall and winter months, where required
- Clean, free of lint
CAP TALLY/RIBBON
- Worn on Seaman's Cap with bow tied on left side
BLACK T-SHIRT
- Worn under blue shirt, relaxed dress and sports dress
- Optional wear
- T-shirt with corps name/crest can be worn as work dress
WAIST BELT
- White belt - wide
- Worn with regular uniform, through belt loops on pants
- Adjust to fit at the side
- Worn with buckle centred at the front of your trousers
BLACK OR WOOL SOCKS
- Worn in all orders of dress (except sports)
- Worn with Parade Boots
- Wool socks may be worn with a second pair of cotton socks underneath if material causes irritation
PARKA (OUTER)
WINTER GLOVES
- Worn over all orders of dress,
- Worn during winter as outer wear
- Worn with Parka (Inner) as liner during winter
- Clean, free of lint
- Worn with all orders of dress (except sports)
- Worn during winter months as outerwear
- Clean, free of lint
RANK SLIP-ON
- Worn with Blue Shirt
- Clean, Free of Lint
BALL CAP
- Worn with work dress or as an alternative to the white top, at the direction of Commanding Officer
- Not to be worn at public parades, fundraisers or ceremonial events
- Clean, Free of Lint
KEEPING YOUR UNIFORM UP TO STANDARD
It 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 National Dress Regulations NL 226E.
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 National Dress Regulations NL 226E for the expected standard. Seek advice and support from your Divisional Petty Officer, a fellow cadet, a staff person or your parents.
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 blue shirt neatly, using a thread which blends in with the material. Do Not glue your badges or corps crest. It ruins the shirt 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, a fellow cadet, a staff person or your parents 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 "Navy League Cadet Corps Cataraqui" should be centred so that the front cap seam is between the "D" and "E" of the word "Cadet". Cap tally with "N.L.C.C. Cataraqui" should be centred so that the front cap seam is between the "C" and "A" of the word "Cataraqui".
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.
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 many time-honoured 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 options:
Remove dust and dirt from boot with a soft damp cloth.
Option 1
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.
Option 2
Place a LIGHT coat of black shoe polish (Kiwi works best) on the boots let it dry for 15 to 20 minutes, then using cold-water rub in small circles until a shine can be seen. When finished the boots can be buffed with an old nylon. Do not use a shoe brush, it works fine for normal shoes, however, it is next to impossible to get a high gloss shine using a brush. Your boots should be polished after every time you wear them. When finished put them in a place where they will not get scuffed.
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 SHIRT
Iron your shirt on a high temperature inside out (all except the sleeves), it will come out nicely. For the sleeves, place them on the ironing board with the seam to one side. Iron each sleeve flat and ensure that there are no creases. The sleeve will have to be rolled on the board in order to ensure that the entire sleeve has been pressed. Make sure no threads (Irish pennants) are sticking out. If so, clip them off with a pair of scissors. Press your collar, epaulettes, and cuffs.
BLACK SOCKS OR 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 such that the bottom shall touch the instep of boot/footwear or second lace, without bagging, hanging straight.
Pants are to be pressed to have creases down the centre of each leg. Pants should be evenly hemmed. Please DO NOT
cut the pants.
Pants are to be worn with the issued waist belt.
Care Tip:
Turn inside out and press with a damp lint-free cloth over the seams. DO NOT put a crease down the front of your trousers. In most cases each side must be done separately, as the seams at the sides do not usually line up. When finished leave them inside out and place on a pant hanger or a hanger that will not leave a crease through the middle.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.
LANYARD
Worn under the collar and under the epaulettes of your shirt.
The knot is at the level of your second fastened button. Tuck the end of your lanyard into the inner corner of left breast pocket with the slack or bight/loop hanging around your fourth (4th) button. Make sure the pocket is done up.
Care Tip:
Made of cotton, it is machine washable DO NOT DRY IT IN A DRYER. To dry, place some tape on a nail somewhere so rust will not get on the lanyard and then tie a shoe to the other end for weight. If it is done this way it will look new for years.
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.
When worn, parka shall be fully done up. When not worn, carried neatly folded over your bent left arm.
Can be worn with all orders of dress on sanctioned training and weather dependent.
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.