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When Chief Master Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force Kaleth Wright speaks with fellow airmen his uniform is perfect. Is yours?
YOUR UNIFORM is a visual representation of your commitment to the Core Values.
Because uniforms are unique — only CAP cadets wear the CAP cadet uniform — they are a source of pride. Wearing the uniform is part of your leadership training. The uniform helps you develop self-discipline, personal responsibility, and self-respect. Whenever you wear the uniform, you represent not just ... yourself but also all of CAP and the U.S. Air Force, so wear the uniform with pride.
How to Obtain Uniforms
Your squadron may be able to provide some uniform articles for free. If not, consider our uniform partner, Vanguard, or if you live near an Air Force installation, ask local leaders about the military clothing sales store.
Upon completing Achievement 1, CAP provides cadets with a Curry Uniform Voucher via email to help offset costs for the two uniforms. Again, some articles may be available for ... free locally. The approximate cost for both uniforms is $380 without the voucher.
When a cadet outgrows a uniform or leaves CAP, we ask families to turn those items in to the squadron so other cadets might use them.
How to Prepare Your Uniform
For a quick start, see pages 16-17 in the New Cadet Guide, pictured below.
Ten Tips for Looking Sharp in Uniform
Keep your insignia in a special place at home.
Prepare your uniform the night before you wear it.
Trim loose strings from buttons
How the Curry Uniform Voucher Works
The Curry Uniform Voucher provides cadets with financial support to assist them in purchasing their first uniforms, upon their earning Achievement 1, The Curry Achievement.
(1) Self-Declare Financial Need in Membership Application. The cadet declares their financial need category when they complete the membership form (CAPF 15 or online form).
(2) Earn the Curry Achievement. The cadet completes the tasks necessary for the first promotion and earns the Curry ... Achievement.
(3) Voucher Arrives. Within 5 days of officially completing Achievement 1, cadets receive their voucher email containing a unique "coupon code" from our uniform partner, Vanguard. The email comes from curry@vanguardmil.com and is sent to the cadet, the primary parent email, Commander and Deputy Commander for Cadets.
Voucher Amount. The voucher amount for new cadets will be determined based on the family's financial need as declared in the membership application. The financial priority ... incomes under $80,000
3rd Priority cadets receive a $75 voucher (default amount). This includes families not eligible for Priority 1 or 2, but the family declares they are facing financial challenges
Voluntary Opt-Out for cadets who do not require assistance to obtain a uniform
(4) Shop. The cadet may use their voucher to purchase items from a limited menu that include Blues and ABU items. A full set of new uniforms costs about $380. Families should first see if uniforms can be issued items from
Only actively serving CAP members are permitted to wear the CAP uniform.
paragraph 7.1.1.4.2.2 to be worn. No specialty track patches are currently authorized. Members should review the ICL for proper wear and placement.
3. Question: Do CAP's height and weight standards apply to OCPs?
Answer: Made clear by references to the USAF uniform regulation (DAFI 36-2903), the OCP is a USAF-style uniform. The requirements of CAPR 39-1, paragraph 3.2, "USAF-style Uniform Grooming Standards," and Attachment 2, "CAP Weight Standards," apply to this uniform as a USAF ... -style uniform.
4. Question: Para 7.1.18 states that “Officers and Cadet Officers will wear sewn on or Velcro rank insignia centered….,” however, the patrol cap is not sold with Velcro on the front of it for a rank; it is only sold with Velcro on the back for the nametape. This would therefore cause all officers and cadet officers to sew not only their tapes and ranks on their patrol cap, but on the OCP coat as well, since the mixing of Velcro and sewn on tapes and ranks is not ... the boots. Members will not wrap the trouser leg around the leg tightly enough to present a pegged appearance or insert any items inside the trouser leg to create a round appearance at the bottom of the trouser leg. When bloused, the trousers will not extend below the third eyelet from the top of the boot.”
6. Question: My commander is saying no one in our unit is allowed to switch to OCP uniform wear until everyone in the unit has them, is this true?
Answer: The Operational
DIRECTORS, AND CHIEF
OFFICERS
FROM: CAP/CC
SUBJECT: Hot Weather Uniform Guidance
1. Civil Air Patrol conducts ... heat-related risks, a Hot Weather Uniform is authorized, effective immediately.
This policy applies to all activities ... except flight academies, which may implement the uniform
beginning in 2026.
3. Adult Members are authorized to
Adult members may wear the USAF-style uniforms or one of the distinctive CAP uniforms, but usually, some type of uniform is required to participate in activities, events and missions.
Aerospace Education Members (AEMs), our teacher members, do not wear a CAP uniform.
Cadets need one uniform to get started. Eventually, the cadet will want to have both the camouflage utility uniform (ABUs) and the Air Force-style service uniform, "blues."
Upon completing Achievement 1 and becoming a Cadet Airman, cadets qualify for the Curry Uniform Voucher, which covers some of the costs of the ABUs and Air Force-style blue uniforms.
Before you purchase any uniform items, please be sure to speak with your squadron leaders. They can help ensure you're getting the right uniform and may be able to provide information on how to obtain it locally.
