Wearing the Air Cadet Uniform

Upon enrolling in the cadet program you will be measured and after due time issued a uniform. This uniform remains the property of the Department of National Defense, and following your time with the Squadron, you must return your uniform. As such, you are expected to take good care of your uniform and take pride when wearing it. When in uniform, you represent not only yourself but also 135 Squadron, the Royal Canadian Air Cadets and the Cadet Program as a whole, so it is imperative to have a great looking uniform and maintain exceptional deportment. If you need help with the maintenance of your uniform, consult the senior cadets in your flight.

male hair

Hair must be:

• Taper trimmed at the back, sides, and above the ears to blend with the hairstyle.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Moustaches:
When moustaches are worn alone, the unshaven portion of the face shall not extend outwards beyond the corners of the mouth. Moustaches shall be kept neatly trimmed; not be greater than 2 cm (3/4 in.) in bulk; not extend below the corners of the mouth and not protrude beyond the width of the mouth.

Beards:
Only cadets adherent of the Sikh religion or cadets experiencing recognized medical problems preventing them from shaving may wear the beard. In the latter case, a note from a medical practitioner is required.

female hair

Hair must be:

• Shall not extend below the lower edge of the shirt collar

• Exaggerated styles, including those with excessive fullness or extreme height, are not authorized.

• Braids, if worn, shall be styled conservatively and tied tightly; secured at the end by a knot or a small-unadorned fastener.

• A single braid shall be worn in the centre of the back.

• Double braids shall be worn behind the shoulders.

• Hair shall be a maximum length when gathered behind the head and braided which does not extend below the top of the armpit.

• Multiple braids and/or cornrows shall be directed toward the back of the head, pulled tight to the head and secured at the end by a knot or a small-unadorned fastener.

• Multiple braids extending below the lower edge of the collar are to be gathered in a bun.

• With the permission of the sqn CO, a reasonable period may be authorized in order to transition from short to long hairstyles during which time hair may extend below the lower edge of the shirt collar.

tie

The Double Windsor knot is the only approved knot for wear with the cadet uniform.

Step 1 - Setup: Lift up the collar of your shirt and place the tie around your neck with the two ends hanging down in front of you.  Place the tie so that the narrow end is in your dominant hand.  The wide end should come down slightly two times lower than the narrow end.

Step 2 - The Initial Loop: With your non-dominant hand, take the wide end and cross it over the narrow end about six inches from your neck.  Proceed by taking the wide end with your dominant hand and going under and through the back of the V-shape made by the knot.  Keep a firm grip on the narrow end with your non-dominat hand as you do so.  With your dominant hand, pull the wide end through in the direction of that hand.  

Step 3: Under & Through: With your dominant hand, take the wide end of the tie and go completely under the knot.  Still using the dominant hand, pull the wide end through the V-shape knot and tightly pull it towards your non-dominant hand. 

Step 4 - The Wrap Around: Using your dominant hand, take the wide end and go over the front of the entire knot towards the side of your dominant hand.  Once again, pull on the wide end to tighten the knot and compact the fabric.


Step 5 - Through & Tuck: With your dominant hand, bring the wide end underneath the V-shape knot and up and through to the front side of the knot.  Tuck the wide end down through the front loop of the knot. 
 
Step 6 - Finished Product: Pull the wide end all the way through and tighten the knot.  By grasping the narrow end with your dominant hand, and the knot with your non-dominant hand, pull the knot up snuggly to your neck.  Adjust the knot for comfort and style and flip your collar down

Video Tutorial

boots

Step 1 - Thread one shoe lace though the bottom two holes of your boot so that both ends are inside the boot. This will form the first horizontal stripe.

Step 2 - Adjust the shoelace so that the right end is about twice as long as the left.

Step 3 - Take the left, shorter end of the shoelace and run it along the inside of the shoe. Push it out of the top left hole. You are now done with the shorter end of the shoelace.

Step 4 - Take the right, longer end of the shoelace and feed it into the second hole from the bottom on the left side. The shoelace is now on the outside of the shoe.

Step 5 - Feed the longer end of the shoelace into the second hole from the bottom on the right side, going from the outside in. The shoelace is now on the inside of the shoe. This will form the second horizontal stripe.

Step 6 - Repeat this process with the longer end of the shoelace until you reach the second hole from the top on the right side. This will be your last horizontal stripe.

Step 7 - Thread the shoelace from the second hole from the top through the top hole on the right side. The right shoelace is now on the outside of the shoe.

Video Tutorial