No2/ 2a Dress
No2A Dress: ‘Wedgewoods’
Wedgewood Blue uniform is the uniform worn by cadets attending formal events or parades. It is also the uniform worn by all CWOs. The Wedgewood blue shirt is issued to cadets in 4 flight, and, unlike working blue shirts (see below), Wedgewood’s are different for males and females. The main difference is that male Wedgewood shirts have breast pockets, whereas female shirts do not.
These shirts are also worn with an issued black tie, tied in a full Windsor knot (See below in the ‘Uniform Tips’ section for a tutorial on how to tie a full Windsor knot). This is worn with standard-issue blues trousers (including standard issue blue belt) or skirt, beret, parade shoes, black socks (males) or barely black tights (females), and brassard on the right arm. NCOs wear blue rank slides, and can also wear stable belts. However, if jumpers are worn as per No2 Dress then standard blue belts must be worn instead, and rank slides and brassards are worn on the jumper.
Points to Remember:
- Sleeves Rolled Down
- Full Windsor Knot Tie
- Top button is done up
- Tie should reach to between the belly button and belt buckle
- No name badges are worn
- Brassard goes on right sleeve
No2c Dress
No2C Dress: ‘Working Blues’
Working blue uniform is the uniform most commonly worn on parade nights. The working blues shirt is issued to all recruits in 4 flight, along with their blues trousers/ skirt, blue belt (males), jumper, jeltex (foul weather jacket), Wedgewood shirt, black tie, beret and brassard. Made to be practical and comfortable, while still being smart, these shirts can be worn in a multitude of activities, including flying. This shirt can be clearly distinguished from the Wedgewood blue shirt, as it is a much darker blue. As this is not as formal a dress as Wedgewoods, they are worn differently. The main differences is that the Working blue shirt is worn with top button undone, with the collar ironed open. Also, the sleeves of the No2C shirt are rolled up, so that the sleeve has a neatly folded cuff, which is three fingers wide, and rolled so that it is three fingers width from the elbow. This is worn with standard-issue blues trousers (including standard issue blue belt) or skirt, beret, parade shoes, black socks (males) or barely black tights (females), and brassard on the right arm. NCOs wear blue rank slides, and can also wear stable belts. However, if jumpers are worn with No2C Dress then standard blue belts must be worn, and rank slides and brassards are worn on the jumper. On 2427 Squadron name badges are issued to cadets. These badges are to be worn so that the bottom of the badge is level and touching the top of the right breast pocket of the shirt, or if jumpers are worn so that the top of the badge is level and touching the bottom of the right shoulder patch.
Points to Remember:
- Sleeves Rolled Up
- Top button undone and collar ironed openName Badge to be worn (if issued)
- Name Badge to be worn (if issued)
- Brassard goes on the outside of the rolled right sleeve (Shirt sleeve order only)
No3 Dress – MTP/ DPM (CS95)
No3 Dress: MTP (Multi Terrain Pattern) or CS95 DPM (Combat Soldier 1995 Disruptive Pattern Material)
More commonly referred to as ‘Greens’ uniform, the Air Training Corp currently (2015) accepts both MTP and DPM as combats clothing, used for various activities such as initiative exercises, obstacle courses, and fieldcraft, as well as many other outdoor activities. Unlike No2, 2A, and 2C dress, ‘greens’ are not issued to cadets, apart from the Air Cadet beret worn with all of these uniforms. The uniform of both MTP and DPM consists of; trousers, an olive green Squadron T-shirt (issued in recruit flight) or other plain olive green/ black T-shirt, light jacket (shirt), smock, greens belt, black boots (can be brown if worn with MTP) and the ATC Beret. NCOs wear blue rank slides, or camouflaged rank slides if on an exercise, and is authorised by staff. NCOs can also wear stable belts, but only if they are not partaking in any activities, and the uniform is worn as barrack dress. Stable belts are also only to be worn if in shirt sleeve order and are not to be worn with a smock.
MTP and DPM uniforms differ slightly in appearance/ colouration, however, maintenance of the two are very different. MTP uniform incorporates anti-IR technology, which makes the wearer less visible to thermal imaging when in combat. For this reason, the MTP light jacket, or shirt, is not to be ironed with creases in the sleeves, as this damages this ability of the material. Another difference is that MTP sleeves are not to be rolled up, as the patches on the sleeves prevent this. MTP and DPM trousers, however, are both ironed the same way. For more information about ironing uniform, visit the ‘Uniform Tips’ section. Black boots (or brown if worn with MTP) are worn with this uniform. The boots must have correct ankle support, and the trousers must be put over the boots, and held in place either with the drawstrings in the trousers or with ‘twisties’.
Points to Remember:
- MTP shirt not to be ironed with creases in the sleeves
MTP shirt sleeves must be rolled down- Boots must have correct ankle support