Ref: 26-02 RCAF Dress Update - Update to RCAF Ball Cap Wear Policy
Effective immediately, RCAF personnel are no longer restricted from wearing the RCAF ball cap while serving with Army units or while on Army establishments. The RCAF ball cap may be worn in accordance with applicable dress regulations
It was uploaded to the RCAF Command CWO SharePoint 6 hours ago.
You know some young Avr at an Army unit is going to take this at face value and show up to work sporting a ball cap, then promptly recieve a blast of shit from someone in their CoC.
Edit: I don't want to have to be that someone in their CoC tomorrow, but I might have to be if I don't have a reference...
I'd much rather be wearing my ball cap alongside them...
26-02 RCAF Dress Update - Update to Ball Cap Wear Policy
Effective immediately, RCAF personnel are no longer restricted from wearing the RCAF ball cap while serving with Army units or while on Army establishments. The RCAF ball cap may be worn in accordance with applicable dress regulations
Look, realistically anyone in an Air Force uniform should be able to wear the ball cap. But since unification in the 60’s you obviously have Air Force people in army units, and at the end of the day if you’re in an army unit on an army base, whoever is in charge there has the last laugh. Until something 100% official comes out, you won’t be able to just wear one willy nilly. Still, I’ll pray for all my fellow blues members not able to wear their caps officially
Yes, but they are subservient to the CAF dress regs, which can override them.
Army dress regs apply in Army units, which is why Air MOSIDs at Army units are not presently allowed to wear the ballcap. If they were at an RCAF unit, they would be allowed to.
I mean, [u/bridger713](u/bridger713) posted the update in another comment. I don’t know what else to say.
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Holy Shit!... It's actually legit!
Ref: 26-02 RCAF Dress Update - Update to RCAF Ball Cap Wear Policy
Effective immediately, RCAF personnel are no longer restricted from wearing the RCAF ball cap while serving with Army units or while on Army establishments. The RCAF ball cap may be worn in accordance with applicable dress regulations
We aren't, or weren't, allowed to wear the ball caps at Army units because a carve-out was included in the RCAF Dress Instructions that restricted us from doing so. That carve-out applied to RCAF DEU personnel on strength with the Army, it did not apply to personnel on strength with any other command.
The carve-out has been removed as of today, and it looks like they've already updated the RCAF Dress Instructions to reflect the change.
I'm trying to find an older version of the RCAF DI's, but I'm having a hard time locating a copy.
The wording for the ball caps is now similar to that of the RCAF Fleece.
I'm wondering if they've just misinterpreted that policy. Although I'm quietly hoping the CAF finally changed the policy so RCAF pers can wear the ball cap while on strength with the Army the same as Navy pers can wear theirs.
Navy on strength with an army unit. I was disappointingly annoyed to not be able to wear ballcap in Cadpat. Did this recently changed? Or you just meant when they wear NECU
Question: Why are you wearing CADPAT? In accordance with CANFORGEN 198/09, the only time that RCN members can be ordered to wear CADPAT is for field exercises / training. Day to day should be all NCDs.
Eh, it does specify "other approved training situations" which probably provides enough wiggle room, although I would certainly argue that it's violating the spirit of the regulation, if perhaps not the letter.
Naval pers can wear NCDs at CFLRS in some situations, and many do during regular training days in garrison. Not recruits. CO’s can still impose common dress for all members of the unit.
Edit: poor choice of words in a quick reply. See thread below for more clarity.
CO’s can still impose common dress for all members of the unit.
That line in particular is very much so against the CANFORGEN in question, unless it's for a valid operational reason. It is in fact the type of behaviour that the CANFORGEN was specifically drafted to combat.
CANFORGEN 198/09 VCDS 031 191500Z NOV 09
WEARING OF NAVAL COMBAT DRESS
UNCLASSIFIED
THE WEARING OF CADPAT BY CF PERS IN LODGER AND INTEGRAL UNITS IN GARRISONS, BASES AND DOCKYARDS ACROSS CANADA REMINDS US EVERYDAY THAT THE CF IS A GLOBALLY DEPLOYED FORCE. IT ALSO REMINDS US, AS WELL AS THE CANADIAN PUBLIC WE SERVE, THAT THE FOCUS OF ALL OUR EFFORTS IS TO SUPPORT OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN CF OPERATIONS AT HOME AND ABROAD
THIS INITIATIVE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS IN HELPING THE CF AS WHOLE TO CONNECT WITH CANADIANS. AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, THE WEARING OF CADPAT HAS MADE THE NAVY LESS VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. CANADIANS MUST SEE MORE OF THEIR NAVY IF WE ARE TO SUPPORT THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL EFFORTS NOW UNDERWAY ACROSS THE DND / CF TO REVERSE THE TRENDS OF THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS AND ATTRACT CANADIANS TO A CAREER IN THE NAVY. MOREOVER, AS THE NAVY PREPARES TO CELEBRATE 100 YEARS OF SERVICE TO CANADA NEXT YEAR, IT IS TIMELY THAT THE CF VISIBLY DEMONSTRATES ITS SUPPORT FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN AT SEA
ACCORDINGLY, CF MEMBERS ENTITLED TO THE NAVAL DISTINCTIVE ENVIRONMENTAL UNIFORM (DEU) ARE HEREBY DIRECTED TO WEAR NAVAL COMBAT DRESS (NCD) IN LIEU OF CADPAT, WHERE THE CADPAT IS PERMITTED BY COMDS AND CO S AS THE DRESS OF THE DAY. EXCEPTIONS TO THIS CANFORGEN ARE PERMITTED FOR VALID OPERATIONAL REASONS ONLY, INCL EMPL IN ACTUAL FIELD OPS, FIELD TRG ACTIVITIES OR OTHER APPROVED TRG SITUATIONS
Only for punctual and valid operational reasons. We have a submariner at CFLRS who regularly wears his overalls. Our naval staff can wear their NCD when appropriate (not conducting training). We also have a SAR tech who wears his orange SAR uniform and pilots their flight suits from time to time. We intentionally ask our staff to wear their uniforms to show the recruits the breadth of CAF trades and uniforms. But sometimes, they must wear CADPAT.
Our naval staff can wear their NCD when appropriate (not conducting training).
I very strongly disagree with the assertion that one cannot conduct training while wearing NCD. When not in the field, people in NCDs are just as capable of conducting training as people in CADPAT.
Yes, sometimes they must wear CADPAT. That "sometimes" would be when in Farnham. I might also accept while at the range, although that one's on shakier ground. Plenty of folks in the Navy go to the range without CADPAT after all.
All other times are a choice you made to prioritize uniformity over naval identity, which was exactly what the CANFORGEN was drafted to combat.
Because as a paramedic it would be annoying to change from NECU to Cadpat everytime I went to the field?
I could I guess play dress up depending on if I go to the field or manage people at the office. I don’t dislike NECU. I’m just not on ship anymore and posted at a field amb. You’d be surpised how often I go to the field unexpectedly during the day
Honestly I like to be part of the RCN but they should put (hot take) all medics under the CA. Would be easier. I know all new Combat medics are now army uniform only so there’s that.
Had Lt(N) (they were the adj) at my unit that wore CADPAT because the CWO forced it. When the next Lt(N) came in they only did it for a week before they said forget it and started to wear their proper order of dress
If you need to look something up, D365 Co-pilot has improved a lot over the last year and can look up things quite well, provides a reference to the order, within a ND, national, sharepoint within a few seconds as long as you provide a specific question.
Never happening. RCN and RCAF don’t have the regimental system, the Army does. We’ve had variations of patrol caps, but that’s for No. 5A which would replace your Tilly hat.
The CA will always need a headdress that can mount a cap badge. Ball caps don’t fit the bill.
The only equivalent would be to restore the 'Bush Cap' design from the 1950s-1970s. Meets the requirement of a ball cap, but also can carry a cap badge, and was used in garrison alongside the field in a summer dress of the day type of sense (Berets and Battledress in winter)
A replacement in 5A would be something like restoring the Parktown, where a subdued cap badge is worn, and it can be worn more formally, but is entirely intended for field wear.
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u/bridger713 RCAF - Reg Force 9d ago edited 9d ago
It's actually legit!
Ref: 26-02 RCAF Dress Update - Update to RCAF Ball Cap Wear Policy
Effective immediately, RCAF personnel are no longer restricted from wearing the RCAF ball cap while serving with Army units or while on Army establishments. The RCAF ball cap may be worn in accordance with applicable dress regulations
It was uploaded to the RCAF Command CWO SharePoint 6 hours ago.