Uniforms
Uniform Shopping List
Thunderbird Cadet Squadron utilizes the official CAP uniforms. All rules and requirements for proper wear of the uniform are found in CAP Regulation 39-1. As a member of our squadron, you are responsible for acquiring all the necessary uniform items and wearing them properly. If you do not have all the necessary items for a particular uniform, please refrain from wearing it until you have obtained all the necessary items. This is out of respect for the uniform and for the men and women whose service it represents.
Vanguard Industries is the official uniform supplier of CAP. It is the only source of CAP-specific insignia and CAP-specific uniform accoutrements. Some CAP uniforms utilize current or past U.S. Air Force uniform items, and these items may also be obtained through 3rd party sources such as military surplus stores, the internet, or Air Force Base Exchanges. Thunderbird Squadron also has access to a limited supply of used, second-hand uniform items however there is no guarantee of size selection or fit.
Each cadet is ultimately responsible for obtaining their own uniform items and for wearing them according to regulations. The following is a list of uniform items and suggested links for purchasing the items, as applicable. All items are required unless otherwise noted, but you may source them from wherever you choose, as long as they comply with regulations.
Blue Service Uniform - Class B (Blues)
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Male Cadets
- Shirt - Male Blues Shirt
- Undershirt - A V-neck white undershirt is required to be worn under the Blues shirt
- Trousers - Male Blues Trousers
- Shoes or ABU boots (low-quarter, oxford-style shoes) - ABU boots are authorized to wear with Blues Uniform and good option for younger cadets who are still growing.
- Socks - Plain black socks
- Belt - Male Blues Belt
- Flight cap - Male Blues Cap
- Flight cap device - Cap device required for all cadets
- Nametag - customized nametag for blues uniform
- Necktie (optional for the short-sleeved shirt, but recommended) -
- Tie Bar or Tie Tac (optional, tie can be worn without it) -
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Female Cadets
- Blouse - two options: tuck-in style blouse or semi-form fitting blouse (choose one)
- Tuck-in style blouse - Not available on Vanguard may be found at Military clothing on base or surplus stores
- Semi-form fitting blouse - Female Blues Overblouse AKA Princess Cut
- Trousers - two options: slacks or skirt (choose one)
- Shoes - Three main options: usually, shoes or boots are worn with the trousers, and pumps are worn with the skirt
- Shoes - the description says male, but it has female sizing options
- Pumps - Plain black pumps of commercial design with no ornamentation such as buckles or straps, hells must be no higher than 3 inches.
- ABU Black Boots - ABU boots are authorized to wear in blues and good option for younger cadets who are still growing.
- Socks (only required with the shoes) - Plain black socks
- Belt - Female Blues Belt
- Flight cap - Female Blues Cap
- Flight cap device - Cap device required for all cadets
- Nametag - customized nametag for blues uniform
- Neck tab (optional for short-sleeved, required on long-sleeve shirts)
- Blouse - two options: tuck-in style blouse or semi-form fitting blouse (choose one)
Airman Battle Uniform (ABU)
The Airman’s Battle Uniform (ABU) is still authorized for wear with a phase-out date of 31 October 2028. Cadets can wear either ABU's or OCP's below until that date.
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All Cadets
- ABU long-sleeve coat
- Adult sizes - ABU Adult Sizes ranging from X-small to 2XL
- Limited youth sizes - Youth sizes smaller and shorter than adult sizes
- T-Shirt - any desert tan t-shirt or the official squadron t-shirt often labeled as sand color
- Trousers
- Adult sizes - Adult sized ABU pants
- Limited youth sizes - Youth sized ABU pants
- Belt - desert tan belt (double check the length)
- Boots - any black combat boots, a good selection of brand new boots in all sizes can be found at General Army Navy Outdoor on Redwood Road
- Socks - plain black socks
- ABU cap - ABU Cap
- Nametape - (customize it with your LAST name)
- Civil Air Patrol Insignia - Blue tape with Civil Air Patrol Embroidery
- Utah Wing patch - Wing patch
- Boot blousing bands - optional but highly recommended
- ABU long-sleeve coat
Operation Camouflage Pattern (OCP)
Cadets are now authorized to wear OCP uniform. OCP's by default are hook and loop patches and badges but sew on patches/badges are authorized, mix and match is not authorized all patches/badges will either be sewn on or hook and loop. Uniform items can be found at Vanguard as linked for each item below, second hand stores especially those near Hill AFB, General Army Navy Outdoor on Redwood Road in SLC, or online places like Amazon and Ebay.
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All Cadets
- OCP long-sleeve coat
- Adult sizes - OCP Adult Sizes ranging from X-small to 2XL
- Limited youth sizes - Youth sizes smaller and shorter than adult sizes
- T-Shirt - any coyote brown t-shirt
- Trousers
- Adult sizes - Adult sized OCP pants
- Limited youth sizes - Youth sized OCP pants
- Belt - desert tan belt (double check the length)
- Boots - any Coyote Brown Suede combat boots
- Socks - plain black socks or green socks
- OCP cap - OCP Patrol cap or Tactical Cap
- Nametape - (customize it with your LAST name) Blue Hook and loop nametapes, recommend ordering 3, 1 for OCP shirt, 1 for OCP Cap, 1 for Fleece.
- Civil Air Patrol Insignia - Blue tape with Civil Air Patrol Embroidery hook and loop 1 for OCP shirt, 1 for OCP fleece
- US Flag - US Flag reversed with hook and loop
- Utah Wing patch - Wing patch with hook and loop
- AUX Patch - AUX patch with hook and loop
- Fleece - Coyote Brown fleece, Optional but highly recommended
- OCP long-sleeve coat
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- Boot blousing bands - optional but highly recommended
Physical Training Uniform (PTU)
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All Cadets
- T-Shirt - plain desert tan or grey T-shirt
- Athletic pants - black or blue shorts or long athletic pants
- Athletic shoes - any athletic shoes, highly recommend good pair of running shoes
