Cadet Handbook

Uniform
After your subs are paid, you will be issued with your uniform. We will provide you with two different uniforms:

What we issue:

You will be required to provide your own black lace-up shoes to wear with your 3B uniform, and your own black/navy socks.

You are required to wear your uniform to all ATC activities and parade nights, unless told otherwise. The uniforms are worth over $700, so it is extremely important that it is well looked after and kept in good repair. If you outgrow your uniform or parts become unserviceable you can go to the Stores of our unit and exchange parts of your uniform free of charge.

Cadets can choose to wear any gender’s uniform, and can have their uniform preferences accommodated either when they collect their uniform or on parade nights in the future. (The only difference in uniform is in the 3B uniform, which have different head-dress and shirts for males and females. The CWD uniform is the same for all.)

Uniform Presentation
While wearing your ATC uniform, you are not only representing 17 SQN, but you are also representing the NZCF and NZDF. We therefore expect you to maintain a high standard of presentation.
Many items of the uniform contain wool and therefore should not come into direct contact with the iron as they will burn and become glazed. Instead, a thin damp cloth should be placed over the item before ironing. You will receive training in how to iron, clean, wear and store your uniform.

Hairstyles
General standards for all cadets:
– Cadets are to maintain a professional, clean and presentable appearance when in uniform. Common sense and good judgment is to be used in the application of this policy.
– Cadets are to have their hair neatly styled and worn in such a manner that it does not interfere with health and safety, operational and training requirements.
– Hair is not to show on the face or forehead under headdress.
– If hair is tinted or dyed it is to be in single tone and a natural hair colour.
– Irregular patterns, partially shaven heads, mullets, Mohawks, undercuts, rat’s tails or emblems are not to be cut or sculpted into hair.
– Fully shaven heads are also an acceptable hair style.

Exemptions to the below standards can be made for religious / cultural reasons (please let us know if this is the case for you, and we will explain the relevant RNZAF Dress Standard).

[The terms “male” and “female” are used below. For cadets who do not identify as either of these genders, the expectation is that their hairstyle will adhere to one of the standards.]

Male Standards
All male cadets are not to have facial hair. They must be clean-shaven.

Short hair: Hair is to be shaped and tapered and must not extend below 13mm above the shirt collar. Hair is not to be ragged, excessive in bulk or length, overlap the eyes and ears when combed, touch the collar or interfere with the wearing of headdress. Sideburns, if worn, are to be neatly trimmed and not increase in width towards the bottom. The bottom of the sideburns must be clear-cut in a horizontal line and not extend below the bottom of the earlobe.

Long hair: If a male cadet chooses* to have long hair, they must adhere to the same hairstyle standards as females (long hair), per below.
[*Note: This is a unit policy only, and is not the standard across the wider NZCF or RNZAF. The official policy is that males are to have short hair unless they have a cultural or religious exemption.]

Females Standards
Long Hair: Hair is to be kept away from the face and not to show on the forehead under headdress. Loose hair must be pinned back off the face neatly. If slides, combs, pins or a bun net are worn they are to be of plain design and of a similar colour to the hair. If hair is not short, it is to be worn in a bun with a bun net (see picture), or by another method approved in the NZAP207 eg. “french roll”, so that it rests no lower than 20mm from the collar. In a field environment in CWD, long hair may be worn tied neatly in a ponytail or plait.

Short hair: Hair is designated short when it does not fall below the lower edge of the back of the shirt collar when the hair is loose. Short hair may be worn out with both uniform types.

How to wear: CWD (Cadet Working Dress)

How to wear: 3B Working Dress “Blues”

Head- dress
Males: The service cap is to be worn with the buttons at the front and centrally above the forehead. The cap is to be tilted to the right so that the front edge is 25mm (approx. 2 finger widths) above the right eyebrow. Hair is not to show on the forehead below the cap. The cap is not to be ironed.

Females: The cap is to be worn straight across the forehead with the badge above the left eye. The front edge of the cap is to be 15mm (approx. one finger width) above the left eyebrow. Hair is not to show on the forehead below the cap.

The cap is to be worn while outdoors, or when a person of a superior rank is wearing theirs indoors.

Jersey
The jersey is to be worn with rank slides, brassard and name tag. Jersey sleeves are to be creased on the outside of the arm from the epaulette to the cuff (refer picture 1). The Jersey is not to be ironed on directly, to avoid burning the wool.

Shirt
The shirt is to be worn with the top (tie) button undone. If the shirt is worn without a jersey, then rank slides, brassard and name badge are to be worn on the shirt.
The shirt is to be ironed and the sleeves are to have a single crease pressed into them (refer picture 2). The crease should run from the centre of the epaulette to the cuff. Shirts are to be washed after each wearing, paying attention to the collar.

Trousers
Trousers are to be pressed with creases extending from the waist band to the leg end at the back and front of each leg (refer picture 3). The trousers are not to be ironed on directly, to avoid burning. The trousers should be hemmed so that the bottom of the leg (at the back) sits 1 cm above the sole rim of the shoe (refer picture 4).

Shoes
Black leather lace-up shoes are to be worn. The uppers are to be highly shined and the edges of the sole are to be blackened and clean. Shoes are to be all black with no coloured stitching or laces. They must be closed-toed and not T-bars. Instant shine is not to be used on shoes, black nugget should be used.

Picture 4

Brassard
The brassard is to be worn on the right sleeve over the jersey or shirt. The epaulette of the jersey or shirt is passed through the loop on the brassard to hold it in place. The brassard is to have a single, central, vertical crease pressed into it from the top edge to the bottom edge.
The badges worn on the brassard are positioned as follows:
Flying Brevet: (badge with ATC and 2 wings). Worn centrally with the top of the badge 45mm from top of brassard. Awarded for flying solo on Gliding (white) or Power Flying (blue) course, or completing the RNZAF Scholarship (blue with gold lettering). If more than one brevet is awarded, you choose which one to wear.
Basic I Badge: The four-pointed star is worn centrally with one point uppermost. The top of the badge is to be 100mm from the top of the brassard.
Basic II Badge: The second of two four-pointed stars. One star is worn 5mm to the rear (left) of the brassard centre-line with one point uppermost and 100mm from the top of the brassard. The other in the same position but 5mm to the front (right) of the brassard centre-line.
Proficiency Badge: The four-bladed propeller is worn centrally with one blade uppermost. The top of the badge is 100mm from the top of the brassard. The basic I and II badges are removed and returned to Stores.
Advanced Badge: The four bladed propeller, with a four-pointed star superimposed over it, is worn centrally with one blade uppermost 100mm from the top of the brassard. The Proficiency badge is removed and returned to Stores.
Shooting Badges: (Competency, First Class and Marksman). The badge is worn centrally with the bottom edge 5mm above and parallel with the bottom of the brassard. Only highest level badge is worn.
Duke of Edinburgh Award: The bottom of the badge is worn 20mm above the bottom of the brassard. The left-hand edge of the badge is 65mm to the rear (left) of the brassard centre-line. Only highest level badge is worn.
Navigation Badge: (badge with ATC and 1 wing). The bottom of the badge is worn above and parallel with the bottom of the brassard. The left-hand edge of the badge is 60mm to the front (right) of the brassard centre-line.

Brassard Example

Name Badge
The name badge is worn centrally above the right breast pocket of the shirt or the equivalent place on the jersey and female shirt.

Belt
The belt is to be worn with the buckle central and the tail (the silver end) to the left. The position of the buckle on the belt is to be adjusted so that the tail only just extends past the first belt-loop when the belt is buckled.

Rank Slides
Are not to be ironed directly and are worn on the shirt or jersey.

NZCF 3822
This is your record of service book which you will be issued with when you join. It contains: your personal details, the NZCF Vision, Mission and Values, your declaration of services, permission from your parents/caregiver to participate in ATC activities, and a record of all activities you have done including courses, promotions, camps, shooting, competitions and flying log. You must bring this book to every ATC activity, it must be kept up to date and signed by your parents/caregivers.

Before coming to ATC each night, please check that you have all items of uniform with you. Remove any fluff/hair from your uniform and ensure that your name badge is straight.

Other Conditions when wearing Uniform.
No bulky objects such as phones, combs, pens, wallets etc should be visible in the pockets. Wedding/engagement rings only may be worn. Trinkets, necklaces, and chains, if worn, must not be visible. Earrings or studs may be worn by females, but they are limited to one pair of plain design and are to be worn in the ear lobe only. Males are not permitted to wear any earrings or studs. Any other body rings/studs/tattoos, when worn, must not be visible. Cosmetic make-up is not to be worn, Minimal/not noticeable makeup i.e., foundation and concealer is acceptable. Cadets will be informed if something is not appropriate during uniform inspection at the beginning of the night.

Inspections
Uniforms will be inspected by NCOs at the start of each parade night; any Cadets who have not achieved the required dress standard will be provided with support and recommendations they are required to complete to bring their uniform up to standard.