Clothing/uniforms for AFROTC?

Mattsmom2015

5-Year Member
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Mar 4, 2011
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I'm not sure what the correct terminology is for the clothing, fatigues I think, but what does ROTC require and how is it paid for for Air Force ROTC?
 
They will supply you with the uniforms, including PT gear, except sneakers.

You will not get ABU's (fatigues) issued until you are a C200 selected for SFT. Will not wear them until you are a 300.

There is no charge to you financially at all.

The only uniform that they will not supply you with is the Mess Dress(military tuxedo), however, most cadets will not purchase this until they are at least a 300 or 400, because the cost is very high; they wear their blues with a bow tie instead for any formal function.

You can opt to buy more uniforms if you can get on an AFB. We purchased a second PT and blues shirt for his C100 yr.

200 we bought another set of pants and long sleeve shirt.

300 we bought the mess dress.

Also it is very common in the south to always wear white tees under their shirts. If your child does not wear white tees, buy them because that and black socks will not be supplied.
 
You will not get ABU's (fatigues) issued until you are a C200 selected for SFT. Will not wear them until you are a 300.

It looks like this part depends on the detachment - I got mine in March (I'm a 100). My friends back in New York got them a lot sooner than me.

Everything else you said is the same here - though we were issued two sets of PTs and two Blues shirts.
 
Thanks Pima! I thought we/he would have to buy because of the way the Academy does their uniforms, but I'm sure they have way more items there.

They don't need boots then as a C100? Just trying to figure out what all he will need for ROTC and for his dorm room too. August will be here before we know it!
 
They issue the boots.

I should correct myself the ABUs were in short supply when DS went through so only the 200's ly that were selected for SFT wee issued them. It may be now they have enough to go around everyone is supplied.

Either way everything except under garments are supplied. If you are not contracted you hand the uniform back at the end of the yr. If you are contracted you keep it until graduation.
 
They issue the boots.

I should correct myself the ABUs were in short supply when DS went through so only the 200's ly that were selected for SFT wee issued them. It may be now they have enough to go around everyone is supplied.

Either way everything except under garments are supplied. If you are not contracted you hand the uniform back at the end of the yr. If you are contracted you keep it until graduation.

Ok. What does it mean to be contracted? DS is going on 4 year scholarship. I realize he has to maintain certain grades and pass the PFT but that is all I know.
 
Once he has DoDMERB in order, and passes his PFT, he will sign his contract agreement with the Air Force (you serve me for X years after graduation and we'll pay for X, X, and X) and raise that right hand and take his oath of enlistment. S/He is now contracted.
 
Warning, you need to supply documentation to contract, and that is the original birth certificate with the raised seal and their social security card. So if they are going to contract in the fall send the bc with them. For our DS we also sent a prepaid Fedex envelope with him to send it home immediately after he got it back from the det.

I can't recall if you can substitute a passport for the bc, but I do know that a military i.d. will not be accepted as a proper form of id, at least not in his det.

Have him check in with the det when he is there for orientation over the summer for the exact requirements regarding contracting. They usually have a couple of hours down time in between things. There will always be someone in the det during the summer, they do go to a skeleton staff because that is the time they take their leave.

Good luck
 
Warning, you need to supply documentation to contract, and that is the original birth certificate with the raised seal and their social security card. So if they are going to contract in the fall send the bc with them. For our DS we also sent a prepaid Fedex envelope with him to send it home immediately after he got it back from the det.

I can't recall if you can substitute a passport for the bc, but I do know that a military i.d. will not be accepted as a proper form of id, at least not in his det.

Have him check in with the det when he is there for orientation over the summer for the exact requirements regarding contracting. They usually have a couple of hours down time in between things. There will always be someone in the det during the summer, they do go to a skeleton staff because that is the time they take their leave.

Good luck

Pima, we are going to go to the det at the end of June. DS contacted the det a week or so ago and they suggested coming up end of June early July to see the det and get any questions answered. Since the det is at a different school we have not been there yet. It is one of those "cross town" deals.
 
Once he has DoDMERB in order, and passes his PFT, he will sign his contract agreement with the Air Force (you serve me for X years after graduation and we'll pay for X, X, and X) and raise that right hand and take his oath of enlistment. S/He is now contracted.

He has his qualification from DoDMERB for AFROTC and USAFA, I assume that is what you mean? I believe the PFT is taken in September shortly after school starts?
 
Contact them and see if you can take the bc with you and have them start the file now.

Love our DS, but that was my big fear...fear he didn't realize if he misplaced it in his room, and did not "get" how important that document is, I would be scurrying to get a replacement.

I am anal on that fact. I keep these docs, along with med records, passports, copies of everything in fire safe lockboxes, because inevitably they will contact me short notice and say, Mom, I need this or that.

The PFT will be administered in Sept. This is really the first time for them to separate from the pack, if it is a large det. Have him continue practicing the PFA in the order he did it for submission. Also, beware, many cadets max the PFA, and do poorly on the PFT because their form is incorrect. The cadre will be sticklers on this and that includes positions of arms for the push-ups or form for a sit up.

Cadets who have done it properly will score higher because they will waste less energy than those who haven't. Think about it if only 1 out of 2 are counted, score will be lower and you wasted energy. That will hurt them in the next section. Also make sure he practices it in every type of weather...rain, hot and humid, early morning, etc. Tell him a night before that at 6 a.m. you need to go and do the PT. Have him set his alarm, and do the PFT. Reason why? Because when he is school he is going to get up at 6 a.m. while friends are still hanging out after midnight playing x-box. He will have to make that decision to fight through it with little sleep, or go to sleep so he is refreshed. Don't tell him at 11 go to bed, because you won't be with him at school, just say, tomorrow at 6 a.m. you are expected to be in your running shoes. Make sure you are going to follow through with that request.

Our DS scored the max. At his det., if you score the max, you get a freebie card, and are not forced to do the mandated PT at O'dark thirty. You are allowed to do at your leisure...still have to submit paperwork to prove, but if you decide to go to the gym on campus, all you need is their verification (this was 2 yrs ago, so it may have changed). Come spring semester you test again. As I have stated multiple times, that is probably your only freebie semester because they will now assign you to be a PT instructor for spring.

Again, because he maxed the PFT in the 1st few weeks, his name was already on their radar in a positive manner. I will also say you also get on their radar if you are on the bottom. You don't want to be the runner where the cadre is screaming at you to move it since you are the last runner in the pack. They will scream your name for everyone to hear. Cadet Smith move it. move it, move it.

It works both ways.

As for being Xtown, I think it is great you are going to visit the det. One issue with X-town cadets, depending on how far away is that it can become an issue of getting the whole experience.

It appears that the det. really wants to guarantee the whole experience for every cadet, including X-town. They want to make it their goal that they capture that belief of brethren. You should be very excited that the det is so much on the ball re: this issue.

Good luck
 
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Missing Documents for Contracting

I'm with PIMA on this one! Keep track of the documents. I had read it here last year and attempted to do so. Sent my DD with DH for the drive to California from Illinois for college. All documents for contracting in an accordian file including Passport, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, Shot records....

I get a call on the last day of the journey..."Mom I can't find the file in the car". My response, tell your dad to pull over and look for them. Luckily the last stop was a relatives house and they UPS'd it overnight to them.

We got lucky.
 
I'm with PIMA on this one! Keep track of the documents. I had read it here last year and attempted to do so. Sent my DD with DH for the drive to California from Illinois for college. All documents for contracting in an accordian file including Passport, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, Shot records....

I get a call on the last day of the journey..."Mom I can't find the file in the car". My response, tell your dad to pull over and look for them. Luckily the last stop was a relatives house and they UPS'd it overnight to them.

We got lucky.

Yikes! That must have been scary. I have duplicate certified birth certificates but of coarse only 1 social security card. I will take these items with us when we go tour the det.

Thanks to everyone for the advise!
 
Contact them and see if you can take the bc with you and have them start the file now.

As for being Xtown, I think it is great you are going to visit the det. One issue with X-town cadets, depending on how far away is that it can become an issue of getting the whole experience.

It appears that the det. really wants to guarantee the whole experience for every cadet, including X-town. They want to make it their goal that they capture that belief of brethren. You should be very excited that the det is so much on the ball re: this issue.

Good luck

DS is fortunate, the x-town is only 3 miles away. The det called after DS sent an email asking a couple of questions. I was able to talk to them when they called. He said 1/3 come from Marquette, 1/3 from MSOE, and 1/3 from UW Milwaukee. He also said the cadets are good about car pooling to make sure everyone gets there. Some of their workouts are on DS's campus as well. I really had a good feeling after talking to him. He is the one that suggested a visit to the det so we are planning on going the end of June. This is all finally becoming a reality! Thanks for your words of encouragement!:smile:
 
The only uniform that they will not supply you with is the Mess Dress(military tuxedo)

For those that are interested in pricing dress uniforms, take a look at the Army/Navy ROTC Dress packages at Marlow White Here

Edit; OOPS... AF Dress uniforms Here
 
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Gojack there is no link for the AF on that site...just saying since this is an AFROTC thread.

I am sure there are sites that sell the AFROTC Mess Dress.

I can tell you the Mess Dress is about $500 bucks. It is important for AFROTC cadets to understand that the Mess Dress sizing is not the same as Blues. DS wears a 29 w for his Blues, but had to buy 32 w for the mess dress.

Again, you will not see cadets in the Mess until they are at the point of no turning back, basically C300/400. Otherwise they wear their blues with a bow tie.

Additionally, some dets are more active than other dets. At DS's they have a Dining In in the fall and Out in the spring. In is only for those IN the cadre, OUT allows guests. That means at least 2X a yr they can wear the Mess.

Think In, is ROTC attending, OUT is outside of ROTC attending. At DS's Det, it is the = of Prom for the girls attire.

I'm with PIMA on this one! Keep track of the documents. I had read it here last year and attempted to do so. Sent my DD with DH for the drive to California from Illinois for college. All documents for contracting in an accordian file including Passport, Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, Shot records....

I get a call on the last day of the journey..."Mom I can't find the file in the car". My response, tell your dad to pull over and look for them. Luckily the last stop was a relatives house and they UPS'd it overnight to them.

We got lucky.

My advice:

If you are going to do a drive of even 50 miles to the school, buy some type of folder where you keep all of the paper work, in PAIRS. One for your child and one for you.

Place every piece of paper work you have ever received from AFROTC in both. One with originals, one copies. Keep one at home, and one to take with you.

Buy the FedEX return and be mindful of them sending the originals back. If for some reason it gets lost, you at least have a copy and can move quickly to get a new copy.

No original = no contract

Additionally, contact their doc., many docs now will transfer their records to a CD-Rom. If so have them do it, and keep it in your files.

The military is the epitome of paperwork. You need to be aware of that. For ex: many people will laminate their SS card, some dets won't accept this as "true" form of id.

There are many quirks. If you do not have the "right" paperwork it will delay contracting, and if contracting is delayed the scholarship will be delayed. Delayed scholarship can lock them for registration for spring semester. Can't register for spring and scholarship is in jeopardy.

This is the thing, even as an ADAF member we didn't realize how big of an impact.

Pack the car, but before you pull out of the driveway, the only thing to do a double check on beside your child being in the car is what they need for ROTC to contract...laundry detergent, linens, Xbox, etc can be purchased near the school, you can't buy the BC to fulfill the scholarship at Kinkos.
 
They will supply you with the uniforms, including PT gear, except sneakers.

You will not get ABU's (fatigues) issued until you are a C200 selected for SFT. Will not wear them until you are a 300.

There is no charge to you financially at all.

The only uniform that they will not supply you with is the Mess Dress(military tuxedo), however, most cadets will not purchase this until they are at least a 300 or 400, because the cost is very high; they wear their blues with a bow tie instead for any formal function.

You can opt to buy more uniforms if you can get on an AFB. We purchased a second PT and blues shirt for his C100 yr.

200 we bought another set of pants and long sleeve shirt.

300 we bought the mess dress.

Also it is very common in the south to always wear white tees under their shirts. If your child does not wear white tees, buy them because that and black socks will not be supplied.
Our socks were issued to us, and fyi I'm pretty sure an undershirt is REQUIRED with blues. but no v-necks. I can't remember the rule actually (I'm a girl, so I just go the tank top route), but you will need to wear an undershirt.
 
White tees are required for the blues, and camo tan for the ABUs, crew neck not V. It might det by det, it might not regarding socks. Bullet is retired AF so DS may not have asked for the socks since we already knew the type of black sock needed and sent him with them. The sock is a traditional polyester black sock that goes up the calf. The boot sock is a heavy green sock.

The other item not supplied is shirt/sock garters. You will see the older cadre all wear them. The reason why is it holds the shirt in place in a taut manner, in other words it doesn't move when you sit down. Hysterical to see them in them (I use to laugh at Bullet everytime I saw him put them on); what they do for the military!

Our DS is also lucky since only 20 minutes away is a very large AFB, so they will run over there to get whatever they need, he of course is one of the cadets they try to get because you do need military id to get on base, and cadets are not issued military id.

The other item I would buy and send with him are frogs. These are the little gold backings that are used to hold your name tag and rank (covers) in place. We bought a small bag of them because we knew our DS would misplace them and this way he wouldn't be turning his room upside down looking for them on the day he had ROTC.

Tide to go pen is the other thing we sent him with along with Niagara spray starch. Also traditional black dress shoe laces is a good item to send for the JIC it breaks.

The reason we also bought extra blues shirts is you'd be amazed how dirty around the collar they get even after one use, especially if you are in an area that is warm for any length of time.

If you are in a colder climate, buy another long sleeve shirt. I think for DS he now has 3 of each. These shirts are the exact same shirts as the AD world so they will be able to wear them forever. They actually last forever. I think Bullet only bought a new blue shirt when he went to PME at Leavenworth. That was 13 yrs in the service.

The other item that is up to you to buy are Corframs. They will be supplied with the traditional black leather shoe, but many cadets will eventually opt to wear the corfram...it is a black patent leather shoe, thus all they have to do is windex them to make them shine instead of the long process of polishing. Some will opt not to wear them because they can never score a Perfect score on their uniform since it is seen as cheating compared to the traditional shoe. Others get to a point saying I never get 100 because I am always nailed for my shoes, so why bother. Others will say their feet sweat horribly in them (be real they are basically plastic), and if they have a long day they prefer to be in the leather shoes. DS rotates between them both. Wears Corfram for inspections and traditional for regular days.


Finally, if your child is a strange size, it is also worth it to buy on your own. DS is 5'10 and 145 lbs, wears a size 29 w, 32 l. They had problems finding pants in their inventory to fit him. I believe they had to have them brought into the det from somewhere else. They didn't fit well, so we bought a pair and had them tailored for him. Key is make sure the tailor knows how to do a military pant. It actually dips behind the shoe and can only have a small crease that touches the shoe. It is known as a military hem.

Good luck.
 
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