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Uniforms on leave?

tk628 said:
But then you would have to iron it so it would be considered "professional".....

Yea I think we all get the irony in that
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Do they really do this? The AF flight suits I have seen look the same as anyone else's ... usually with a few extra IPs just for good measure.
 
devil_dog said:
Do they really do this? The AF flight suits I have seen look the same as anyone else's ... usually with a few extra IPs just for good measure.
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I wouldn't be surprised. Although ironing your flightsuit ruins its fire-retardant capability, it is mandatory in the Air Farce because it makes them look super professional!:sleep_125


P.S. For those who can't read sarcasm...shame on you!
 
I'm around these guys all day everyday ... nothing looks ironed to me.
 
I just wear my bag for a few days in a row, the wrinkles fall out. I also hang them up after washing them, so they don't get too badly wrinkled.

Flew in uniform twice - with good results both times. Last time I flew in civies i wore a suit (sans tie) and just chatted up the FA's, got moved to biz class (they knew I was Navy). If there is room, and you're nice to them, and you're dressed nicely, getting bumped up isn't too hard. Inevitably in chatting with them they'll ask what you do - then they know you're military and they'll take care of you. Just don't be a dick or get obnoxiously drunk when they give you free booze.

People like to see their military members and when you're respectful, polite, and professional, you score HUGE points for the military.
 
bogey_spotter said:
I wouldn't be surprised. Although ironing your flightsuit ruins its fire-retardant capability, it is mandatory in the Air Farce because it makes them look super professional!:sleep_125
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I dont not ever remember my old man ironing his flight suit and his last tour was at ACC...


Wash, dry in dryer and hang up....

Maybe the poster boys Iron theirs, but don't judge the entire AF on a few douche bags...
 
Force Protection for flying in uniform generally only applies to overseas. Look at it this way - if a whacko terrorist hijacks a plane full of Americans in the US he will accomplish his goals, who cares if there was one dude in the military on the flight? Overseas is another story, because you may be the only American on the flight - and you just clearly identified yourself as a member of the military, so it makes you more of a target.

With that being said, I only flew in uniform if I was going TAD and wanted my carry-on to be filled with something else. That guaranteed my uniform arrived. If I had room in my carry on, my uniform went in there. When going on TAD and had plenty of time before check in (or at MAWTS-1 where check-in happens in civvies), then I'd check my uniform. If my family wanted me to be in my uniform when they arrived at the airport to pick me up, I'd carry it on and change in the bathroom before leaving the secure area. More comfortable that way.

I agree about chatting up the FA's about being in the military. On a flight from Atlanta to San Diego (for SERE school), the FA's gave us (there were 5 of us) more meals, didn't cut the alcohol off (as they were cutting other dudes off), and one of them even introduced us to her daughter (who was on the plane). First class was full, and they even apologized that they couldn't bump us up!
 
On the topic of ironing and its reduction of Nomex's fire-retardant qualities: I think that's a myth. I did some searching on the DuPont site and on a few sites of companies that market Nomex clothing for other uses, and it seems that the fire-retardant quality is inherent to the material. The fabric doesn't have a coating that can be compromised from iron at the "synthetics" setting. The only thing that ironing or using too high a dryer setting can do is to make it wear out more quickly. If you crank up the iron to super-duper hot, and let it sit there for a minute, then you might run in to problems. But I'm not going to test it. I'm a newbie/wannabe with newbie stuff.

"Of course this is a thread, by my name's not Jack - it's Greg."
 
Shooting fireworks (Roman Candles, etc) at each other on Perdido Key Beach during a drunken party at midnight can and will cause lots of little burn holes through your nomex flight suit.

I know.
 
Beans said:
On the topic of ironing and its reduction of Nomex's fire-retardant qualities: I think that's a myth. I did some searching on the DuPont site and on a few sites of companies that market Nomex clothing for other uses, and it seems that the fire-retardant quality is inherent to the material. The fabric doesn't have a coating that can be compromised from iron at the "synthetics" setting. The only thing that ironing or using too high a dryer setting can do is to make it wear out more quickly. If you crank up the iron to super-duper hot, and let it sit there for a minute, then you might run in to problems. But I'm not going to test it. I'm a newbie/wannabe with newbie stuff.

"Of course this is a thread, by my name's not Jack - it's Greg."
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Ok here is a point where proper wording would have kept this urban legend from getting out of hand.

As it was explained to me by a fireman, nothing is fire-proof when it comes to clothing. What it is in actuality is flame-resitant. Meaning that it wont support combustion of its material. It will however melt at high temperatures and offers no support against actual temperature of a fire. The Ironing isnt going to remove that property. The main worry of ironing the suit is that the fabric will wear more quickly then its expected service life requiring more replacement. Same with Cammy's. They are wash and wear because it saves the Military boocoo money to not have to replace Salty's twice as often as they would/did with the old uniforms.
 
Schnugg said:
Shooting fireworks (Roman Candles, etc) at each other on Perdido Key Beach during a drunken party at midnight can and will cause lots of little burn holes through your nomex flight suit.

I know.
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We used to do that on Okinawa when I was a kid....roman candle and bottle rocket fights....good times....:D
 
HAL Pilot said:
We used to do that on Okinawa when I was a kid....roman candle and bottle rocket fights....good times....:D
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I miss the anual battle of 152 Street on the Fourth of July every year. Makes me want to go buy roman candles.

As to flying in uniform. Do it if you want to, but I've only done it when I had to.
 
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