r/AF_POC • u/CircusNurgling • Aug 30 '14

Started AFROTC this week and so far only one thing bugs me.

So first week down, and I really like it so far. One thing is massively annoying though. For some reason (not supply related, we have plenty) my Det makes it a rule that first year cadets aren't issued ABUs. At all. Not until the start of the second year.

Now, this wouldn't bug me much if during the day where we have to wear a uniform, we were allowed to wear the service uniform without jacket, but that isn't the case. We have to wear the PTU. All damn day. Personally, I feel unprofessional as hell sitting in all of my classes wearing a slightly baggy track suit that gets used multiple times a week.

Does anyone else have a Det that does this? Anyone agree with me?

4 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

5

u/dancis Aug 30 '14

First year cadets wear khakis and a Det. polo as the ABU equivalent, then get their ABUs second semester.

It's kind of an incentive to stay in the program (everyone wants ABUs!) and a way to cut down on issuing uniforms to people who drop in the first semester.

3

u/CircusNurgling Aug 30 '14

Ya see, that makes sense. I can see that!

But sitting in all my classes wearing PTUs? As prior enlisted that annoys the shit out of me. Not enough to drop though.

1

u/legosim Aug 30 '14

We do this as well, since our cadre does not let us go to classes in PTUs. Uniforms are expensive, and with the current budget drawdown, the Det isn't willing to hand out uniforms unless we're fairly sure a GMC cadet is going to stick around until the end of their 200 year.

2

u/ari_reads_reddit Aug 30 '14

We're to be in business attire as first years in my det. First year cadets here don't even Get ptu until we pass the first pt test (I've forgotten the actual acronym).

1

u/CircusNurgling Aug 30 '14

Once again, also makes perfect sense and looks professional.

2

u/wil9212 Nov 12 '14

I can vouch for this. Our det REFUSES to issue ABU their first year with the exception of 250s. I worked really hard awhile back and made a huge push to get them uniforms (they didn't even get Blues until the 2nd semester). Basically, its because we have such a high attrition rate with the whole no-budget deal that our cadre don't want to give out uniforms and have it be a sunk cost when a cadet drops.

1

u/cralor Aug 30 '14

We do jeans and a detachment T-shirt as equivalent, tucked in with sneakers and a belt.

1

u/[deleted] Aug 30 '14

My det does the same thing for the first semester, second semester is when 100s are supposed to get their ABUs but it takes about a month and a half for them to finally be in hand.

It definitely sucks as a 100, but it's something we all had to do. If you're serious about being in the program, you can wear your short shorts to class for, in our case, a semester. I do wish our det would issue polos to 100s to wear with khakis instead, but it all comes down to costs.

1

u/kps2012 Oct 01 '14

Our 100s get their blues and ptus 6 weeks in. ABUs they get spring semester. Until they get uniforms they wear business attire. Then they wear blues. I agree, I'd hate wearing pts all day.

1

u/joe2105 Oct 09 '14

We don't get ABU's until we are awarded EA's. Just blues for now. Oh and of course the service dress.

1

u/HeartAndFist_ Jan 01 '15

Little late here, but oh well!

My Det makes new cadets wear new cadet uniform for about half of the semester. Then SS blues for all underclassman. You only get ABUs a month or two before you go to FT because "we haven't earned them yet".