The Great Flight Jacket Thread (wearing/buying Leather, NOMEX, WEP jackets/patches)

[JD81]

What is the "pain" level in exchanging an old jacket for a new one in P-Cola?

Thanks!

Yup, Jerry Smith supply building just down from the hangars is where to go. I tried to trade my never worn jacket for a different size, was told by a couple people there I could only swap it for one that has been turned in by somebody else, not a NIW one. I kept it and bought one in Osan instead, quality is WAY better than the issue one I have that I don't wear.

 

[Gatordev]

What is the "pain" level in exchanging an old jacket for a new one in P-Cola? I'll be there in Dec/Jan anyone have the Bldg # and/or phone # for flight gear issue?

Thanks!

I've been told that if you're there in person and have said jacket in hand, if you have a letter saying why you need a replacement, you should be good. I don't have first-hand info, but the letter and a NATOPs jacket should be all you need. Yeah, I know...if only the world worked that way.

FWIW, when I was the MO at my last squadron, my MCO was trying to get our Skipper a replacement jacket. When he talked to the people at NPA, they said the letter was what was needed. I don't remember if it was resolved before we (my Skipper and I) left.

 

[robav8r]

I've been told that if you're there in person and have said jacket in hand, if you have a letter saying why you need a replacement, you should be good. I don't have first-hand info, but the letter and a NATOPs jacket should be all you need. Yeah, I know...if only the world worked that way.

FWIW, when I was the MO at my last squadron, my MCO was trying to get our Skipper a replacement jacket. When he talked to the people at NPA, they said the letter was what was needed. I don't remember if it was resolved before we (my Skipper and I) left.

Great, thanks !

 

[C420sailor]

I was issued a size 48 jacket at API issue. They were out of pretty much everything from 40 to 46. I was a 44 at best, and I'd since lost chest/shoulder size. I brought the unworn jacket back with me when I went to Pensacola for DJET, and was pretty much told to pound sand. I ended up giving the jacket to my father and I bought one for myself from Pop's. While I love my new jacket, I wish I'd known about the letter thing!

 

[helolumpy]

Yup, Jerry Smith supply building just down from the hangars is where to go. I tried to trade my never worn jacket for a different size, was told by a couple people there I could only swap it for one that has been turned in by somebody else, not a NIW one. I kept it and bought one in Osan instead, quality is WAY better than the issue one I have that I don't wear.

When I was a MO, I got a new leather jacket, my issue one at P'cola was one size too small when I got it, it was 2-3 sizes too small 12 years later....
I had to turn in my old one to the MCO and have the Skipper sign a letter, on letterhead, saying I was turning in a leather and requesting a new one in a different size.
My MCO sent it all into P'cola (not sure to who, he handled it for me) and got me a new leather in about 6 weeks.

 

[JD81]

When I was a MO, I got a new leather jacket, my issue one at P'cola was one size too small when I got it, it was 2-3 sizes too small 12 years later....
I had to turn in my old one to the MCO and have the Skipper sign a letter, on letterhead, saying I was turning in a leather and requesting a new one in a different size.
My MCO sent it all into P'cola (not sure to who, he handled it for me) and got me a new leather in about 6 weeks.

I had no documentation other than my NATOPS and my jacket in the package it came in. I just showed up at the suppo building when I was in town and was shotdown. Good gouge for others though!

 

[robav8r]

I had no documentation other than my NATOPS and my jacket in the package and was shotdown. Good gouge for others though!

Got it - significant pain factor. Would love to go down the "why isn't my jacket & NATOPS good enough?" rabbit hole and see how far I get.

 

[Gatordev]

Got it - significant pain factor. Would love to go down the "why isn't my jacket & NATOPS good enough?" rabbit hole and see how far I get.

And then when you finally have wasted their time and don't get anywhere, break out the letter.

"I can play your game, bitches!"

[Some] Civilian contractors....the self-licking ice cream cone of the DoD.

 

[robav8r]

And then when you finally have wasted their time and don't get anywhere, break out the letter.

"I can play your game, bitches!"

[Some] Civilian contractors....the self-licking ice cream cone of the DoD.

Yep, concur. I have been surrounded by "process over product" sand crabs these past two years. Would just like them to show me the actual references (in writing) if their policy is in fact the case.

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Yep, concur. I have been surrounded by "process over product" sand crabs these past two years. Would just like them to show me the actual references (in writing) if their policy is in fact the case.

As a sand crab I feel the process sucks, why take 15 days and $15000.00 to generate enough paper to kill 50 trees to do 5 to 10 minutes of work? It's the process though.

 

[gotta_fly]

Does anyone know of someplace in the US that can tailor the pockets on the leather jacket? I would love to do a Pop's Leather type of customization, but don't really want the hassle of sending it overseas.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

 

[ltedb]

Does anyone know of someplace in the US that can tailor the pockets on the leather jacket? I would love to do a Pop's Leather type of customization, but don't really want the hassle of sending it overseas.

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

I use a company out of Illinois, Leather Care Specialist, they have done work on 5 of my leather jackets and they do really nice work. The owner is Dena Hamilton, she is great to work with and enjoys working on military flight jackets. Her father was the crew chief on Enola Gay. Dena`s e-mail is dena@greatleather.com. I hope this helps you out.

 

[gotta_fly]

Thanks!

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk 2

 

[FSUMIDN]

I will see how bitchy they are in person when I try to get my initial issue jacket they owe me from 8 years ago. Back in 2004 they didn't have any normal sizes. Called back many times in next two years then gave up till I left my last command in 2010 and they passed me to some supply guy in Corpus who said something like " With the elapsed time between initial issue and now I cannot see it is in our favor to pay for an initial issue jacket." How about you owe me bro? Where's my money Brian!

 

[jtmedli]

I will see how bitchy they are in person when I try to get my initial issue jacket they owe me from 8 years ago. Back in 2004 they didn't have any normal sizes. Called back many times in next two years then gave up till I left my last command in 2010 and they passed me to some supply guy in Corpus who said something like " With the elapsed time between initial issue and now I cannot see it is in our favor to pay for an initial issue jacket." How about you owe me bro? Where's my money Brian!

They didn't have quite the right size when I got mine. So rather than playing the waiting (and NOT getting game), I took what I could get.