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

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Nice Nitt.. I should wear AWGs on duty next Wednesday (next day I actually go to work).

Commodore wore them last time he was over.. Gotta be legit..

(XO will probably lose his shit.. He loves the Aquaflage)

Aquaflage...and a new term was born (for me at least).

I'll have to call them that when the Chief steps on the plane today. He hates them but wears them because they are better than coveralls.

 

[Pags]

Yeah, i've been wondering the same thing. I don't see any officers around here in anything but a bag or khakis, but I haven't been over to the "fleet" RONs yet. I think i'll pick up a set of AWGs before the aquaflage.

As much as it kills me to say it, if money is tight you should probably go with the NWUs as, like it or not, all commands in the Navy are going to it. With that, expect to have inspections/be required to wear the uniform at some point.

A lot of higher leadership is wearing it because during the rollout period the front office is supposed to be wearing it as much as possible.

 

[BACONATOR]

Its spread in Nofawk..

As in the E2C2 RAG had a all students uniform inspection in them. And the first thing I was told when I got verbal orders to my squadron here.. "If you don't have NWUs.. GET THEM NOW".

Because we had quarters in them my 3rd day in the squadron.

Wait, you had a required DIFFERENT uniform for quarters than flight suit? Suckage.

It seems the NWU has spread from East to West and just as it started breaking out here in SD, I've got orders farther west... let's see how long the trek across the ocean takes...

 

[S.O.B.]

The way things are going Khakis are on their way out and when the khakis go the leather flight jackets will go soon after. I'd hate for it to happen but I would be willing to bet in 10yrs it will.

 

[Flash]

Wait, you had a required DIFFERENT uniform for quarters than flight suit? Suckage.

Relatively common, especially when you have a COC coming up or a VIP visit. The CO wants to make sure everyone has the right uniform, and without fail there is quite a minority that will be out of uniform. Don't be the LT who has still has JG or even just an ENS stripe on your SDB's, two years after you got promoted. Though I imagine in Guam that won't be a problem........

It seems the NWU has spread from East to West and just as it started breaking out here in SD, I've got orders farther west... let's see how long the trek across the ocean takes...

Hasn't spread everywhere yet, I have yet to see a reservist wearing Aquaflague.

The way things are going Khakis are on their way out and when the khakis go the leather flight jackets will go soon after. I'd hate for it to happen but I would be willing to bet in 10yrs it will.

We need something to wear to the office to battle paperwork and bureaucracy, they will survive.

 

[A4sForever]

.... (Khakis) ... they will survive.

Hope so ... otherwise ... it will be 'something' ... just not the US NAVY.

Believe it:

Quick question (w/ no 'expected' due respect): how stupid and/or completely lacking in history AND tradition -- which 'makes' a military force in many respects -- can the people be who currently 'run' the U.S. NAVY ... ???

 

[Pags]

The way things are going Khakis are on their way out and when the khakis go the leather flight jackets will go soon after. I'd hate for it to happen but I would be willing to bet in 10yrs it will.

No brown shoes, boots, or leather jackets with the NWUs. The shoes are trying to make us all like them...

 

[RotorHead04]

I'll have to call them that when the Chief steps on the plane today. He hates them but wears them because they are better than coveralls.

Our front office refers to them as the "Seaweeds" ...

 

[BACONATOR]

I wore my leather for check in at Vance. A couple Ensigns said that a Navy IP had admonished them for wearing their jackets and putting a dip in their covers. Needless to say, I was bitterly disappointed.

THIS. I saw a kid who was on SMS today wearing the leather in the sim building today. With khakis. THAT is the attitude you need. If the fat lady comes on stage, kick her in the teeth.

Screw it. I think I'll wear my greens to work tomorrow, with a dip in my cover, just for all you nancy students (note I don't say studs) out there who refuse to embrace the trappings of the community you chose. "Oh, I think I'll jinx myself." SACK THE F UP.

Hate to say it, but somewhere toward when I was finishing up the syllabus.... at the RAG... I asked one dude why he was wearing his ike jacket and not his leather.

He responded with "Oh, YOU'RE the only one who wears the leather jacket around here. IPs notice that sort of thing..."

We then had a rather in-depth conversation about leather jackets, BROWN SHOES, etc. I explained the history of the brown shoes (aka: STUDENTS started it) and how if it's issued to you, you wear it. Even the brown boots aren't some sort of secret EARNED thing.

The ENTIRE room disagreed with me, and I was quickly becoming "that guy", so I let the matter go, shaking my head in complete and utter confusion.

If I am to become "that guy", there are a LOT of damn reasons that are a WHOLE lot more valid than wearing my leather jacket and brown shoes and mildly teasing guys for wearing the ike in the RAG, MUCH LESS flight school.

Like really... if you're in the RAG it's freaking OK to wear your leather jacket.


EDIT: For the record, per MB's advice, I recommend taking your leathers to a motorcycle/leather shop to get sewn. My PR shop said they'd do it but to not complain if they jacked it up. I politely declined and headed out in town. Name patch was done flawlessly (even sewed it on "crooked" so that when wearing the jacket it is exactly level), but the US Flag patch is only level with my arms at my sides and is otherwise canted.... oh well. But I didn't offer any guidance to them on that patch, just the name patch.

 

[Uncle Fester]

...He responded with "Oh, YOU'RE the only one who wears the leather jacket around here. IPs notice that sort of thing..."...The ENTIRE room disagreed with me, and I was quickly becoming "that guy"...Like really... if you're in the RAG it's freaking OK to wear your leather jacket.

Ensigns Don't Know Shit About Shit, Exhibit #2,663,461.

 

[BACONATOR]

JayGees Don't Know Shit About Shit, Exhibit #2,663,461.

Fixed it for you.

 

[Pags]

Hate to say it, but somewhere toward when I was finishing up the syllabus.... at the RAG... I asked one dude why he was wearing his ike jacket and not his leather.

He responded with "Oh, YOU'RE the only one who wears the leather jacket around here. IPs notice that sort of thing..."

I weep for the future of my community. Bunch of pussies.

 

[loadtoad]

I weep for the future of my community. Bunch of pussies.

East Coast isn't like this.

In Fact - I haven't seen one IKE jacket on an aviator yet. Nothing but leather.

 

[jollygreen07]

...Ridiculous bullshit....

Dude... That's fucking ridiculous.

Our RAG classes are generally very small (like two pilots and an FE at most) the first thing we do is get our brown boots. I mean the first day we check in. When it's cold outside (as it has been recently) we wear our leather jackets. Why you ask? Because WE ARE FUCKING WINGED AVIATORS.

Jesus.. I've heard guys say that the E-6 community is lame, but if that's what the helo community is all about, you can keep that shit.

Ike jacket...christ....

 

[MasterBates]

WTF is an Ike Jacket?

Is it some SWOtivated thing? :icon_smil

(if it was issued at OCS, I never wore one, and sure as hell never bought one)