During your time wearing khakis daily, either just to morning muster or all day while in API it's easy to let them get dingy and lose a sharp look.
Dont be one of the many ass hats who wears the same pair every day for a month without so much as a home wash. Or worse, the guy with multiple white sweat rings on his back. You could have used his blouse to tell how hot it was the week prior while mustering...
If you're good about not spilling and aren't one of the weirdos who goes without an undershirt, the same pair can last atleast a few days before washing them at home. After a few more take them to the cleaners (the nex actually isn't bad and is quick) and get them cleaned and pressed. It's like 6$ to look sharp and have a good uniform, along with a haircut is 90% of "keeping off the radar". Especially if you get called in for any number of innocent things that could lead to a grill session if you look like shit.
I gotta be honest . . . a lot of this is Officer 101. My first fleet Skipper put it best. I can't quote him exactly, but it was words to the effect of "if you want to succeed and have a career in Naval Aviation, you have to realize that the frat boy act is ultimately just an act. When it really counts, you still have to be a Navy officer first and foremost." Sure, aviation culture at its best is partially about lampooning self-important bullshit. At least as a fleet JO. But we let our JOs do that for a reason, and that's because lampooning unnecessary crap highlights our focus on getting the important shit right: not getting our folks killed, and being lethal in combat.
But those who want to wear gold wings had also better keep in mind that it's not all choker whites and dinings out, so to speak. It's also not all getting shitfaced at the bar with your bros. You're going to have Sailors you're in charge of one day who have a shittier and harder job on their best day at work than you do on your worst. They work long hours turning wrenches fixing your aircraft, and deal with a lot more petty crap in the process. We have BAH and wardrooms underway that serve Sunday brunch. They have barracks inspections and shitty long lines for the mess decks. Sure, we run around in bags all day, and that's great. But if you can't also turn on the spit, polish, and professionalism when it's necessary, you're in the wrong job. Because you're going to have to do uniform inspections and barracks inspections. You're going to have to take Sailors to Captain's Mast. And you'd damn well better believe you're being watched in the process. By both your head shed/DHs and your troops.
When you get to P-Cola, you're going to see some Ensigns do some really dumb shit. They fell through the cracks and will weed themselves out before hitting the fleet. Don't be that guy/that girl.