[RR] You Make The Uniform final serie pt 2

[Jeff & Ellrena Ortner]

Thanks again to all who has e-mail me. I have had a large amount of personal "positive" responses to these SERIES and I am very grateful to your comments, May "HE" get the glory. So lace up your boots and hang on to your hats, because it ain't over yet. THIS IS THE (EDITORAL REPLY ) ABOUT WEARING UNIFORMS, FINAL SERIES PART 2 YOU MAKE THE UNIFORM If you don't or can't afford the high priced Police style "poly" uniforms that you can stick in a duffle bag and pull out to a nice crisp look. The ones with zipper fronts and vicro pocket flaps and you are still are wearing cotton uniforms. Then this series is for you by Chaplain Jeff Ortner #446 SUBJECT: ( TIPS ON LOOKING SHARP AND STAYING SHARP ) Have you ever wondered how that one Ranger always looks good in a uniform? Even if he spent the last 3 days in the same uniform, crawling around in the mud, blood and the ? In the next few paragraphs I just want to throw out some good stuff about you and your uniform. It is stuff I have found, learned, dig up, after watching and listening to a lot of people. You too, may have some great tricks of the trade on keeping uniforms clean, because I'm not an expert and nor do I take credit on this information. So I ask you never quit looking for better and easier ways to doing things. So add to this list of ideas for all to read. So lets get the ball rolling and put your thinking caps on. LETS START WITH OUR GOOD OLE "khaki uniform." They are designed to be a uniform to be semi-played in. Especially the "Dickies Brand" which is nothing but a common industrial work clothing. But how do you keep them looking good all day long? A good place to begin is how you wash them. I suggest turning them inside out and put the washer and dryer on gentle cycle. Doing this will cut down on frays and wear and tear on the patches, pocket flaps, buttons, and the overall uniform. After it comes out of the washer, sit down and look it over for loose strings, patches etc. Clip off the loose strings with sharp scissors or a pair of finger nail clippers. You will see more problems with your uniform off your body than on, plus it's easier to find. So clean it up before you put it on. Now lets look at ironing these cotton khaki work clothing. 1st, Find a good modern iron with the smooth Teflon surface. Which makes ironing a much more pleasant experience. Don't set the iron to hot because you sure don't want to scorch (burn) your uniform or patches. Plus, find a good spray starch. Everyone has his own brand that he likes, so find one and stay with it. Next, unbutton all the pockets, sleeves, and shirt front. You don't want to iron over buttons under any cloth. This leaves a strange round button look on the top cloth. I know you have seen these. A lot of times dry cleaners do that and it leaves a permanent circle on flaps or such. So when you do pocket flaps, either place them on the ironing board and press flat or you can place a piece of scrap cloth behind the flap before pressing. All shirts on the sleeves underneath have a seam. Lay this seam flat towards you and press the whole seam ( along the bottom edge of the sleeve) and make sure you don't crease in any wrinkles. Flip it over and do it again on the other side. Press the front and back of the shirt. If your shirt pockets have bellows, make sure they are flat and tucked in right. BDU's have bellow pockets. The collar needs to be tucked down and press flat to that 2nd button. OK IT'S PANTS TIME NOW!! Which looks hard to do, but it isn't. Grab your legs at the bottom and find the center of it ( hint: match the inseam with the outer seams ) at the bottom of your legs, also button the top flap. This helps promote a better crease. Lay the leg flat and press front and back. Also doing the same thing with the pockets that you did with your shirts helps too. What do I do if I don't have a iron? All you need is two Quarters. Take your pants or shirt sleeve, sandwich the two quarters where you want the crease. Then simply hold the 2 quarters tightly and draw the material through them. TA DA!! Instant creases. HERES A FEW MORE TIPS OF THE TRADE 1. Try to get away from metal hangers, they rust, and leave a strange sideways crease just above the knees in pants. Go with the large plastic, cardboard tubes, or wooden hangers. 2. To keep your shirts tails in, try using garters. They are basically strips of elastic with clips on either end, they are designed to keep your shirt down and your socks up. 3. Never let your ink pens show. Ever had a leaky pen before? 4. NEVER, NEVER wear white socks. It looks really goofy 5. Don't put flowers or strange items on your uniform. Keep a respectful attitude towards your outward appearance 6. Always hold things in your left hand or draped over your left arm. So that you can, salute, shake hands or do pledges. 7. Always wear dark dress shoes, boots, or even black army boots with your uniform, NOT TENNIS SHOES. Those are for play times with your T-shirts and blue jeans or BDU's 8. Don't forget your headgear. Keep them nice too. They make dishwasher baseball cap holders and you place them in the dishwasher on small rinse cycle. They come out clean as a whistle 9. Promote all your leaders to wear the same headgear. Such as: Baseball caps, berets, or smokey trooper hats 10. REMEMBER, starch is your friend, but not your best friend. To much starch can cause a dandruff effect. You can use steam instead of starch and just about get the same effect. 11. ( IMPORTANT LEADERS NOTE ) : When correcting others, I encourage you to do so privately and as discreetly as possible. All Royal Ranger leaders receiving corrective action are encouraged to accept constructive appraisal in the proper spirit. Avoid difficulties and embarrassments by wearing the uniform properly. PLUS, you are expected to make on-the-spot corrections to your uniform. May I also suggest, that you let a long time leader, point out the problem to others if you are a novice Ranger Leader. Just tell the older leaders privately what you saw and ask the question: "Is that the right way to wear that ____?" Instead of just telling them, "that's wrong", because peoples spirits, pride, friendships and personalities are very important to our overall program in Ranger ministry. 12. Last but not lease, ALWAYS HAVE A PROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE. Because you are. I guess the #1 bit of information that I could give you that would make your uniform look it's best is: "YOU MAKE THE UNIFORM." If you feel sharp than you will look sharp. If you feel good then you will look good. People will perceive you the way you want them to. BE professional LOOK professional, and ACT Professional because you are PROFESSIONALS in a Christian uniformed boys program ministry: ( ROYAL RANGERS ) God Bless, Chaplain Jeff Ortner #446 If you are an Army boot man, they made a book called: " THE ART OF THE SHINE " It is the ultimate guide to military boots and boot polishing. A Pocket size 50 page booklet. For $6.95. Find it on the web at , www.uniformguide.com Also they are also coming out soon with a uniform guide book , called " Shared Secrets of the Lifers " a book on those that know how to keep looking sharp uniforms.