A Squared Away Uniform

Drill Instructors, above all other staff, must represent the definition of uniform perfection at all times. That being said, it can be very difficult to get that "look" down. This can be especially hard if a staff member does not have experience in a field where a uniform must be perfect. (Note: just because someone was a police officer or in the armed forces it does necessarily mean they know, or remember, how to square away a uniform) This post will reveal some of the most common tricks of the trade that can be applied to Pathfinder Uniforms. It takes time to get good at all of it but it is worth the effort.

Ironing is Your Friend:
Never underestimate the impact of freshly ironed clothes. The most effective (and often overlooked) trick for having a good looking uniform is to iron it every time you intend to wear it.

Learn proper ironing technique
These are not the skills you learned in home economics. These are above and beyond. You may know how to iron a collared, button up shirt... but ironing a dress uniform shirt is a different beast. Be patient at first, it will take many attempts to learn how to iron a straight crease but it will be worth it. Don't be discouraged if you have to redo something 3,4, even 5 times.
Shirt:
Learn how to iron military creases. It takes some practice but will get much easier with time. Or you can buy a dress shirt that has permanent military creases. Tailors can also sew military creases into shirts. Put a little extra work into your sleeves. Make that outside crease sharp and straight. Put a bit of a fold on the patches on your sleeve. It will be difficult but get a little in there.
Pants:
Take your time. Pants may seem simple but need to look good too. To get your proper creases, hold the end of the pant leg and align the cuffs then start from the bottom and work your way up. Laying both legs on top of each other to check consistency. You have two legs and they need to be identical. The front seam should end about 6 inches below the waist. The rear crease should end no higher than the crotch of the pants.
Accessories:
Don't forget your other accessories! The scarf is the big one here but don't forget to occasionally press your tie, gloves, and undershirt. Even socks if yours wrinkle after being washed.

Starch:
Get some high strength starch and learn how to use it! Starch will help keep your uniform looking good in between wear and even help prevent things from looking off while you are wearing it. Starch your shirt, pants, scarf, and tie. Put heavier starch on the lower portion of your trousers to keep that cuff looking crisp. Make sure you starch your shirt on the large portions of fabric that will lay flat. Use some starch on the arms to keep that crease sharp and to help keep the fold in your badges there. Don't go overboard.
The scarf should be starched so that the bottom point lays flat and it will greatly help with your wearing technique.

Shirt Garter:
There are some nifty little devices that help you always keep the tucked in look. It's great to put on trousers and your waist looks perfect but it's gone the instant you sit or bend, or even move for that matter. Shirt straps, shirt garters, or shirt stays are essentially reverse suspenders for your shirt. they attach to the bottom of your shirt and then either around your foot or to the top of your socks. They are made of elastic and when tightened properly, will give a good tug to keep your shirt looking perfectly tucked in at all times no matter how much movement you do. A little hike and shift  in the waist of your trousers and your shirt will look great again.
There are also rubber belts designed to be worn around the shirt and just under the waist of the pants. They also are deigned to keep a shirt tucked and trousers in place. They are great for primarily standing or walking and go on much easier with the help of a partner but are not effective for any other motion.

Use a Tailor:
Past ironing, a good tailor can make all the difference. Get your trousers and shirt tailored, and tell them it needs to be a military tailor and not a dress tailor. A military tailor will be just a little tighter on the shirt. Have them take any extra fabric out of the sleeves so they are not baggy. You want pants to ride just above the hipbone and when wearing shoes, you want a slight break in the bottom of the trousers. Always take your shoes when getting fitted. Have the tailor angle the trouser bottoms as well.

Buying Parts of the Uniform:
Pants: You probably got your dress shirt from AdvenSource but where to get the rest? True, you can buy pants from AdventSource but you will get a much better fit if you buy them elsewhere. Go to a store that has a good selection of dress pants for comparison. Take your shoes and try them on. Make sure that you actually get black and not something too light. Believe it or not there are about as many shades of black as there are colors in the rainbow and it can be next to impossible to tell the difference if they are not side by side. Trousers should fit well but don't have to be perfect.... you have a tailor for that remember? The most important thing is that the waist is not too snug and that the pant legs fit well with not too much extra fabric around the thighs. Your trousers should have a slimming look from the waist down. Never, ever, not in a million years, should you buy pleated pants! They may be great for certain suits and 1930's gangsters but they are an abomination with regard to uniforms.
Socks: Get a nice pair of dark black socks (not dark navy as is often the embarrassing case). Don't buy really thin or short ones either. The extra padding of a thicker sock will help cushion your feet and be more durable.
Shoes: You have quite a bit of leeway in this department. Until AdventSource decides to stock Corframs, you gotta buy shoes elsewhere. Three rules: They must be black, the must be lace up, and they must be shine-able (Ladies, you can wear other shoes as authorized by your club but the heel should not be larger than 2 inches). Put some effort into making sure they have a nice smooth, glossy look every time you wear the uniform (this means getting shoe polish, sitting down with a soft cloth and getting to work). Just like good headgear seals the deal at the top, good looking shoes seal it at the bottom.

Below are some additional tips.

• Use sewing scissors to trim off all little strings and pieces of thread that end up sticking out on your uniform.
• Hang up your uniform! Your uniform should always be in one of two places: On your body or on a hanger. When you must travel, use a garment bag, dry cleaning bag, or a garbage bag with a hole to keep your uniform protected.
• A lighter flame can be used to singe off the fuzz that can appear on patches and seams.
• A piece of chipboard cut into an oval and placed under your shirt behind you ribbons will help maintain a smooth appearance. Always check to make sure it can't be seen.
• Maintain excellent hygiene. Always "tune up" your appearance the morning of. Guys: there is no excuse for a day old beard.
• Use a permanent marker to patch up scuffs on the soles of your shoes.
• Replace items that are worn out. (ribbons or light colored pieces are frequent casualties)
• Always include a gig line trim as one of your last dressing steps.
• Dress in this order: undergarments, shirt (and button it leaving the top button undone), shirt straps or tailor belt, socks, trousers, shoes, belt, tie, sash (if putting on at that time), scarf, headgear and gloves.
• Adjust your belt buckle so that when worn, the right edge of the buckle is on your gig line and the metal tip at the other end of the belt rests under the first belt loop to the left side of the buckle. Trim any extra belt off so it does not extend farther than the back of the buckle. Keep that end neat and free of fraying. If using club belts, Pathfinders may thread extra belt past the buckle and underneath the rest of the belt in order to not have to cut every belt.
• Dress shoes don't have to be expensive to work great. Browse thrift stores to find a good deal. In my time as a Pathfinder staff, I have bought all but one pair at a thrift store.
• Make sure you get black socks and not dark navy. That is one of the first things I look for in a uniform inspection.
• Know how to tuck a tie in a crisp and military fashion. (In the shirt, not in the pants)
• Know the military tuck if your shirt does not fit perfectly.
• Use a half Windsor knot for your tie. Windsor and Pratt are also acceptable. The Four-in-hand, Simple, and Balthus knots should be avoided.
• Always check over your uniform for things that may need replacing. It's a good idea to have a spare belt, scarf, tie, socks, and ribbons.
• Keep your hands out of your pockets unless you are placing or retrieving something. And then, do not put anything in your pockets that will bulge.
• Always use a garment bag. Never fold your shirt or pants unless you absolutely have to. If you must fold, look into techniques on how to fold with minimal wrinkles and unwanted creases.
• Use antiperspirant instead of simple deodorant to prevent pit stains.
• For shirt pocket flaps, sew the button hole shut and sew the button onto the flap. Then attach small pieces of Velcro to the corners of the flap so that the corners stick down and don't roll up.
• Do not roll your sleeves. They make short sleeved shirts for that. If you are hot, you suck it up.
• Wear headgear properly.
• Do not add unneeded things to your uniform. 
• When wearing a jacket, wear one that is clean and looks like it belongs in a professional setting. A sweat shirt, ratty snow jacket, or blanket is not appropriate. If the jacket is on, it will be at least 3/4 zipped up. if you are too hot that way, you don't need a jacket.
• Never wear undergarments that can be seen. This applies especially to long sleeve shirts worn under short sleeve dress uniforms. Wear a jacket or suck it up. 
• Shine, or at least clean and buff, anything that has a metallic finish.
• Roll your scarf so that you have a tube that rests around your collar. Not only does it look better after the slide is on, but it helps keep the lines straight on the back of your neck.
• Apply military standards of dress and grooming whenever possible regarding hair, makeup and jewelry (but you already knew that, right?).
• Take your time dressing. Allow adequate time to get dressed so you can apply the proper attention. Putting a uniform on in a pup tent at a camporee is time consuming and takes patience but it can be done.

Have a squared away uniform even if you are camping (it can be done). Consistency is the key. Take the time to do it right and it will be noticed. No one cares if you look good after you were able to sleep in, get dressed at home and show up to a club meeting. What will stand out is that same uniform when you have it on Saturday morning at a camporee with bad weather, a six hour drive to get there, and having to get up at the crack of dawn with no indoor plumbing.

A visual of the gig line. Ignore the nasty belt flap

Simple military tuck. Look up videos for better instruction