Lucrative time to be the tailor.
Or crappily sew them on yourself. I won't say whether or not I do that...
Forgot to mention, had a SWO brief today and it was passed on that we will be changing out the current CAG (Canadian Average Green) and blue thread slip-OMS for DEU slip-ons in 2023. Specifically for flight suits and jackets, I didn’t ask if it was also for all CADPAT stuff or just flying clothing.
Honestly, that makes sense. If the CADPAT is going to the velcro, leaving the flight suit slip-on as an orphan line, get rid of it since it reduces the stocks that Stores needs to carry. Or attach yet more velcro and put the CADPAT ranks on the shoulders.
The CCWO EA was sporting new high-vis rank on their CADPAT back in the summer when CWO Hall was in town for a visit; so there will be a change to CADPAT yet again. This will be version 3 of slip-ons for op dress for me.
Interesting. It is a PITA trying to see ranks until they're about 3 feet in front of you, like this Terminal Lance comic.
YFR? Sorry got none of that. Money for misc and unimportant dress changes? Step right up!
I think that this will actually
save money in the end. RCAF is getting rid of an entire line of slip-ons that the current CADPAT doesn't use. That also means reducing stocks at Clothing stores since DEU slip-ons are ordered from Logistik, and aircrew will (likely) not need CADPAT velcro rank unless for specific reasons.
Trying a test run of a new colour on CADPAT doesn't take a lot of money or staff work.
Also, the "buckets of money" trope gets tossed around a lot, but RCAF CWO isn't dealing with YFR and those things. On the flip side, I highly doubt that Comd RCAF is really involved in the colours of slip-ons.