How to Prepare a JROTC Military Uniform

Last Updated: May 6, 2021

Tired of getting demerits or points during inspections? Here is step by step on getting those merits/points and how to do it correctly.

Things You'll Need

Brasso or Nevr-Dull
Kiwi Shoe and Boot Polish Paste
A ruler
A Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps uniform of any branch
Corfam shoes (Formal) or Combat Boots (Non-Formal)
Two old rags, one soft
Two pairs latex gloves (if you're allergic, plastic gloves will do fine)
Elbow grease
Water
Glass cleaner or furniture polish & a towel
Newspaper
Handful of change

Method 1

Method 1 of 5:
Shining the Brass

1
Put your gloves on.
2
Use your Brasso and place a little dab of it your first piece of brass.
- Rub the Brasso into the brass with your index finger with a medium pressure in a circular motion.
- note: You will see lots of black/gray gunk, that is just the filth that was on it.
- rub for about a minute or just before your Brasso has been rubbed off of your brass piece
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3
Take your soft cloth and buff the piece, getting the remnants of Brasso off, and rub in the opposite direction that you applied the Brasso.
- Keep buffing until there is a mirror shine.
4
Repeat on the next piece of brass.
5
Remove gloves when finished and dispose of them in proper manner.

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Method 2

Method 2 of 5:
Shining the Boots

1
Place newspaper over entire work area.
2
Put on second set of gloves.
3
Remove the boot laces.
4
Apply the Kiwi paste in generous amounts over the entire boot.
5
Rub off any excess polish.
6
Flip over the rag and twist it onto your finger and lick it or dip it lightly in water
7
Rub the damp cloth in a counter-clockwise motion over the toe of the boot.
- Rub until it has a slight shine
8
Place a slight amount of polish over the toe of the boot just enough to rid of the shine.
9
Repeat step seven.
10
Replace the laces with the stings left over right.

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Method 3

Method 3 of 5:
Shining Low Corder/Dress Green Shoes

1
Spray glass cleaner twice per shoe for an even coating.
2
Rub shoe with towel with medium pressure.
3
Repeat if necessary.

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Method 4

Method 4 of 5:
Placement of Ribbons

This is where your handful of change will come into play. Go ahead and retrieve a nickel and your ribbons.

These steps will vary according to how many ribbons you have so i will break this up into 4 parts. Note: I am a male, and female and male uniforms are different on account that female uniforms have no pockets, Thus this is for males.

Image titled Prepare a JROTC Military Uniform Step 18

Method 5

Method 5 of 5:
For one ribbon

1
Measure how long your pocket is.
2
Find the middle and place the middle of you ribbon on that spot.
3
Use your nickel and use the width of it to space the ribbon from the top of the pocket, so that the ribbon is the thickness of the nickel up and centered.
4
Apply the clutch-back's and admire your work.

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Community Q&A

Question

Is it okay if I use the clutch backs to keep my beret tight?

Benjamin Prowell

Community Answer

It depends on what your uniform regulations state. I know that using fishing line to make your creases tight is considered a violation.

Warnings

The shining for the dress green shoes do not apply to all, such at the new leather Oxfords the Navy uses. In order to shine the leather ones refer to How to Shine Shoes

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Brasso can and will stain any part of the uniform it touches, make sure all excess Brasso has been removed.

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