Random question about what clothes you get?

Zaphod
Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:39:45 +0000

There’s one little tidbit I’d like to share. Perhaps Jadler can expand upon it with whatever the current regs are.

Back in the day, we were issued something like two pair of black Corfram patent-leather dress shoes and one set of black leather dress shoes. I suspect that the issue isn’t much different.

I HATE Corframs because all they are is a cheesy man-made material wrapped in plastic. Your feet don’t breath, so they immediately get sweaty and that SUCKS when it’s cold outside. The other drawback is that since they don’t breath, they reek to high heaven. Finally, they may look nice the FIRST time you wear them, but they will soon become creased where they fold and the slightest scuff is impossible to remove (claims that Windex and Pledge, and sometimes even Brasso, get the scuffs out are all BS).

My recommendation is that if your company allows it, go with only the leather shoes and learn to spit-shine them. They breath, stay drier, don’t smell, and can be brought back to a beautiful high sheen without too much effort once you get the hang of it. Show up with a shiny pair of REAL leather shoes and you’ll look and feel much better. People appreciate the effort it takes.

The same applies to your Summer White shoes, except that there are no patent-leather equivalents (well, there weren’t as of 10 years ago, anyway). Shine them up WITH POLISH. DO NOT USE THE KIWI LIQUID STUFF! It just turns yellow and then your shoes look like they’re painted which looks like utter crap.

My second Chief on my first ship stood before me on the morning of my first Morning Quarters with the Gunner’s Mates, looked at my COMBAT BOOTS, and quietly sneered, “Sir, we’re GM Division. We require our shoes to shine. Please make a note of it.” and walked away. I looked at the rest of the guys and ALL of them had GLEAMING combat boots on. I mean MIRRORS.

Mine were much better the next morning, but still not mirrors. “Work on it, sir.”

I loved my Chief! :D

Still do, actually. He’s a deputy in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Florida, and we still keep in touch. :)