Where do you usually find the best in terms of price to advise cadets to purchase things like MTP,boots , shoes and belts. Obviously they dont have to purchase everything new which is their choice but just wondering in terms of bew kit which site do you find best. As i want to try to find one that is not overly priced so is suitable for all types of income families.
It is a shame rafac don’t issue things like MTP when most of our modules are now MTP required . We do have some older ones at squadron we use but are very limited.
thanks for any advice
Personally - I’d encourage an in house “swap shop” for cadets who already own ill-fitting kit or stuff that is surplus to requirements.
Try to establish a relationship with your nearest Ay Surplus shop is a great for everyone - it supports a small local business and in turn, they’re often better placed to source ihard to find items by liaising with fellow traders.
Above all - you can usually try the stuff on in shop to make sure it DOES fit!
There are a few group pages on FB such as Cadet Sales and Wants - and - Army Surplus Sale and Wanted
Lastly eBay…
Don’t forget to use the MOD measuring system for waist, height, seat etc…
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I don’t recommend a single site, or any site.
What I do instead is provide links to two or more examples on different sites (that I believe to be reputable) for each item to show the correct item/style they need, without endorsing any individual seller.
It is then up to them how much they shop around.
So for say 5 items, there might be 8 different websites to provide 2 examples per item, with no single site used as an example for all items.
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I agree with @Giminion and would also recommend arming parents with appropriate search terms (like ‘Gibson shoes’ for the female non-court shoes) so that they can source appropriate shoes from non-cadet specialist suppliers. Similarly, it’s important to arm them with the knowledge that they don’t have to buy ‘cadet boots’, but that many brown (or black) hiking boots fit the description in ACP 1358. These have the added benefit of being suitable for AT / DofE as well.
One exception was there used to be a ‘starter bundle’ on one of the cadet sites, which included MTP and brown boots, for about £80. I would call this out and recommend it, if I could find it again!
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Unfortunately good value supplies are harder to find. There is less kit around (stuff going to Ukraine etc) and the company handling MOD disposals has changed. Our local surplus place says he’s struggling to get some items. Especially smocks,
If you have the resources, it’s sometimes possible to bulk buy as a Squadron. Boots can be tricky as there are so many sizes and types, but things like belts, bush hats, Norwegian shirts and other useful bits sometimes come up on line in bulk.
Also worth using the DofE / DofE leader / Blue Light discounts at retailers who support it. Eg the JD Sports group (Blacks etc) does Magnum and their own brand combat boots as well as the AT stuff.
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My old unit did this years ago, and it worked pretty well. It was fairly soon after we were allowed to wear MTP. They got expressions of interest and sizes for all the cadets, bought that plus extra for stock, and sold it at cost to the cadets. Worked very well!
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This is so very true. I kitted both of mine out with ‘military style’ brown leather hiking boots (both of which were complaint with ACP 1358 and also suitable for AT) from Mountain Warehouse and got a significant Blue Light Card discount.
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Just actioned something similar for our latest intake who will need to get black shoes -“blue” uniform demand has just gone in to parent unit.
We don’t recommend, just point to online / local suppliers, with some example links to show comparable options, new & secondhand. We are lucky enough to have a local military surplus store who are very good - 10% discount to cadets / staff & they will also trade in shoes that were bought new from them (as long as they are in good condition of course). The BIG advantage that we stress is that even if cadets don’t buy from there they can try on different sizes - some cadets have never worn comparable “hard” shoes before, so size differences come as surprise!
For out last enrolment, one of the cadets had ordered on-line but had to send them back, wrong size. Ah, now time to get replacements before enrolment. His size - 13!!! Very luckily, not only did we have a brand new pair (scrounged from parent unit Clothing Stores - ask nicely!) but they were the one’s I had demo’d how to “highly polish” so he got an excellent deal!
I also outline options for polish / dusters / brushes as all of these are brand new concepts to cadets (& some parents!).
In fact (dunno why some tinyurl links come up with “pardon my interruption” - but the links work! 
:
UNIFORM - BLACK SHOES
The only thing we cannot provide for free with cadet “blues” uniform = black uniform shoes (toe cap for males, different style shoe for females)
We don’t recommend brand new shoes as cadets grow up fast = replacements are needed fairly frequently. Good quality second hand shoes might fit your needs nicely. None of the examples or links are recommendations, just examples, please shop around. If you find any other suppliers that you think may be of use, please email the details to the Sqn.
If you face financial difficulties for buying shoes, please let know so we can see if we can help. (We do sometimes have some handed-in used shoes that might be worth looking at.)
Whilst we can’t recommend a supplier, please be aware that if you are planning to buy black parade shoes, The Green Barn will trade in a pair (if in suitable condition for re-sale of course) that you bought from them if you have to move up to a larger size. They also give 10% discount if you mention that you are with us. At least you can see different brands & try on for size (recommended), even if you subsequently want to buy on-line.https://the-green-barn-military.business.site/
Typical examples on eBay:
Female pattern:
Everything available in one place but seen by some as being more expensive than other providers:
Second hand options:
Men's RAF Cadet Parade Shoes - Free UK Delivery | Military Kit
British Ladies RAF WAAF Parade Shoes
Polishing black shoes:
We will show cadets how to get a “highly polished” shine - & of course, they can ask the more experienced cadets - but there are numerous YouTube videos that give some useful tips. Do not use cheap / supermarket standard polish, the desired shine will not be achieved.
Sadly, Kiwi shoe polish isn’t available in most shops anymore - it’s highly recommended - so Amazon or eBay might be good sources. Otherwise, Kiwi Parade Gloss is good - but as for anything that has “techniques,” there are plenty of ways to get a good standard & plenty of varying opinions!
Kiwi Parade Gloss:
The “gold medal standard” seems to be Saphir - but it is VERY expensive so for starting out, use a basic (but good quality) polish - supermarket “own” is not recommended. If you think it will be received well, give Saphir as a Christmas or birthday present.
Typical video examples of how to polish shoes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQz4dqoxR2s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIbAKjmwxaA
A good quality duster is very important - don’t go for the cheapest versions, they will scratch the shoe / polish. Typical supermarket - Tescos brand, 3 for £1.50. Or, top quality = Selvyt brand cloth:
Brushes are also needed - one for putting polish on, & one (slightly softer) for brushing polish off. Go for good quality if possible - they give better results & will last longer. Available in supermarkets or on-line, for example:
NOTE - this may not be typical of the brand, but some Grafters shoes seem to be very hard to get a decent shine.
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I was starting to get triggered there when you started pushing Kiwi, but you get a pass for including Saphir and Selvyt.
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I think the best thing they staff can do is to first decide what gear their cadets need, and to go from there.
If you’re a Sqn that does very little in greens, then say so and set out the minimalist requirements you have.
If you’re a Sqn that’s big into greens - shooting, field craft, just generally a much more ‘green’ Sqn than down the road - then say so, and let them know so they aren’t wasting money on drill boots or whatever.
What’s the Sqn attitude? Is it uniformity, or is it ‘as long as your top layer is MTP/ish, I don’t care?’
We used Sqn funds - from car parking 
- to buy stuff in bulk: waterproofs, daysacks, belt kit, softie jackets, and a smaller pool of trousers, shirts and smocks to be issued on an ‘as needed’ basis.
Explain your thinking - say explicitly that you’d prefer they spent an extra £20 on boots at the cost of a scruffier uniform, or that it’s better to buy a good civ rucksack and put a £5 MTP cover on it than to buy two less good rucksacks, one civ, one MTP.
If you can, do a fitting session so cadets can see, and write down, what sizes of gear actually fit them, so they can they go off and hit eBay or Facebook.
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Gotta cater for all budgets / preferences. 
That said, I use Kiwi for my demo & also for my civvie black boots / shoes. Shoes are always highly polished for main events - as good as most on parade. Can’t beeswax them - Mrs J would kill me! 
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Two other things came to mind this evening…
Firstly, where do your existing cadets currently get their kit…?
Second, chances are that at least one of your local car boot sales might have a trader selling gear…
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Thanks everyone for your advice its very much appreciated and helps alot.
Regarding the DofE discount who can get this discount etc.
Any cadet who is enrolled in DofE
Any DofE leader (so need to be registered with them, which you do when you do your intro to DofE course with your Wing)
Or just say CFAV, smile nicely and show MOD90 (or MyRAFAC for cadets)
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(To be honest, even if you haven’t got your ID on you, if you smile and ask VERY politely, and just say you’ve left it at home and we’re making an impulse buy… you might find the staff aren’t all that bothered and will happily give you the discount anyway…
Less likely with small, independent stores - more likely with the larger ones like Blacks, Go Outdoors etc… as the staff are somewhat more focused on just processing the sales as quickly as possible - rather than focussing on the bottom line!
A number of staff have said things like “we’ve got so many groups that we give discounts to, who would ever know?!
Worst case - they politely say, “No, sorry - we need to see your card…”
Until 31 Dec, Mountain Warehouse are giving 15% discount to Blue Light cardholders (yes, they asked for the card).
Local branch had good range of waterproof jackets, etc, on sale this week - still got the discount - & it wasn’t even for me, met up with an aviation friend who needed a better work jacket.
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If it’s civvie outdoors kit you’re looking for, I’d recommend SportPursuit. You’ll get a much bigger discount then any of the in store offers or discount cards. The majority of my outdoors kit has been purchased there.
For example, the Montane MTA Pro deal allows a flat 40% discount across the Montane website, yet the deals on SportPursuit are often better than that!
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