Gloves no longer off

By Andrew Stackpool

Black gloves are now approved as a working dress item: the glove for males, top; the glove for females, bottom.

Photo by PTE John Wellfare

IN KEEPING with the Air Force image as a warm working environment, DCAF Air Vice- Marshal Roxley McLennan has approved the re-introduction of the black leather glove as a working dress item in cold climate areas.

According to a memorandum issued under CAF’s Commanders Call on June 7, the gloves were removed from the Air Force order of dress for both working and ceremonial wear in May 1999.

Since then personnel working in cold climates have requested AFHQ reinstate the gloves.

AVM McLennan considered the requests and has now approved the re-introduction of the gloves for use with working dress but not, under normal circumstances, with ceremonial dress.

However, the instructions have been amended to approve their use, or that of the black knitted gloves, at ceremonial parades held outdoors in extremely cold weather.

The gloves will be available at the current price of $20.96 a set. They will be available as an optional repayment item only and will not be issued in lieu of the knitted gloves.

The memo says Chapter Two of the Dress Manual is being amended to reflect the changes.

“Paragraph 62. Working dress. During cold weather, RAAF issue, plain black knitted gloves or black leather gloves
may be worn with any form of working dress, including the SD uniform, by all ranks, except when a shirt is worn as an outer garment.

“Paragraph 63. Ceremonial dress. Black knitted gloves or leather gloves are not to be worn on ceremonial occasions such as parades and funerals.”

But in the case of ceremonial parades held outdoors in extremely cold weather, the officer responsible for mounting the parade may permit the wearing of either type of glove.

“This concession does not apply to tri-Service ceremonial events,” the memo says.

The provisions of paragraph 64 relating to the wearing of white gloves by personnel in colour parties have not been changed.

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