The BDU cap is worn straight on the head so that the cap band creates a straight line around the head parallel to the ground. A good way to accomplish this is to place two (2) fingers vertically along the ridge of the nose, and pull the cap down to the fingers. Make sure that your cap fits correctly, and go back to get the correct size if it is too big. BDU caps are not like baseball hats. You don't want it to be big enough to go really far down over your head.
Combat boots take some care to look their very best. They are issued with a factory finish that prevents a good shine. In order to remove that finish, use either saddle soap and a stiff plastic brush with hot water, or alot of alcohol and cotton balls. The boots should almost be a dull gray color by the time they are totally stripped.
Then use a horse-hair dauber brush (Kiwi makes a good one) and apply copious amounts of black Kiwi shoe polish to the boot. When you're buying Kiwi polish, open the can at the store and make sure that the polish is moist, instead of dry and cracked. Do NOT buy the Kiwi Parade Gloss, get their regular boot polish. Once you've applied a thick coat of polish to a section of the boot, take a cotton ball, dip it in hot water, squeeze it and make tiny circles in the polish, slowly moving across the surface of the boot. This is the only way to get a really nice spit-shine. It is more important that the toe and heel of the boot be shinier than the rest of it, but do polish it all. After the first coat of polish, let the boot dry, and repeat this at least two (2) or three (3) times. Then, repeat about once a week. A horse-hair buffing brush is good for getting a shine on the boot except for the toe and heel (buff with the brush instead of polishing with the cotton ball).
The plastic brush will run you about $2 for a good Rubbermaid one, and the Kiwi dauber and buffing brushes are between $2 and $5 a piece. Saddle soap and black Kiwi polish are just things you have to have. To minimize the cost, you can get together and polish boots in groups if you want.
The BDU shirt should be at least pressed off. Some people starch their BDUs, but I do not like it, especially in hot weather (starch reduces the cooling air flow IMHO). To press the arms, lay the arm front side down and make sure that the whole seam (along the bottom edge of the sleeve) is facing you (do the left sleeve first, making sure the MARS patch is on the front side of the sleeve when you press it). Then just press the whole sleeve, making sure you don't crease any wrinkles. Flip the shirt over and press the front of the sleeve then. Repeat with the other sleeve.
Then (with the shirt unbuttoned) take the left front, spread it on the board, and press it down, making sure that the pockets are folded properly (the billows should all be tucked in neatly) and buttoned. The collar should be turned down between the top and 2nd buttons (remember, the shirt is worn with all but the top button buttoned). Press the collar down. Repeat with the other front panel. Then just quickly press of the back, to get rid of any major wrinkles.
The trousers are easy to press. Simply take one leg, and crease it at the front and back of the knee. When you lay the creased leg flat, the cargo pocket should be centered on the leg facing up at you. Then, making sure the cargo pocket is buttoned, press the leg from just above the cargo pocket, to just above the cuff. Repeat with the other leg.
When you put on the uniform, you wear a brown t-shirt, and appropriate undergarments. For the trousers, tie off the cuff just above your ankle bones and put your boots on. The trouser should remain down around your ankle, tucked into the boots. Tie the boots by first wrapping the laces around the top right-to-left and left-to-right, tie like regular shoes, and then stuff the loose laces into the top of the boot.
To roll the sleeves on the shirt, lay it out on your bed (or other similar flat surface) and turn the sleeves inside out, with the inside out cuff almost reaching the armpit. Then go to the lowest point of the now inside-out sleeve, and roll it in 2-3 inch rolls neatly up to the cuff. Then fold the cuff down over the rolled sleeve, exposing the camo pattern. Button the tab on the cuff to hold the roll.
The black issue web belt and black open-faced buckle is worn with the trousers. The buckle's right edge is parallel and online with the outer edge of the fly. The tip of the belt should not extend more than two inches past the edge of the buckle.