The wearing of standardized clothing is a military tradition dating back to the earliest of times. It arose out of the need to ensure every soldier was equally ready for battle and helped to reinforce unit cohesion and identity. Today, it has numerous benefits for our cadets:

• Common dress promotes an egalitarian environment in which all cadets have an equal chance to excel and be recognized. Though they are differentiated by rank, they aren’t promoted because of what they wear or how much money their parents have or what neighborhood they live in back home. They are promoted and achieve privileges based solely on their own performance and attitude.

• Common dress takes away unnecessary distractions. Cadets don’t have to think about what to wear each day; however they are expected to keep their appearance “strack” and take pride in themselves. Instead of worrying if they have the hippest designer label, they’re focused on polishing their brass and shoes and distinguishing their dress with ribbons, medals and pins awarded for academic, physical and leadership excellence.

• Common dress fosters pride in self and school. Cadets are not permitted to wear civilian clothes. When they go downtown for a movie, attend an away sporting event or perform community service off-campus, they wear their uniforms. In so doing, they’re more mindful of their behavior and seek to represent themselves and Wentworth with pride.