thedrifter
07-29-08, 06:45 AM
Yuma Marines urged to get ‘on the ball’
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July 27, 2008 - 8:14PM
BY LANCE CPL. M. DANIEL SANCHEZ, SPECIAL TO THE SUN
With less than four months until the Marine Corps' birthday, tailors, dry cleaners and exchange personnel at the Marine Corps Air Station have some advice for Marines: Prepare your uniforms early.
The station's "ball season," which tailors consider mid-September until the last birthday ball is held, is known for longer wait times and less merchandise availability due to the stampede of Marines purchasing new uniform items or getting uniforms tailored, altered and cleaned.
Too many Marines wait until the last minute to bring in their uniforms for alterations, said Barbara Schmidt, manager of the station dry cleaners.
Cleanings and small alterations, such as changing chevrons, can still be done within a week during ball season, however, blouse and trouser alterations and fittings can take up to three weeks to be finished, said Schmidt.
Since there are only two seamstresses on base, the amount of uniforms that can be worked on or completed per day is limited, Schmidt said.
Each seamstress can alter a maximum of four sets of service or dress blue alphas per day, which is why wait times increase so drastically when dozens of Marines bring in all their uniforms at once, she said.
Finding seamstresses qualified and experienced enough to work with Marine uniforms is challenging, and with training new personnel even more difficult, the shop hasn't been able to hire more seamstresses, said Schmidt.
Aside from alterations, Marines are being encouraged to buy new uniform items before the shelves are cleared.
As an incentive to get their uniforms ready early, the exchange and tailor shop are offering Marines special discounts and services.
For bringing in uniforms during the month of August, Marines will receive 15 percent off all services at the tailor shop.
At the exchange, Marines will also receive $5 off medal and ribbon mounting through Aug. 5, since ball season increases wait times from one week to two.
From September through mid-November, the tailor shop will only work on military uniforms and begin scheduling appointments for service. Appointments will take priority over walk-ins.
Also, extra shipments of the most common blues trouser and blouse sizes and accessories should arrive soon, said Tanya Perimon, exchange supply technician.
But Marines who need sizes larger or smaller than what is normally carried need to special order them soon, since it can take about four months for special orders to arrive, said Perimon.
Yuma Marines need to get the ball rolling early, said Perimon, because they will also have to compete with all of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course's visiting Marines for items as well as each other if they wait too long. This year's WTI is scheduled to occur Sept. 8 to Oct. 24.
Marines can also order uniform items online through the MCCS Web site, www.usmc-mccs.org. Shipping is free and orders usually take seven to 10 business days to arrive if items are in stock.
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This story is reprinted from The Desert Warrior, the newspaper of the Marine Corps Air Station.
Ellie
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July 27, 2008 - 8:14PM
BY LANCE CPL. M. DANIEL SANCHEZ, SPECIAL TO THE SUN
With less than four months until the Marine Corps' birthday, tailors, dry cleaners and exchange personnel at the Marine Corps Air Station have some advice for Marines: Prepare your uniforms early.
The station's "ball season," which tailors consider mid-September until the last birthday ball is held, is known for longer wait times and less merchandise availability due to the stampede of Marines purchasing new uniform items or getting uniforms tailored, altered and cleaned.
Too many Marines wait until the last minute to bring in their uniforms for alterations, said Barbara Schmidt, manager of the station dry cleaners.
Cleanings and small alterations, such as changing chevrons, can still be done within a week during ball season, however, blouse and trouser alterations and fittings can take up to three weeks to be finished, said Schmidt.
Since there are only two seamstresses on base, the amount of uniforms that can be worked on or completed per day is limited, Schmidt said.
Each seamstress can alter a maximum of four sets of service or dress blue alphas per day, which is why wait times increase so drastically when dozens of Marines bring in all their uniforms at once, she said.
Finding seamstresses qualified and experienced enough to work with Marine uniforms is challenging, and with training new personnel even more difficult, the shop hasn't been able to hire more seamstresses, said Schmidt.
Aside from alterations, Marines are being encouraged to buy new uniform items before the shelves are cleared.
As an incentive to get their uniforms ready early, the exchange and tailor shop are offering Marines special discounts and services.
For bringing in uniforms during the month of August, Marines will receive 15 percent off all services at the tailor shop.
At the exchange, Marines will also receive $5 off medal and ribbon mounting through Aug. 5, since ball season increases wait times from one week to two.
From September through mid-November, the tailor shop will only work on military uniforms and begin scheduling appointments for service. Appointments will take priority over walk-ins.
Also, extra shipments of the most common blues trouser and blouse sizes and accessories should arrive soon, said Tanya Perimon, exchange supply technician.
But Marines who need sizes larger or smaller than what is normally carried need to special order them soon, since it can take about four months for special orders to arrive, said Perimon.
Yuma Marines need to get the ball rolling early, said Perimon, because they will also have to compete with all of the Weapons and Tactics Instructor course's visiting Marines for items as well as each other if they wait too long. This year's WTI is scheduled to occur Sept. 8 to Oct. 24.
Marines can also order uniform items online through the MCCS Web site, www.usmc-mccs.org. Shipping is free and orders usually take seven to 10 business days to arrive if items are in stock.
----
This story is reprinted from The Desert Warrior, the newspaper of the Marine Corps Air Station.
Ellie