Instructions for Ironing a Military Uniform Shirt

Ironing your military uniform shirt can be a daunting task. However, with a little practice, you can master this task and be able to perform it to military standard in less than five minutes. This is a must, especially when faced with inspections or important ceremonies on a moment's notice.

Things You'll Need

• Iron
• Ironing board
• Starch
• Water
• Uniform instruction or regulation specific to your branch of the military

Instructions

1. Determine where your shirt should be creased, by consulting the regulation or instruction that addresses the wear of the uniform for your military branch. Normally, shirts will be creased on the side seams and down the center of the sleeves. However, certain branches of the military also crease shirts in the center of the front two pockets, and in three places on the back of the shirt.

2. Remove ribbons, name tags and other devices from your uniform shirt. Wash your shirt and hang it up to air dry. Ironing the shirt while it is still damp, but not wet, will make sharper creases in the material. Spray the shirt liberally with starch, beginning with the back of the shirt first, and moving to the front.

3. Place the sleeve flat on the ironing board, with the crease in the center of the arm, or in the center of your military rank (if you are an enlisted member). Iron from the top of the sleeve toward the cuff, ensuring that you hold the sleeve flat to avoid wrinkles and make sharp creases down the center of the sleeve.

4. Place the back of the shirt flat on the ironing board, and iron from the collar toward the bottom hem. If you are in the Navy, Coast Guard or Marine Corps, you will also need to iron creases in three places on the back of the shirt. After you have ironed the back of the shirt flat and removed all wrinkles, gently fold the back of the shirt in half and place it on the ironing board. After ironing the center crease into the back of the shirt, fold the back of the shirt in half on either side of the center crease and iron the second and third creases into the shirt.

5. Place the front of the shirt on the ironing board, beginning with the left side, and iron it until smooth and wrinkle-free. If you are in the Navy, Coast Guard or Marine Corps, fold the shirt down the center of the pocket and iron a crease straight down the shirt. Repeat the procedure with the right side of the shirt.

6. Place the collar of the shirt on the ironing board, beginning in the center of the collar, and iron outward toward the front of the shirt, until the collar is free of wrinkles. If you wear your shirt with a tie, iron the collar while the shirt is buttoned to the top. If you wear your shirt without a tie and the top button undone, iron the collar while the shirt is buttoned to the second button, and the lapels are folded flat.

7. Reposition your military nametag, ribbons and other decorations on your shirt.

Tips & Warnings

• Hang the shirt on a hanger immediately after ironing to keep the shirt in pristine condition until it's time to wear it.

• Keep the iron moving back and forth to avoid burning the material.

References

• How to Iron a Button-down Shirt in Five Easy Steps