Do you have any tips or tricks to putting together a perfect uniform?

Since you are a soldier and I'm a Marine, I couldn't tell you. Back in my day we had personnel inspections (sometimes with arms) and there were certain tricks we had for being immaculate for that. Basically, it took teamwork for all to look uniform and for each Marine to check each other out. We also had an intel detail out, since every inspecting officer had his/her particular details they pinged on. Once we found those out, we concentrated on them. In the barracks we had the inspection where everything was laid out on our bunks (with us standing next to the bunk), called "junk on the bunk" or "things on the springs", and we had our tricks for those, too. Again, teamwork - every display had to be laid out exactly the same. Since all enlisted leather (shoes, boots and barracks cap visors) had to be spit-shined and some guys weren't too good at it, some guys who were good at it made a lot of money. We had press-and-shine techniques for brass and pressing clothes, for marking our names on all clothing items, and so forth. It took about a week to get ready, with more experienced guys exercising leadership and passing down knowledge. Another trick we used was to have a set of "inspection" items - pressed and clean skivvies, socks - that were kept apart and only broken out for an inspection, while our everyday stuff disappeared into the car. For our shoes and boots, we'd try to slide a dime under the heels and if we could, it was too worn and went to the cobbler shop for new heels. Ribbons had to be new - we always had a guy who knew how to mount a rack - and there could be no "Irish pennants" on the clothing. For wall locker inspections, everybody's clothing had to be hung the same way and equally spaced between hangers. With today's corfram shoes and other items, they should be clean and be free of scuffs - if necessary, have a pair just for inspection. Don't neglect a haircut and be sure to shave. Fingernails should be clean and trimmed. Do not wear any jewelry except for a wedding band (if you're married). With today's anodized brass, be sure it's clean and shiny, or replace it. Belts should be clean and of the proper length. I could go on, but you get the idea. No detail is too small to overlook, and teamwork is necessary. Good luck.

I've spent considerable time during active duty in spit-shining jump boots--and continue doing it today with dress cowboy boots for church. The best approach, after wiping the footgear clean, is using a used, clean cloth diaper, soak in cold water and wring it out, and wrap it around your hand. Touch a bit lightly with your fingertips into the polish and then work in circular motions on the boot.

Rinse the diaper frequently to avoid picking up dirt particles. Let the polish dry and work on the other boot in a similar fashion. Using a portion of the unused diaper, wrap it around the hand and then smooth out the polish through circular rubbing and then with straight-across movements for the final shine.

New boots or shoes require a more lengthy time in producing a spit-shine.

Well I can tell you what not to do. Never put your boots in the oven :)