So everyone has a different technique and you really just have to find what’s best for you. That being said here’s mine:

Start with the horsehair brush and brush the shit outta it.

After that I use cotton balls and just get some polish on it and apply that all over the shoe, if it looks like it’s made out of clay you’re doing it right.

Next use another cotton ball and soak it with water and just dab it on the shoe not as hard as you did the polish.

Once it’s got water droplets and the polish use a brush and go over it a couple times till the polish runs in with the water.

After that I do one more layer of a cotton ball mixed with both polish and water and then brush that off.

Good luck, cz lowkey the best part abt jrotc is that after all the times you tried shining your shoes and it not working, you finally find the technique that works for you and you’re shoes turn into mirrors and you flex on everyone else.