Subject: UniformDir-H ALCOAST Unifrom Board 44
Shipmates~
I have contacted Director-H Joe O'Leary regarding the recent ALCOAST Uniform Board # 44 which was recently disseminated by email. The CHDIRAUX will be analyzing the Impact of this document as it pertains to the Auxiliary and issue an ALAUX defining the effects and providing guidance to Auxiliarists.
Members are cautioned to wait until the release of the ALAUX to take any action regarding their uniforms.
Request that you give this information the widest possible dissemination.
Gene Romanick
District Staff Officer-Human Resources
DSO-HR
District 1 (South) USCGAUX
Colleagues,
This morning I forwarded ALCOAST 291/11 to all members of 1SR. I would like each of you to review the message with your commanders and request they review this information at their next division meeting.
Please stress the following points during your discussion;
"It is first and foremost, the members responsibility to always look sharp, uniform appearance is a leadership priority, and that leaders are responsible for ensuring personnel wear uniforms with consistency, professionalism, and pride."
Substantive changes:
A) Effective immediate the garrison cap and foul weather parka are not authorized for wear with the SDB (Service Dress Blue) uniform. Authorized outer wear with the SDB: Bridge Coat or Trench Coat with Combination Cap.
B) Tropical Blue Uniform may be worn year-round for general office wear. Authorized outer wear with the Tropical Blue Uniform is the Windbreaker or Trench Coat with Combination Cap or Garrison Cap. The Standard Ball Cap or Unit Ball Cap are not authorized for wear with the Tropical Blue Uniform.
C) Winter Dress Blue (WDB) may be worn between 01 November and 31 March for general office wear. Authorized standard outer wear with the WDB is the Windbreaker, Bridge Coat, or Trench Coat with the Combination Cap or Garrison Cap.
D) Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) may be worn year round primarily as a field utility and watchstanding uniform, and may be worn in an office environment. However, Commanders, Commanding Officers, and Officers in Charge shall designate sleeves up or sleeves down when prescribing the uniform of the day. Authorized outer wear with ODU: Foul Weather Parker (FWP) and Standard Ball Cap or Unit Ball Cap.
E) Effective 12/31/11, the Auxiliary Working Blue Uniform will be discontinued as a uniform item.
Hal
COMO Hal Marschall
DCO 1SR
TO: ALAUXDIST1SR
FM: DCO 1SR
SUBJ: HONORING OUR PROFESSION; OF UNIFORM BOARD NO. 44 023/11
1. FYI
UNCLAS //N01020//
ALCOAST 291/11
COMDTNOTE 1020
SUBJ: HONORING OUR PROFESSION - UNIFORM GUIDANCE AND RESULTS OF UNIFORM
BOARD NO. 44
A. AUXILIARY MANUAL, COMDTINST M16790.1 (SERIES)
B. UNIFORM REGULATIONS, COMDTINST M1020.6 (SERIES)
C. MARITIME LAW ENFORCEMENT MANUAL, COMDTINST M16247.1 (SERIES)
1. THE COAST GUARD UNIFORM IS A SYMBOL OF OUR UNIQUE HERITAGE AS AN ARMED
SERVICE AND MUST ALWAYS REFLECT THE PRIDE WE SHARE AS COAST GUARDSMEN.
COMMON CONFIGURATION AND UNIFORMITY ARE CORE TO MAINTAINING A PROFESSIONAL
MILITARY APPEARANCE BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND AS AN ORGANIZATION. IT IS FIRST
AND FOREMOST, THE MEMBERS RESPONSIBILITY TO ALWAYS LOOK SHARP IAW UNIFORM
STANDARDS.
UNIFORM APPEARANCE IS A LEADERSHIP PRIORITY. LEADERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
ENSURING PERSONNEL WEAR UNIFORMS WITH CONSISTENCY, PROFESSIONALISM, AND
PRIDE. OVER THE YEARS, CG UNIFORM REGULATIONS HAVE EXPANDED THE NUMBER OF
OPTIONS FOR UNIFORM WEAR, WHICH IN SOME CASES HAS CAUSED CONFUSION AND
INCONSISTENCY FOR OUR COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN. THIS INCONSISTENCY HAS
CREATED A CULTURAL TREND THAT HAS LED TO UNIT AND INDIVIDUAL MODIFICATION
AND SUBSTITUTION OF UNIFORM ITEMS, SOME UNAUTHORIZED. THIS CULTURE MUST
CHANGE. UNDER THE COMMANDANTS GUIDING PRINCIPLE OF HONORING OUR PROFESSION,
IN THE MONTHS AHEAD THE UNIFORM BOARD WILL UNDERTAKE AN EFFORT TO TIGHTEN UP
UNIFORM STANDARDS AND FIND WAYS TO PROMOTE CONSISTENCY IN OUR UNIFORM
REGULATIONS.
2. COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE APPEARANCE AND UNIFORMITY OF UNIT PERSONNEL AND SHALL PRESCRIBE THE
UNIFORM OF THE DAY, USING SUCH TOOLS AS THE PLAN OF THE DAY, PLAN OF THE
WEEK OR UNIT INSTRUCTION. OUR PRIDE AND SERVICE CULTURE ENCOURAGE AND
REQUIRE US TO CORRECT UNIFORM DISCREPANCIES WHEN OBSERVED. AS A REMINDER,
PERSONNEL INSPECTIONS REMAIN AN EFFECTIVE METHOD TO MAINTAIN UNIFORM
CONDITION AND APPEARANCE ACROSS OUR SERVICE, AND SHOULD BE CONDUCTED WITH
REGULARITY. USCG AUXILIARY UNIFORMS SHALL BE WORN AS PRESCRIBED IN CHAPTER
11 OF REFERENCE (A).
3. THE COAST GUARD HAS FOUR BASIC UNIFORMS THAT MAKE UP THE UNIFORM OF THE
DAY:
A. SERVICE DRESS BLUE (SDB) MAY BE WORN YEAR-ROUND FOR BUSINESS WITHIN THE
COAST GUARD AND FOR SOCIAL OCCASIONS WHERE CIVILIAN EQUIVALENT IS COAT AND
TIE. THE SDB IS AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR IN A LIBERTY OR TRAVEL STATUS.
AUTHORIZED OUTER WEAR WITH SDB: BRIDGE COAT OR TRENCH COAT WITH COMBINATION
CAP. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THE GARRISON CAP AND FOUL WEATHER PARKA (FWP) ARE
NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR WITH THE SDB UNIFORM. AS A REMINDER, REFERENCE (B)
ALLOWS MEMBERS TO WEAR THE WINDBREAKER IN LIEU OF THE SDB COAT EXCEPT WHEN
THE SDB COAT IS MORE APPROPRIATE FOR AN OCCASIONS FORMALITY. COMMANDERS,
COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE SHALL DETERMINE WHEN WEARING THE
WINDBREAKER IS APPROPRIATE TO ENSURE UNIFORM CONSISTENCY AND
PROFESSIONALISM.
B. TROPICAL BLUE UNIFORM MAY BE WORN YEAR-ROUND FOR GENERAL OFFICE WEAR AND
VISITS BETWEEN COMMANDS. IT MAY BE WORN IN LIEU OF SDB, BUT NOT TO
FUNCTIONS WHERE CIVILIAN DRESS IS COAT AND TIE. THE TROPICAL BLUE UNIFORM
IS AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR IN A LIBERTY OR TRAVEL STATUS.
AUTHORIZED STANDARD OUTER WEAR WITH THE TROPICAL BLUE UNIFORM IS THE
WINDBREAKER OR TRENCH COAT WITH COMBINATION CAP OR GARRISON CAP.
COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE RETAIN THE AUTHORITY
TO PRESCRIBE THE FWP FOR WEAR WITH THE TROPICAL BLUE UNIFORM IF ADVERSE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS DICTATE THE NEED FOR THIS HEAVIER OUTER WEAR.
COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE SHALL DETERMINE WHEN
WEARING THE FWP WITH THE TROPICAL BLUE UNIFORM IS APPROPRIATE, SHOULD LIMIT
ITS USE TO NECESSARY OCCASIONS OR PERIODS, AND SHOULD ENSURE USE IS
UNIT-WIDE WHEN PERMITTED.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THE STANDARD BALL CAP OR UNIT BALL CAP ARE NOT
AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR WITH THE TROPICAL BLUE UNIFORM.
C. WINTER DRESS BLUE (WDB) MAY BE WORN BETWEEN 01 NOVEMBER-31 MARCH FOR
GENERAL OFFICE WEAR AND VISITS BETWEEN COMMANDS. IT IS THE BASIC COLD
CLIMATE, NON-OPERATIONAL UNIFORM AND MAY BE WORN IN LIEU OF THE SDB, BUT NOT
TO FUNCTIONS WHERE CIVILIAN DRESS IS COAT AND TIE. WDB IS AUTHORIZED FOR
WEAR IN A LIBERTY OR TRAVEL STATUS.
AUTHORIZED STANDARD OUTER WEAR WITH WDB: WINDBREAKER, BRIDGE COAT OR TRENCH
COAT WITH COMBINATION CAP OR GARRISON CAP. COMMANDING OFFICERS RETAIN THE
AUTHORITY TO PRESCRIBE THE FWP FOR WEAR WITH THE WDB UNIFORM IF ADVERSE
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS DICTATE THE NEED FOR THIS HEAVIER OUTER WEAR.
COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE SHALL DETERMINE WHEN
WEARING THE FWP WITH WDB IS APPROPRIATE, SHOULD LIMIT ITS USE TO NECESSARY
OCCASIONS OR PERIODS, AND SHOULD ENSURE USE IS UNIT-WIDE WHEN PERMITTED.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY THE STANDARD BALL CAP AND UNIT BALL CAP ARE NOT
AUTHORIZED WITH WDB. THE DEVELOPMENTAL WDB SHIRT WITH PERMANENT SILICONE
CREASES IS AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR. THIS UNIFORM WILL BE ISSUED TO MEMBERS OF
THE USCGA CORPS OF CADETS, AND THE NEXT UNIFORM BOARD WILL CONSIDER THE
ADDITION OF THIS UNIFORM TO THE SEABAG.
D. OPERATIONAL DRESS UNIFORM (ODU) MAY BE WORN YEAR-ROUND PRIMARILY AS A
FIELD UTILITY AND WATCHSTANDING UNIFORM, AND MAY BE WORN IN AN OFFICE
ENVIRONMENT. HOWEVER, COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS IN
CHARGE SHALL DESIGNATE SLEEVES UP OR SLEEVES DOWN WHEN PRESCRIBING THE
UNIFORM OF THE DAY, AND CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE APPROPRIATENESS OF ODU WEAR
IN OFFICE SETTINGS THAT ARE HIGHLY REPRESENTATIONAL IN NATURE, WHERE THE
TYPE OF INTERACTION WITH THE PUBLIC DICATATES MORE FORMALITY, OR SETTINGS IN
AN INTERAGENCY ENVIRONMENT. IN DOD, JOINT OR INTERSERVICE ENVIRONMENTS, WEAR
OF THE ODU SHOULD ALIGN WITH THE DOD EQUIVALENT UNIFORM OF THE DAY. THE ODU
SHOULD NOT BE WORN FOR VISITS TO CIVILIAN AGENCIES OR NON-COAST GUARD
ORGANIZATIONS UNLESS THE PRESCRIBED UNIFORM OF THE DAY IS ODU OR DOD
EQUIVALENT AT THE VISIT SITE. HOWEVER, IN SOME CASES THE ODU MAY BE
APPROPRIATE DUE TO THE OPERATIONAL NATURE OF THE VISIT OR THE NATURE OF THE
WORK TO BE PERFORMED. THE ODU MAY BE WORN FOR COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK,
USING EITHER PRIVATE OR PUBLIC FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION.
AUTHORIZED OUTER WEAR WITH ODU: FWP AND STANDARD BALL CAP OR UNIT BALL CAP
(AS DEFINED BELOW). ALL COAST GUARDSMEN SHALL PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO
APPEARANCE WHILE WEARING THE ODU. THE ODU SHALL BE SERVICEABLE,
WELL-MAINTAINED, CLEAN, AND NOT FADED OR DISCOLORED. WE CONTINUE TO CLOSELY
MONITOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNTUCKED ODU AND HAVE REACHED THE RIGHT
SOLUTION WITH THE LATEST VERSION.
ACCORDINGLY, THE NEW DEADLINE FOR FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF UNTUCKED ODUS IS 01
JULY 2012, AFTER WHICH, TUCKED VERSIONS OF THE ODU WILL NO LONGER BE
AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR.
E. A PRACTICE THAT HAS CREPT INTO OUR SERVICE IS THE GRANTING OF CASUAL OR
DRESS DOWN DAYS WHERE MILITARY MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR CIVILIAN
CLOTHES IN LIEU OF THE UNIFORM OF THE DAY. THIS PRACTICE IS NO LONGER
AUTHORIZED SINCE IT IS INCONSISTENT WITH PARAGRAPH 1. THIS CHANGE DOES NOT
ALTER THE PROVISIONS OF REFERENCE (B) AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATE WEAR OF
CIVILIAN CLOTHES FOR OFFICIAL DUTIES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
4. RESULTS OF UNIFORM BOARD NO. 44 EFFECTIVE 01 OCT 2011 INCLUDE BALL CAPS.
THE UNIFORM BOARD HAS IDENTIFIED A NEED TO ELIMINATE THE WIDE VARIETY OF
STYLES AND SHADES OF BALL CAPS, PROVIDE A MORE UNIFORM APPEARANCE IN THE
ODU, AND OFFER A LOWER COST, MORE AVAILABLE/REPLACEABLE COVER FOR CG
PERSONNEL. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY AUTHORIZING ONLY TWO SOURCES (UDC
AND CGES) OF BALL CAPS AND THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION OF A STANDARDIZED BALL
CAP TO BE WORN IN TWO CONFIGURATIONS:
A. CONFIGURATION 1 - USCG STANDARD BALL CAP: THIS BALL CAP WILL BE MADE
OF ODU MATERIAL WITH SPECIFIC COLOR/DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS AND
DISPLAY U.S. COAST GUARD. THE STANDARD BALL CAP WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLY
THROUGH THE UDC AND CGES STORES. THESE BALL CAPS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN
NOMINAL AMOUNTS BEGINNING 01 JULY. MEMBERS CAN EXPECT FULL STOCK
AVAILABILITY BY 01 SEP. THIS IS THE OFFICIAL USCG UNIFORM BALL CAP FOR WEAR
WITH THE ODU AT ALL TIMES AND IS REQUIRED TO BE WORN WHILE ON TDY OR
VISITING OTHER UNITS/LOCATIONS OUTSIDE THE MEMBERS ASSIGNED UNIT AOR. THE
METAL COLLAR INSIGNIA LISTED IN REFERENCE (B) WILL BE WORN ON THE CAP. FOR
SENIOR OFFICERS, OAK LEAVES AND ACORNS (SCRAMBLED EGGS) ARE NO LONGER
AUTHORIZED ON THE STANDARD BALL CAP. IN ADDITION, ALL ENLISTED MEMBERS WILL
RECEIVE A ONE TIME INCREASE TO THEIR CLOTHING MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE
(CMA) IN THE COMING MONTHS TO PURCHASE THE NEW STANDARD BALL CAP.
B. CONFIGURATION 2 - THE UNIT BALL CAP: COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS,
AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE MAY AUTHORIZE THE WEAR OF UNIT BALL CAPS ON THEIR
UNITS. THE UNIT BALL CAP WILL BE MADE OF ODU MATERIAL WITH
COLOR/DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS (THE SAME AS THE STANDARD BALL
CAP). A STANDARD UNIT NAME DISPLAY FORMAT, LETTER AND FONT TYPE/SIZE WILL BE
SPECIFIED TO CGES AND THE SAME AS THE STANDARD BALL CAP. AS WITH THE
STANDARD BALL CAP, THE METAL COLLAR INSIGNIA LISTED IN REFERENCE (B) WILL BE
WORN ON THE UNIT BALL CAP. FOR SENIOR OFFICERS, OAK LEAVES AND ACORNS
(SCRAMBLED EGGS) ARE NO LONGER AUTHORIZED ON UNIT BALL CAP. NO OTHER
MARKINGS OR ATTACHMENTS ARE AUTHORIZED ON THE UNIT BALL CAP. THESE BALL CAPS
WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH THE CGES. AS A REMINDER, UNIT BALL CAPS ARE
NOT AUTHORIZED FOR PURCHASE USING APPROPRIATED FUNDS. COMMANDERS, COMMANDING
OFFICERS AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE CAN NOT REQUIRE MEMBERS TO PURCHASE THE UNIT
BALL CAP, AS THE STANDARD BALL CAP IS A SEA BAG ITEM, AVAILABLE THROUGH THE
UDC, AND CAN BE WORN AT ALL TIMES WITH THE ODU.
5. RESULTS OF UNIFORM BOARD NO. 44 EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, INCLUDE:
A. THE HOT WEATHER UNIFORM IS NO LONGER AUTHORIZED. LONG ODU TROUSERS AND
8-10 INCH NON-MARKING SAFETY BOOTS ARE REQUIRED FOR SAFETY REASONS AT ALL
TIMES. COMMANDERS, COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE ARE
AUTHORIZED TO ALLOW REMOVAL OF THE ODU BLOUSE WHEN PERSONNEL ARE ENGAGED IN
DEMANDING, PROLONGED OPERATIONS IN HIGH TEMPERATURES. IN ALL CASES, THE
COAST GUARD DARK BLUE CREW NECK T-SHIRT SHALL BE WORN EMBROIDERED WITH THE
WORDS U.S. COAST GUARD ACROSS THE FRONT LEFT CHEST IN WHITE 3/4 INCH TALL
BLOCK-STYLE LETTERS. THIS RELAXED ODU WEAR IS NOT INTENDED FOR ROUTINE WEAR
IN THE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT OR PUBLIC. IT IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR WHILE
COMMUTING TO AND FROM WORK, INCLUDING IN PRIVATE VEHICLES. FOR USCG AUX
MEMBERS, REFERENCE (A) APPLIES.
B. REFERENCE (C) AUTHORIZES WEARING OF BROWN DECK SHOES AS BOARDING
TEAM ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING FOR CERTAIN BOARDING OPERATIONS. BROWN DECK
SHOES ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR WITH THE UNIFORM OF THE DAY OTHER THAN
DURING ACTUAL BOARDING OPERATIONS AS DESCRIBED IN REFERENCE (C).
C. RATING FORCE MASTER CHIEFS ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE SEW-ON RFMC
IDENTIFICATION BADGE ON THE ODU.
D. THE FWP FLEECE LINER OR OTHER LINERS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED AS A STAND
ALONE JACKET AT ANY TIME. THE FWP LINER WILL BE ADDED AS A SEA BAG
REQUIREMENT AND PROVIDED WITH THE FWP UPON INITIAL ISSUE. IN ADDITION, ALL
ENLISTED MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE A ONE TIME INCREASE TO THEIR CLOTHING
MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE (CMA) IN THE COMING MONTHS TO PURCHASE THE FWP LINER.
E. MINOR TAILORING TO THE ODU IS AUTHORIZED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A
BETTER FIT, HOWEVER THE ODU DESIGN MAY NOT BE ALTERED. ALTERATIONS SUCH AS
PERMANENTLY SEWN ROLLED UP SLEEVES OR SEWN-IN BLOUSING BANDS ARE NOT
AUTHORIZED.
F. THE TIARA IS NO LONGER AUTHORIZED AS PART OF THE OPTIONAL ITEMS FOR
FEMALE DRESS UNIFORMS.
G. PUMPS ARE AN OPTIONAL ITEM FOR FEMALE DRESS UNIFORMS AND SHALL BE
WORN AS LISTED IN REFERENCE (B).
6. INFORMATION ON ITEMS REVIEWED BY A UNIFORM BOARD IS AVAILABLE AT
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HR/UDC/. POLICY QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO CWO R.
ENNIS AT 202-475-5369 OR ROCKWOOD.L.ENNIS(AT)USCG.MIL. THESE CHANGES WILL BE
REFLECTED IN THE NEXT CHANGE TO REFERENCE (B).
7. RELEASED BY RADM RONALD T. HEWITT, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR HUMAN
RESOURCES.
2. The purpose of this list is to keep Auxiliarists in the First Southern
abreast of current developments, policies, manuals, etc.
3. Internet Release and Distribution is Authorized.
4. DCO 1SR sends