ALCOAST 427/07
COMDTNOTE 1020
SUBJ: OPERATIONAL DRESS UNIFORM (ODU) CARE AND WEAR POLICY
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 261515Z APR 07/ALCOAST 223/07
B. UNIFORM REGULATIONS, COMDTINST M1020.6 (SERIES)
1. REF A IS CANCELLED.
2. THIS ALCOAST CLARIFIES THE PROPER WEAR OF THE ODU. THE ODU IS A
GENERAL PURPOSE EVERYDAY UNIFORM INTENDED FOR WEAR IN ANY SITUATION
THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A DRESS UNIFORM. IN ADDITION, SINCE THIS
UNIFORM MAY BE WORN IN MANY OPERATIONAL SITUATIONS, AND IN ORDER TO
MAINTAIN SAFETY AND CONSISTENCY IN APPEARANCE, METAL DEVICES OR
ATTACHMENTS WILL NO LONGER BE AUTHORIZED.
3. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE FOLLOWING SHALL APPLY TO THE ODU:
A. WHEN WASHING, ENSURE THAT ALL VELCRO CLOSURES ARE FASTENED TO
MINIMIZE COLLECTION OF LINT AND FOREIGN MATTER.
B. THE ODU SHALL BE IRONED WITHOUT MILITARY CREASES. IN ADDITION,
COLLARS, LAPELS, SLEEVES, AND POCKETS ON BOTH THE ODU TOP AND
TROUSERS SHALL LAY FLAT. GREAT CARE MUST BE TAKEN WHEN IRONING THE
ODU. EXCESSIVE HEAT, STARCHING, AND REPEATED SHARP CREASING CAN
RESULT IN WHITENING AND/OR FINISH DAMAGE. IRON THE UNIFORM INSIDE
OUT TO MINIMIZE GLOSS OR SHINE.
C. THE ODU UNIFORM WILL BE WORN WITH WELL-BLACKENED 8 OR 10 INCH
SAFETY BOOTS. WHEN WORN IN AN OFFICE BOOTS SHALL BE SHINED. EXCESS
LACES SHALL BE TUCKED AWAY SO THEY CAN NOT BE SEEN.
D. THE ODU TROUSERS MAY BE TUCKED INTO THE BOOTS OR BLOUSED. WHEN
BLOUSED, PLACE BLOUSING BANDS BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD BOOT
EYELET. IF TUCKED INTO BOOTS, THE TROUSERS LEG SHOULD BE SHAPED TO
PRESENT A BLOUSED APPEARANCE.
E. THE ODU TROUSERS CARGO POCKETS MAY BE USED, BUT ITEMS STOWED
SHALL NOT TAKE AWAY FROM A SMART MILITARY APPEARANCE.
F. THE ODU T-SHIRT SHALL BE IN GOOD CONDITION WITH NO TEARS OR
STAINS. DUE TO HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES, MORE RESEARCH IS REQUIRED
BEFORE A WICKABLE T-SHIRT IS AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR WITH THE ODU.
G. ALL ACCESSORIES SHALL BE IN GOOD REPAIR AND WORN AS FOLLOWS:
1. AFTER 15 JULY 2007, ALL ACCESSORIES WORN ON THE ODU SHALL BE
EMBROIDERED, INCLUDING COLLAR RANK AND SPECIALTY INSIGNIA. ALL
COLLAR RANK INSIGNIAS, WITH EXCEPTION OF O3 AND O6 SHALL BE PLACED
ON THE IMAGINARY LINE BISECTING THE ANGLE OF THE COLLAR WITH THE
BASE OF THE INSIGNIA (NOT THE EMBROIDERED PATCH) APPROX 1 1/8 INCH
FROM COLLAR POINT. DUE TO THEIR HORIZONTAL FORMAT, EMBROIDERED O3
AND O6 RANK INSIGNIA SHALL BE PLACED 1 1/2 INCHES FROM THE POINT.
2. QUALIFICATION INSIGNIA SHALL BE CENTERED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE
U.S. COAST GUARD NAMETAPE ON THE WEARERS LEFT HAND POCKET. ONLY
ONE EMBROIDERED QUALIFICATION INSIGNIA IS AUTHORIZED. EMBROIDERED
INSIGNIA SHALL BE THE SAME SIZE AS THE METAL INSIGNIA, CENTERED ON
A TAPE THE FULL WIDTH OF THE POCKET. THE TAPE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE
WIDTH OF THE POCKET. TEMPORARY QUALIFICATION INSIGNIAS SHALL NOT BE
WORN ON THE ODU.
3. INCUMBENT COS AND OICS ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE EMBROIDERED
COMMAND ASHORE OR AFLOAT DEVICES CENTERED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE
MEMBERS NAMETAPE. EMBROIDERED COMMAND DEVICES SHALL BE THE SAME
SIZE AS THE METAL DEVICES, CENTERED ON A TAPE THE SAME WIDTH AS THE
POCKET.
4. SINCE THESE POSITIONS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE COMMAND CADRE,
INCUMBENT GOLD AND SILVER BADGE COMMAND CHIEFS ARE AUTHORIZED TO
WEAR THEIR RESPECTIVE BADGES (EMBROIDERED ONLY) ON THE ODU. BADGES
SHALL BE WORN CENTERED ON THE WEARERS LEFT POCKET, HOWEVER WOMEN
MAY WEAR THE BADGE ABOVE THE NAME TAPE OF THE RIGHT POCKET.
H. THE BUCKLE AND BELT TIP OF THE STANDARD 1 1/4 INCH BLACK ODU
BELT MUST NOT BE CHIPPED OR DISCOLORED. THE BITTER END SHALL
EXTEND 2-4 INCHES PAST THE BELT BUCKLE ON THE WEARERS LEFT.
I. THE BASIC RIGGERS BELT (NSN: 8415-01-526-5551), ALSO KNOWN AS
THE BATTLE DRESS UNIFORM (BDU) BELT, CAN BE PURCHASED THRU THE UDC
AND MAY BE WORN AS AN OPTIONAL ITEM ON THE ODU. THIS BELT IS A 1
3/4 INCH BLACK NYLON BELT. WHEN WORN, THE BITTER END SHALL STOP
BEHIND, BUT NOT PAST, THE FIRST BELT LOOP ON THE WEARERS LEFT.
(THIS WILL REQUIRE THE BELT BE PASSED THROUGH THE BELT LOOPS FROM
THE RIGHT, THE OPPOSITE OF OTHER MENS BELTS). THE BASIC RIGGERS
BELT COMES IN ONE LENGTH AND NEEDS TO BE CUT TO SIZE. TO DETERMINE
THE CORRECT BELT LENGTH, LACE THE BELT THROUGH BELT LOOPS, PASS IT
BEHIND THE BELT BAR, THEN FEED IT BACK THROUGH AND OVER THE BELT
BAR. FINALLY, PULL TO SECURE. NEXT, MARK THE BELT SO THAT IT STOPS
BEHIND, BUT NOT PAST, THE FIRST BELT LOOP ON THE WEARERS LEFT. MAKE
A STRAIGHT CUT ALONG THIS MARK. SINGE THE BITTER END TO AVOID
UNRAVELING. THE "BLACK HAWK" RIGGERS BELT IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR
GENERAL WEAR, BUT MAY BE WORN AS ORGANIZATIONAL EQUIPMENT DURING
TACTICAL MISSIONS.
J. THE STANDARD OR UNIT BALL CAP SHALL BE WELL-FORMED AND IN GOOD
CONDITION WITH NO SOILING, FADING OR TEARS, NOR WILL IT CONTAIN
ANY DEVICES OR PINS BEYOND THE METAL COLLAR INSIGNIA OR METAL CG
SHIELD AS APPROPRIATE FOR RANK. NO ADDITIONAL WRITING ON EITHER THE
FRONT OR REAR OF THE CAP IS AUTHORIZED.
4. MANNER OF WEAR: THE ODU IS NOT A LIBERTY UNIFORM AND SHALL NOT
BE WORN AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR COVERALLS. HOWEVER, IT CAN BE WORN
DURING THE FOLLOWING AUTHORIZED CIRCUMSTANCES:
A. WHILE TRAVELING IN GOVERNMENT VEHICLES, VESSELS, AIRCRAFT, ON
ORDERS IN A COMMERCIAL CONVEYANCE, OR WHILE TRAVELING ON ORDERS IN
A FOREIGN COUNTRY (IF APPROVED BY THE U.S. EMBASSY).
B. WHILE COMMUTING, TO INCLUDE MASS TRANSIT, DURING INFORMAL OFF
BASE LUNCHES, VISITS TO DOD FACILITIES OR FOR SHORT STOPS IN
CONVENIENCE OR RETAIL STORES.
C. WHILE IN AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT AT OTHER DOD AGENCIES (AS
DIRECTED BY THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER).
D. THE ODU TOP IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE UNIFORM. IT SHALL ONLY
BE REMOVED TEMPORARILY, WHEN WORKING IN EXCESSIVELY HOT CONDITIONS
AND OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE.
E. THE ODU IS AUTHORIZED FOR OFFICE WEAR AT THE COMMANDING
OFFICERS DISCRETION.
5. THE ODU HOT WEATHER VERSION IS OPTIONAL AND OR ORGANIZATIONAL
DEPENDING ON COMMANDS DIRECTION. THE ODU HOT WEATHER UNIFORM MAY BE
AUTHORIZED BY THE AREA, DISTRICT, OR MLC COMMANDER WHEN EXTREME
WORK ENVIRONMENTS REQUIRE IT. THIS PRESCRIBING AUTHORITY CANNOT BE
DELEGATED. COMMANDS SHALL BE JUDICIOUS WHEN EMPLOYING THIS OPTION.
THE HOT WEATHER UNIFORM IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR ROUTINE WEAR IN THE
OFFICE. IT IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR WHILE COMMUTING TO AND FROM
WORK OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC SETTING. THE HOT WEATHER UNIFORM CONSISTS
OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
A. ODU SHORTS. ODU TROUSERS HEMMED 1 - 4 INCHES ABOVE THE KNEE AND
WORN WITH EITHER THE STANDARD ODU OR OPTIONAL RIGGERS BELT.
B. ODU T-SHIRT. A COAST GUARD BLUE CREW NECK T-SHIRT STENCILED
WITH THE WORDS "U. S. COAST GUARD" ACROSS THE FRONT LEFT CHEST IN
WHITE 3/4-INCH TALL BLOCK-STYLE LETTERS. ALL MUST BE STENCILED
IDENTICALLY TO PROMOTE UNIT IDENTITY AND PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE.
C. WHITE CREW LENGTH SOCKS.
D. CURRENT 8"-10" SUPERBOOT OR LOW TOP SAFETY BOOT.
6. WHEN WEARING THE MATERNITY ODU, THE NAMETAPES, U.S. COAST GUARD
TAPE SHALL BE WORN CENTERED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE SIDE BETWEEN THE
FIRST AND SECOND BUTTONS. IF A QUALIFICATIONS INSIGNIA IS WORN, IT
SHALL BE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE U.S. COAST GUARD TAPE. SLIGHT
ADJUSTMENTS IN PLACEMENT ARE AUTHORIZED TO PREVENT DISCOMFORT AND
TO PRESENT AND ORDERLY AND BALANCED APPEARANCE.
7. WORK CONTINUES ON THE UNTUCKED VERSION OF THE ODU. THIS
VERSION, WHICH WILL HAVE AN ENHANCED, WRINKLE RESISTANT, OIL AND
FADE RESISTANT MATERIAL, IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED. SOME PROTOTYPES
HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED FOR INITIAL TESTING. A SERVICE WIDE
AVAILABILITY DATE IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED.
8. ALL PROVISIONS OF THIS ALCOAST WILL BE INCORPORATED IN A FUTURE
CHANGE TO REF B.
9. FOR QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS ALCOAST, CONTACT CWO2 TARVIN GREENE
AT (202) 475-5369.
10. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
11. RELEASED BY CURTIS B. ODOM, ACTING DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT.

Thanks HQ! for putting this out smartly on a Friday afternoon, a Holiday weekend no less!

The "Check of the Month" club members should have a field day with this one. They've just received their checks and refilled up the booze cabinet and will be drafting their responses soon.

This should be fun!

This "Check of the Month" club member just wants to remind your to wear your maternity ODU properly.



Meanwhile, my uniform of shorts and a T-shirt (when I even wear one) is NOT pressed and my cargo pockets bulge in a MOST unsightly manner. And my flip flops ain't shined either!

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:
This "Check of the Month" club member just wants to remind your to wear your maternity ODU properly.



Meanwhile, my uniform of shorts and a T-shirt (when I even wear one) is NOT pressed and my cargo pockets bulge in a MOST unsightly manner. And my flip flops ain't shined either!

Stan I do believe after 30+ days of 110 degrees or higher, you are operating in a hot climate, thus the "hot weather" uniform regulations come into play. T-shirts may be replaced by tank tops or bare chests as authorized by your command. Flip flops need only be worn while standing watch(read going to mailbox) and while operating within view of the general public!

Nuthin' but cool breezes and cooler beverages up in P'cott! 5900 footer sends!

quote:

The "Check of the Month" club members should have a field day with this one.

yyyaaaawwwwnnnnn

Nah,you gotta wear that stuff, not us.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MastersMate,

Six years to go and then I, too, will be able to Not shine my flip-flops! This ODU policy thing is turning into a monthly event. Make it stop!!!!

God, those untucked ODU's can't come soon enough

quote:

J. THE STANDARD OR UNIT BALL CAP SHALL BE WELL-FORMED AND IN GOOD
CONDITION WITH NO SOILING, FADING OR TEARS, NOR WILL IT CONTAIN
ANY DEVICES OR PINS BEYOND THE METAL COLLAR INSIGNIA OR METAL CG
SHIELD AS APPROPRIATE FOR RANK. NO ADDITIONAL WRITING ON EITHER THE
FRONT OR REAR OF THE CAP IS AUTHORIZED.

Nice to see that the cap is better defined. In the fine Hooligan tradition, units were stitching names on the backs, etc.

I had a several guys show up at "A" School with the old "plumbers uniform" back in the day when the Last Name and US Coast Guard could be either name tapes or stitching. Some of the labels were off regs. but every stitched name was different. Standardization is good, looks smarter, and costs the member less in the long run.

Sewn on devices are easier to maintain and don't fall off into critical gear. The hat device should be sewn on too.

Hey "club members," I hear The Eagle orbiting above the house in a drop pattern, waiting to make a drop run tomorrow!

quote:

Originally posted by SpeckTrout:
God, those untucked ODU's can't come soon enough

Agreed!! Trying my best to make my current uniforms last until then. Will get 4 sets as soon as they come out. I really hate the tucked-in blouse.

Our uniform suck! All of them! They are not original. We look like retarded USAF wanna be's. Our uniforms are plain. Rent-a-cops have better uniforms than we do.

quote:

Our uniform suck! All of them! They are not original. We look like retarded USAF wanna be's. Our uniforms are plain. Rent-a-cops have better uniforms than we do.

Not that I wear them much, but the Service/Full Dress Whites are kind of nice for us zeros.

If we're going to be unorigional, the least we could have done was copy the Marine Corps unifroms!

Yes I looked like a Chevron gas pump attendant, but I KNEW I WAS IN THE COAST GUARD, and I was PROUD of that. It didn't bother me that the public thought I was the sharpest looking AMTRAK employee, I wore my uniform knowingly with pride.
However it only took me 12.5 minutes to press my uniform. I didn’t have to worry about turning uniforms inside out and melting Velcro, pleats in pants pockets (or what I could use them for), rolling sleeves, blousing trousers,(where did I put my good blousing bands!!)
t-shirt with USCG embossed on it authorized, (depending on the temperature, week, CMC, COB, Silver/Gold/ ALCOAST, unit). Whoever you meet will tell you your wearing the uniform wrong, because that’s the way they interpret the MSG or go by what was passed down from their COC.
STOP all the uniform changes and let us get a clear cut REG.
I hate the new uniform, but will do my best to wear it properly. My chief’s when I was an FA hated the new uniform also, it’s change and change takes time. Let it settle out for a while (un-tucked is good example).
Let’s get standardized first. Then we can unleash the uniform Gestapo and then all can wear, maintain and enforce the uniform standards equally.