The Boutwell returning home from a deployment. Why are these folks in cammo? Note the first pic shows four folks in cammo and one wearing ODU's. Is there no longer a uniform of the day in the Coast Guard?
The second photo shows the C.O. in the same uniform.
Sure looks young for an E-8, but to me now everyone looks young. Even so, why the uniform disparity and why camos while entering port....and why camos on a ship anyway? Are thos 8 point covers they are wearing? Are those even authorized?
We pulled into port anywhere, except Vietnam, it was always the dress uniform of the season (mostly tropical whites with flat hats and ribbons for the enlisted folks).
While I was over in Bahrain (land side)every coastie had DCU's even the patrol boat crews. might be a way for the supply chain to use up that version of camos being no one else is using them. The person in the ODU's is a cadet, there is a shield behind the anchor. Most likely met the boat some where and did not get issued the DCU's. I do agree that it looks crappy.
For the female in ODUs, she's a 1st Class Cadet (Senior, who is graduating in the Spring). If you zoom in on the picture you barely see the blue shield behind the Cadet Anchor and star. If my memory serves me correct, they don't make subdued cadet insignia for the DCUs, so that could be the reason she's in ODUs.
Thanks Kevin, that explains that part of the mystery. Only ones left are why a 378, steaming up the Oakland Estuary, needs a crew in camouflage uniforms, and why they needed them anywhere else. I doubt they ever poured much sand out of their boots.
Heck, we didn't wear them in Vietnam, even when we humped batteries through the bush up to a lighthouse.
USCG personnel wear DCUs (actually CCUs) in the Middle East and East Africa. This includes 110 crews, land-based personnel, etc. BOUTWELL was in the region for awhile and perhaps the CO wanted the crew to keep their "combat" uniforms on when they came into homeport. When I returned directly to CGHQ from Baghdad in 2007 -- and since it was the only uniform that I had with me -- I outprocessed for a week in DCUs before returning home in civis.
"Subject to the uniform policies of the local Operational Commander, CUUs are authorized for wear by USCG personnel"
They were deployed in support of DOD Combatant Commands OCONUS, so the uniform is appropriate.
Why they decided to wear it for the return home? I suspect it has a lot to do with reminding the general public that our mission set is much greater than what they normally see us do in their own backyard.
I had already checked the manual so understand the whole authorization process. What I am trying to understand is why a crew on a great white ship would need or want to wear the camouflage uniform. I doubt they were trudging around in the sand and camouflage REALLY doesn't work against a white hull and superstructure.
We didn't need camouflage uniforms when I was on a 378 and a 180 in Nam, so why is it needed now?
Nor is it needed when entering Alameda.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ex_CG_GM,
We had a BMC who returned from Saudi to GI, NY during Gulf War I for some medical testing. All he had to wear were the six-color "chocolate chip" BDUs issued to our PSU.
BMC B was approached twice at GI and was told a) "that is not an approved CG uniform," and b) "don't wear those around here, you are scaring people."
Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM: I had already checked the manual so understand the whole authorization process. What I am trying to understand is why a crew on a great white ship would need or want to wear the camouflage uniform. I doubt they were trudging around in the sand and camouflage REALLY doesn't work against a white hull and superstructure.
We didn't need camouflage uniforms when I was on a 378 and a 180 in Nam, so why is it needed now?
Nor is it needed when entering Alameda.
I imagine the crew of the 378 "needed" to wear CUU's to signify to their families and the public that they are returning from a COMBAT deployment directly supporting the CENTCOM and AFRICOM Commanders during their deployment.
I see it as a bit of pride in what they have accomplished.
Why they decided to wear it for the return home? I suspect it has a lot to do with reminding the general public that our mission set is much greater than what they normally see us do in their own backyard.
[quote]I imagine the crew of the 378 "needed" to wear CUU's to signify to their families and the public that they are returning from a COMBAT deployment directly supporting the CENTCOM and AFRICOM Commanders during their deployment. quote]
One would think their families had a pretty good idea where they had been.
Combat deployment, hmmm? How many rounds did they fire at what targets?
Sorry, wearing a uniform designed to help conceal the person in a desert environment makes no sense when worn on a ship.
Combat deployment, hmmm? How many rounds did they fire at what targets?
Sorry, wearing a uniform designed to help conceal the person in a desert environment makes no sense when worn on a ship.
Its really quite simple. You asked about a uniform of the day earlier, and DCU's are the uniform of the day for ALL US CENTCOM units, their rules. I bet they were wearing them into homeport because that is probably the only uniforms they took for their 6 month deployment since they would be operating in the CENTCOM AOR.
