Anyone have a source of supply for the CPO Shirt? Before you suggest UDC - they have not had a supplier for over a year and I hear it will be at least another year before they have another supplier.

Is it any wonder we lost the authority for major acquisition projects - we can not adequately manage the acquisition of a long sleeve blue shirt. Over 200 years of service and we still can't maintain a steady supply of long sleeve blue shirts.


ag

OK, a couple of things to wise up on.

1) We did not LOOSE any acquisition authority for $ in the amount DW spends. We NEVER had the authority, only the delegated authority. It was ALWAYS DHS who had it. We asked THEM to no longer delegate it and manage it themselves. There is a lot of benifits to that.

2) OPTIONAL uniform items always take a back seat to SEA BAG items, and if you haven't noticed, there have been a few changes to the Sea Bag recently.

3) Getting a clothing contract set up isn't as easy as calling a WALMART or COSTCO and asking the clerk if they happen to have 200,000 LSDB shirts hanging around in the back somewhere.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
OK, a couple of things to wise up on.

1) We did not LOOSE any acquisition authority for $ in the amount DW spends. We NEVER had the authority, only the delegated authority. It was ALWAYS DHS who had it. We asked THEM to no longer delegate it and manage it themselves. There is a lot of benifits to that.

2) OPTIONAL uniform items always take a back seat to SEA BAG items, and if you haven't noticed, there have been a few changes to the Sea Bag recently.

3) Getting a clothing contract set up isn't as easy as calling a WALMART or COSTCO and asking the clerk if they happen to have 200,000 LSDB shirts hanging around in the back somewhere.

mighty Z,
Thanks for wising me up
1.I can't argue whether or not us no longer having acquisition authority is because we lost it or asked DHS to take it - I was just going by what I read in the news (and they can't always be trusted) but I agree there are benefits to giving it up if that’s what happened - saving face comes to mind.

2.Optional uniform items that are not available for 2 or 3 years should be known as "Theoretical Uniform Items" - unless we have another source of supply.

3.Getting a clothing contract must be extremely difficult - so much so that CG leadership is powerless to overcome the insurmountable obstacles associated with setting up this infinitely complex clothing contract. Clothing contracts are so difficult to set up that it is amazing that the Army, Navy, Marines Air Force, Cub Scouts , and even the Salvation Army have miraculously stumbled upon the solution.

Maybe they could help us out with how to purchase boats that keep the water on the correct side of the hull

ag

Chief:

Dee Bee's Tailor Shop on CG Island in Alameda aka "Gus" used to have them in stock. If you look up their number and give them a ring, they probably should be able to hook you up.

Respectfully,
Surface Force

Check the tailor shop in Petaluma as well...They too are owned by Dee Bee's...You could also give the Academy a call...They were the ones that I had to go to in order to purchase the Dinner Dress Jacket buttons...UDC didnt even have the buttons...Go figure...

JK24

Surface, JK24,
Thanks I will research both of these sources.

ag

ag;
OK, you got me good on #2, that was funny.

As for #3, the 'leadership' doesn't get involved in doing up the contract. It is a couple of people, in one office. They have had to deal with:

1. ODU vers 1
2. ODU Vers 2
3. Getting a foul wx coat (FWPII)
4. New Female Trop shirt
5. Rating and Specialty symbols for IS and ISS
6. Rating and specialty symbols for ME and the CWO version, which I like to call MESS

...and a few I am sure I missed.

Add to that, the 3 uniform boards in the last couple of years and everything that comes with that.

We could probably put more people in that shop, as soon as someone identifies someplace where we could use one less coxn, pilot, watchstander, SPO YN, etc etc etc.

If you would like to know more about that acquisition issue, look for VADM Creas all hand email. Feel free to have 'a friend' shoot me an email on CGDN and I can forward it to you.

quote:

...and a few I am sure I missed

The contract for these shirts ran out. The company that had it went out of business. We have been looking for another company to make that shirt but are running into many contracting problems under the current procurement system. 1. It must be ALL american made and materials. This is the biggest obstical we are faced with. Nobody makes the material we need here in the states. 2. It does take a back seat to regular/required uniform items. That is just a couple of reasons that I know of from working at the UDC.

quote:

Originally posted by aviationgod:...Thanks for wising me up

1.I can't argue whether or not us no longer having acquisition authority is because we lost it or asked DHS to take it - I was just going by what I read in the news (and they can't always be trusted) but I agree there are benefits to giving it up if that’s what happened - saving face comes to mind.

2.Optional uniform items that are not available for 2 or 3 years should be known as "Theoretical Uniform Items" - unless we have another source of supply.

3.Getting a clothing contract must be extremely difficult - so much so that CG leadership is powerless to overcome the insurmountable obstacles associated with setting up this infinitely complex clothing contract. Clothing contracts are so difficult to set up that it is amazing that the Army, Navy, Marines Air Force, Cub Scouts , and even the Salvation Army have miraculously stumbled upon the solution.

Maybe they could help us out with how to purchase boats that keep the water on the correct side of the hull

Since you like bullets, here are a few:

1. Saving face has nothing to do with ensuring the Coast Guard and DHS work together to do the right thing for the American people.

2. There is nothing "Theoretical" about the winter dress blue, I wore mine last week, and found it very real

3. Contracting uniform items is very difficult, in fact extremely difficult if you are asking for a material that no one makes, a design that no one makes, in a color that no one makes, and need a price that an average Coastie can afford.

4. I am involved in the Boy scouts and I can't find a long sleeve nylon centennial shirt for either me or my son. As for the Army, they are the ones that are in charge of contracting them for us: https://www.fbo.gov/?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=073cedd...8d&tab=core&_cview=0 so I guess the Army is in the same situation as the Boy Scouts and the Coast Guard.

5. According to your profile you are a Chief, which means you are part of CG leadership, well actually it says you are an E-7 which may be a better description, since I have never met a Chief named "Anonymous". Giving you the benefit of the doubt that you are a Chief, what is your proposed solution?

6. Maybe we should ask the Navy to help us with our Aviation programs, oh sorry, never mind we already do. Just like we already involve the Navy in our ship and boat building programs.

I'm not trying to be condescending; I am trying to make a point. Have you called CG-1221 and talked to them about the problems with the WDB shirt? Do you have an alternative solution that the Coast Guard can pursue to get us the shirts faster? Have you forwarded that recommendation to CG-1221? Or do you just get a kick out of throwing bombs at other peoples programs under the name of Anonymous?

A quote from the Creed of the United States CoastGuardsman:
"I shall, so far as I am able, bring to my seniors solutions, not problems"

I love winter dress and am wearing it until my new ODUS show up. I was lucky to find a couple of shirts still at the uniform shop at CGA (and they were even in my size)! A great uniform IMO.

quote:

A quote from the Creed of the United States CoastGuardsman:
"I shall, so far as I am able, bring to my seniors solutions, not problems"

That's part of the creed?

Damn odd place for it!

You'll also never find those shirts in late fall or winter. I made sure that I got mine ahead of time and out of season, June.

I was just told by a Gold Badge last week that they are in negotiations with a company right now - and that they expect to be back up in WDB business in the summer of '09.

All I can say is WOO HOO!

Mightz,
If I gave you chance to chuckle, then I was successful. I was blowing off a little steam but also making an attempt at humor (weak as it may have been).

bfayer,
Using the "Boy Scouts have uniform supply issues too" defense does not seem to me to be a wise way to support your argument. Surely you hold a professional military organization to a higher standard than the Boy Scouts when it comes to maintaining a source of supply for uniforms.

You are correct though that I could contribute to the solution. I could call CG-1221 or I could personally fund a team of researchers to scour the USA for manufactures of a LSDB shirt. Of course another solution would be for the CG to take the necessary steps when a source of supply is lost to ensure an adequate supply of uniform items, whether or not someone from the field makes a phone call.
We are not talking here about UAV's or secure COMMS radios or any other cutting edge technology - we are talking about a Dark Blue Long Sleeve shirt - they've been around awhile and should not (in my opinion) trip us up.

If the shade of blue or the material is what makes procurement difficult as TELCOM1 suggested, then what should we do? I'll stick my neck out and say maybe we should change the material or the shade of blue (just a thought). CG1221 if you are reading this remember - you heard it here first!

Not having a source of supply for 2 or 3 years should be an embarrassment - whether I point it out in a manner that rubs people the wrong way or not - it seems like fodder for a late night comedian when the CG can't keep a uniform item available for its members.

Fortunately it sounds like shirts may be available next summer - we are not in the running for any efficiency awards on this issue but maybe we will have this problem solved in the next 9 months.

ag

quote:

We are not talking here about UAV's

...now see those would be easier as they can use a small percentage of foreign parts, unlike the uniforms which must be 100% Made in USA!

quote:

Originally posted by LEDETOIC:
I love winter dress and am wearing it until my new ODUS show up. I was lucky to find a couple of shirts still at the uniform shop at CGA (and they were even in my size)! A great uniform IMO.

Great...thanks! You had me looking for ODUS till I realized you meant ODUs. hahaha

I was like...man, there's an even NEWER ODU? Nope, just the untucked.

quote:

I am involved in the Boy scouts and I can't find a long sleeve nylon centennial shirt for either me or my son.

What's the difference between the Boy Scouts and the CG?

The scouts have adult leadership.

FWIW, the scount uniforms all now appear to be made offshore - I don't think I've even seen a union label recently.

There is in fact a Beta Test shirt being worn by Coasties, sorry...I mean Guardians right now. I have one of the beta test shirts and it is OUTSTANDING!! It has military creases, and get this....they are permanent!! They are held in with a high heat silicone on the inside of the crease....pretty much looks like the creases on most police officer shirts. Very comfortable, and flexible. The test will conclude at the end of spring and then opinions will fly as far as durability and other concerns. So far....Great shirt!! Oh, you actually have to crease the sleeves yourself, keeps you honest right! HA HA!!

Anyway, hopefully these shirts are a durable as they are great looking!!

yeah, sorry Sean, I just meant the untucked ODU. ha! I forgot the difference between S and s.

Which PD are you with here in Charleston? My neighbor is N.Chasn PD and I've got a couple friends with Dorchester County SO. Swing on by SRFTC (onboard FLETC) sometime and say hello.

quote:

1. ODU vers 1
2. ODU Vers 2
3. Getting a foul wx coat (FWPII)
4. New Female Trop shirt
5. Rating and Specialty symbols for IS and ISS
6. Rating and specialty symbols for ME and the CWO version, which I like to call MESS

Mighty Z- You sound like you're making excuses for CGHQ. No need. We can all identify a broken process.

Say, when was the last uniform board and where are the results? And when is the next uniform board? What is their function and authority? Where is that PT uniform that supports our wellness/fitness/weight management plan?

While individual uniform items are acceptable, the process is clearly broken. If it was seen as important, it would be fixed in spite of your alibis. And there would be just a bit of tranparency (not to be confused with random uniform directives).

Why do Marine uniforms look good? Perhaps they see the tangible effect that uniform doctrine has on performance.

Now I gotta run. I have to turn my ODU's inside out to iron them!

QMCM sends