hey everybody I am preparing to wear my bravos and have earned my temporary cutterman's pin. I want to look my very best and was told that I am allowed to shine it from my suervisor. I know by posting this there will be ALOT of conjecture, so please can someone help me AND give me an ALCOAST message or a specific chapter of our of the uniform regs that either confirms or denies it. thank you guys for you wisdom

Yes.
The msg came out a few years ago, changing policy on that. Below is part of the msg, that mentions it specificly.

ALDIST 188/98
4. POLISHING OR PLATING OF INSIGNIA. CHANGE REFERENCE A, SECTION
2.A., SUB-PARAGRAPH 1, BY REPLACING THE FINAL SENTENCE WITH THE FOLLOWING: THE POLISHING OR PERMANENT HIGH GLOSS PLATING OF COAST GUARD INSIGNIA ORIGINALLY FINISHED IN A SINGLE COLOR (COMPLETELY GOLD, SILVER, SATIN ANTIQUE PEWTER OR SATIN ANTIQUE GOLD COLORED FINISHES) IS AUTHORIZED. PERSONNEL MUST MAKE THIS MODIFICATION AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. POLISHED OR HIGH GLOSS PLATED INSIGNIA ARE AUTHORIZED FOR OPTIONAL WEAR UNLESS PROHIBITED BY THE UNIFORM PRESCRIBING AUTHORITY, BUT ARE NOT PRESCRIBABLE FOR WEAR.


Personally, I wouldn't do it. It just looks strange to me. Maybe I am just old school.

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

Thanks Smirfy, this is the second time you have helped me. Appreciate it

I think the Cutterman & Coxswain insignia look good polished... but when they get chrome plated they look like a piece of a car bumper in my opinion...


Wray...

Unofficial policy on a cutter I was on was to shine permanent cutterman pin but not temporary.

Official policy on another cutter was sew-on cutterman pin only for permanent. I don't know if that was the CO or XO policy or official USCG.

My humble opinion is that we are a seagoing service and the antiqued pewter finish in the cutterman and other insignias is befitting of our seagoing heritage. Whenever I see someone with a polished or plated cutterman's pin it makes me think boot camper, dweeb, cheese d!ck.

If you want shiny little trinkets I think they have em in the Airforce.
Cheers!

quote:

Originally posted by RWLucas:
Unofficial policy on a cutter I was on was to shine permanent cutterman pin but not temporary.

Official policy on another cutter was sew-on cutterman pin only for permanent. I don't know if that was the CO or XO policy or official USCG.

This is From ALCOAST 427/07

"TEMPORARY QUALIFICATION INSIGNIAS SHALL NOT BE
WORN ON THE ODU."

With that there should be no sewn on temp badges.

quote:

Originally posted by Brechty:

quote:

Originally posted by RWLucas:
Unofficial policy on a cutter I was on was to shine permanent cutterman pin but not temporary.

Official policy on another cutter was sew-on cutterman pin only for permanent. I don't know if that was the CO or XO policy or official USCG.

This is From ALCOAST 427/07

"TEMPORARY QUALIFICATION INSIGNIAS SHALL NOT BE
WORN ON THE ODU."

With that there should be no sewn on temp badges.

I retired in the pre-ODU era - a few days before you enlisted.

I also had sew-on cutterman insignia on my CUU's, that had a lot of people wondering what it was.

quote:

Originally posted by akwaman:
Whenever I see someone with a polished or plated cutterman's pin it makes me think boot camper, dweeb, cheese d!ck.

If you want shiny little trinkets I think they have em in the Airforce.
Cheers!

akwaman,

I think I’ll start shining my insignia just to annoy you.

For everyone else, I see someone that puts effort and pride into their uniform as someone to respect.

Be Safe.

quote:

For everyone else, I see someone that puts effort and pride into their uniform as someone to respect.

I don't see any difference in the 'pride' taken in a uniform between the two sides. Akwaman's pride is in having a CLEAN insignia that is left as it was designed and produced, with character. Other's may express their pride in making it into a mirror. I believe that removes a lot of the character that was designed into the device - so I got to stand on akwaman's side of the fence. (But think I stay on the opposite side of the yard so I don't get hit with bullets from the 'cheesy dweeb bootcampers')

quote:

For everyone else, I see someone that puts effort and pride into their uniform as someone to respect.

I agree. I heard the CG Magazine was looking to put me on the cover, dang I make this look good

My take on the subject is if you want to polish, then polish. If you don't want to polish, then don't polish. But whether you want to polish or not, respect the other person's opinion.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
I got to stand on akwaman's side of the fence. (But think I stay on the opposite side of the yard so I don't get hit with bullets from the 'cheesy dweeb bootcampers')

Master Chief-
Ducking, covering, and supressive return fire are what make these conversations so much fun. If you aint livin on the egde you're taking up way too much space. It's alright to come over to this side of the yard to play dodge ball.
;-) Cheers!

my coxswain pin is green. My BMC gave it to me. His BMC gave it to him. He got it green, I got it green, I am not shining it.

-BM2.5

quote:

Originally posted by akwaman:
My humble opinion is that we are a seagoing service and the antiqued pewter finish in the cutterman and other insignias is befitting of our seagoing heritage. Whenever I see someone with a polished or plated cutterman's pin it makes me think boot camper, dweeb, cheese d!ck.

+1

I have the same pin from '91. There's no way I'm shining it. Interestingly, back in the day when I was a wee lad, I thought a polished pin looked pretty cool when the renegades were shining them long before it was authorized.

However, over time, as the stories were told, port call after port call, enduring wicked storms at sea, the camaraderie and the pride of earning my permanent pin, I found that the "salty" look of my pin told a story that many young Coasties today will never experience.

All in all, I could care less if someone decides to shine their pin. But you lose that "saltiness" for "I really wanted to be on land" when you shine it.

I have polished items for my Dinner dress blue, and that one only. In my opinon, that uniform almost demands the extra attention. For my day to day trops and SDB's, as they came is good for me. Now, when I made 1st I had a green pair of crows handed down to me that are still waiting to be handed down again. Something about that just seems right.

That is what is hate about the ODUs and sew-on crows. they don't get as salty (b/c of washing the blouse that they are sewn to