I'm thinking of putting in a uniform change recommendation and I'm wondering what y'all think?

Personally, I've always hated the light blue shirt under the SDB coat. I think a white shirt looks a lot sharper, has better light to dark contrast especially considering the tie, and generally looks more professional.

I think I'd also recommend putting collar devices on it for O and E. Wearing shoulder boards under a jacket never made sense to me (at least not the hard ones. I'd be all for bringing back the soft ones).

In summary, the change would be to a white shirt for SDBs. Ribbons and name tag would remain as before. Add collar devices for all paygrades (or bring back soft shoulder boards for Os) The navy already uses this uniform item so it would not be hard to obtain.

Thoughts?

The CG has already been down the path of wearing collar devices instead of shoulder boards for Officers w/ the SDB uniform...



...and ditched them in the early 1990s.

My own opinion is that this uniform from CG history (modeled by the CG Commandant who brought you the light blue shirt w/ the current version of SDBs) looks far better w/ white shirt though...

I believe you would find that was the definition of Service Dress Blue ALFA. A little more formal than the Service Dress Blue BRAVO. The white shirt, with no collar insignia, was the difference between the two. The service dress blouse could be removed with the BRAVO uniform when inside CG offices etc. The collar insignia indicated grade. The blouse stayed on at semi-formal occasions with the ALFA uniform so grade was indicated by sleeve lace or rating badges.

Full Dress was the designation with white shirt and medals.

This is old time information through the late 1980s anyway, but may be of help.

I'd like to say something unkind about that surplus USAF short sleeved casual blue shirt you have wear as tropicals but......

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

The good old Alphas - a lot of people think that uniform stil exists. I have even seen invitations to Change of Commands with that as the prescribed uniform!

I searched for a while, bu I do not see a single required uniform for Officers where the metal collar insignia is used. Am I missing something?

Alphas were still used when I was at the academy...phased out in there somewhere...

metal devices...we use them on covers (ball cap and garrison), big oness on trench coats and windbreakers...used to use them on the FWP but has been replaced by a fabric slide.

I'd like to get rid of Bravos all together and make the alpha the SDB uniform. I'm not sure that removing the jacket is that big of a deal as SDBs are worn so infrequently as it is. And if it's a big deal, then throw on the collar devices or use the shoulder loops with the soft boards.

duh, I forgot about garrison covers using the collar size now.

Collar insignia were worn on the winter blue CPO shirt style uniform, if it still exists.

Someone may want to dig deeper, but pretty sure that by the '87 timeframe, that new USAF style shirt, with the shoulder straps, was becoming an optional uniform shirt, and was adopted by the mid 90s.

Soft shoulder straps were worn with the wooley pully sweater and, if I recall, with that new style long sleeve shirt. Collar insignia were worn on the old style plain long sleeve shirt. The enhanced shoulder marks were after 1988.

The ball caps with rank/rate insignia weren't formalized until the early 1990s. The officers eagle, CPO miniature cap insignia and the metal USN style rating badge seemed the most common ball cap insignia up until then.

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

quote:

Collar insignia were worn on the winter blue CPO shirt style uniform, if it still exists.

As usual, good memory! That is why I made sure to type 'required' in there!

Thoughts long the original lines of this topic.

If the USAF style light blue shirt is the shirt of choice, wouldn't it be advantageous to eliminate collar insignia for enlisted altogether. Slide on soft shoulder marks for E-2 thru E-9. That would take care of summer and winter dress situations. The white shirt with shoulder straps is also readily available, it is the USN standard white CPO & O shirt.

The large metal insignia worn on windbreakers and raincoats could also go with slide on marks. Eliminate the metal work altogether.

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

I think shoulder boards would be the most intelligent decision, the Coast Guard has made in YEARS!

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
The good old Alphas - a lot of people think that uniform stil exists. I have even seen invitations to Change of Commands with that as the prescribed uniform!

I searched for a while, bu I do not see a single required uniform for Officers where the metal collar insignia is used. Am I missing something?

Well by what people are the saying...the Alphas are now called the Full Dress Blue right? It's the white shirt underneath with no shoulder boards or collar devices?

For Officer metal collar insignia, we would still use that on the Winter Dress Blue. Unless you're talking about something else.

I could be WAAAAY off! hehe

http://www.uscg.mil/reservist/mag2006/Special%20Issue%2...rm/UniformIssue2.pdf

full dress blue calls for large medals and ribbons, but yes, also has the white shirt.

What I'm saying is keep service dress blue with ribbons and nametag, but instead of wearing the light blue AF shirt underneath, wear a white shirt. I think it looks sharper.

Our current SDB is the bravo uniform. I'm saying bring back alphas (white shirt, ribbons and name tag) and eliminate bravos.

SF;
There used to be SDB B and SDB A and FULL DRESS. SDB A went away.

quote:

Originally posted by Mightyz90_93:
SF;
There used to be SDB B and SDB A and FULL DRESS. SDB A went away.

Ahhhh... gotcha. I wasn't entirely sure because by description they seem similar but I follow with the ribbon/medal changes.

Going to white shirts with the shoulder boards would look sharp. I like the shoulder boards with the rate and rank. Great idea!

OK, so with all of the great thought about it, who is puting their pen where their keyboard is and submiting to the Uniform Board?

(and before you flip that back at me, I don't support the change, so it won't be me)

quote:

Originally posted by BattleshipStLouis314:
I think shoulder boards would be the most intelligent decision, the Coast Guard has made in YEARS!

....that was given a trial run a few years back and had terrible reviews.

While I admit it does appear to be a good idea. How many uniforms do we really need, non of which are cheap. Starting to feel for the Navy with different uniforms coming out what seems every week. Also, I get we have a uniform allowance, but to many of the junior crew this can still become a finacial hardship keeping up with all the changes. Just my 2 cents.

While I also believe the white shirt looks good with SDBs, I feel that practicality and function should come before looks.

1: Cost. The cost of the Navy white dress shirt with epaulets is $26.00 (Navy online uniform store) the UDC cost for the AF shirt is $14.37.

2. Function. I am currently wearing trops. If need be I can put on a tie and the SDB jacket and I am good to go. If we go to a white shirt with SDBs, I would need to keep an extra shirt ready to go. When I have to travel I would need to take 2 different shirts.

quote:

but to many of the junior crew this can still become a finacial hardship keeping up with all the changes

Greg;
That is absoloutely, 100% un-equivically incorrect. NO new uniform requirement has EVER been put in place w/o 100% funding of it to EVERY enlisted member. Period. If it is a phase in requirement, then the uniform maint allowance is adjusted so that the member can replace each item when it wears out with the new one. (like the untucked ODU, which NOBODY can require a member to buy before the deadline) If it is a one time immediate change, the item is either provided for 'in-kind' like the original ODUs or the provide an up front payment before the requirement takes effect, like the FWPII. "Shelf-lifes" of every uniform item is tested and the entire replacement cost is prorated over the life time and added to the allowance.

I challenge you to find a junior enlisted person who has taken bare reasonable care of their uniforms who has spent more than their allowance over any 12 month period. (you might find a person who replaced their whole sea bag when they PCS, but they didn't spend a dime in the 12-24 months before that) I'll bet that around 99% of the enlisted workforce spend less than HALF of the allowance on uniform replacements over time.