From a statement by their DIRAUX in the Summer 2008 issue of the 1NR newsletter:

quote:

Yes, Auxiliarists are authorized to wear prior service insignia on their ODUs.

I'm not really sure what that means.
Its not something I've researched, but I had the impression that the only things going on the ODUs were the coxswain badge and maybe the Trident or RBS badge. Certainly, I've never seen any other military devices on them from prior service (the CIB for example). "Insignia" can mean quite a lot of different things.

What is interesting is that the applicable section of the AuxMan for the ODU does not authorize any breast insignia.

quote:

10.H.4.g. Breast Insignia/Devices

Cloth nametape with “USCG AUXILIARY” is sewn above left pocket. Direct embroidery on shirt is not authorized.

Compare that wording to the same section in the old Working Blue section. The Working Blue explicitly authorizes qualification devices.

quote:

10.H.2.h. Breast Insignia/Devices

Name tags and qualification devices are worn. Ribbons are not worn. Embroidered letters directly on the uniform or sew-on cloth “NAME” and “USCG AUXILIARY” tapes may be used.

If you go back in the Uniforms chapter you will find the following wear instructions for the coxswain, aviation, PWO etc devices:

quote:

It is normally worn above the ribbons or
medals over the left breast pocket.

Since ribbons and medals aren't worn on the ODU it would be a stretch to read the above as permission to wear devices with the ODU.

Then this gets thrown in:

quote:

10. F.9.j. Miniature Devices
Miniature Devices may only be worn on Dinner Dress uniforms. Auxiliarists may wear the AUXOP and past officer devices on all uniforms.

So you could wear metal PODs and AuxOp devices with the ODU since it falls in the definition of 'all uniforms'. However, metal devices are contraindicted for surface ops and sewn PODs and AuxOps are not authorized (at least not yet).

This might be the great escape clause. Since no uniform is excluded, you might be able to read this as allowing these devices, including prior service, on the ODU. However, it does mention placement relative to ribbons, which aren't allowed on the ODU.

quote:

10.F.9.k. Other Devices

Auxiliarists may wear only two breast devices at one time and these are worn on the uniform’s left side only. Breast devices include the following qualification devices:

coxswain, aviator, air crew and PWC operator.

Other authorized devices include those earned during U.S. military service, such as the combat infantryman and medic badge, aviation wings, Air Force specialty badges, pathfinder, airborne and air assault badges, submariner dolphins, etc. The wearer may select any two and decide their precedence.

Auxiliarists wear the first device on the left centered directly above the ribbons or miniature medals. Auxiliarists wear the second device centered on the pocket flap immediately below the ribbons or miniature medals. For
example, wearing Auxiliary aviator wings centered on the left, above the ribbons,
and an Auxiliary coxswain insignia centered below the ribbons. Sew-on patches, strips, Auxiliary unit designations, honor guard, ranger, special forces, and other cloth patches, not otherwise approved for wear, are not authorized on the Auxiliary uniform.

I checked and I don't see an AuxKB directly on this point.

My guess is that the exclusion of qualification devices from the ODU section of the AuxMan is a mistake. The Aux two device rule should apply. FWIW the Gold Side is only allowed 1 device (at least accoring to the their Uni Regs Manual).

And by the published 2 device rule, that would include prior service qualification devices. I am waiting to stand corrected but the CIB is an award not a qualification device and shouldn't be worn on the ODU.

The problem with 2 devices is that the only cloth one that is authorized (we had a thread on this recently) is the coxswain device. So you could wear 2 but only the coxswain device can be sewn on. As noted above, metal insignia of any kind are contra-indicated for surface ops.

Only one qualification device allowed on the ODU. Currently, only the coxswain design has been approved. Other qualification device designs are to come -- who knows when. Therefore, some members have tired of waiting and have found vendors to embroider devices on ODU material for sew-on to include Tridents, AuxOps, wings, etc -- and are wearing them.

To my knowledge, no one is having fit (gold or silver side) for those wearing them. The only comment I observed was when a member was told by DIRAUX that he could not wear both the Auxiliary Coxswain device and the USN Scuba Diver device at the same time...had to pick one (he chose Coxswain).

Yes, I have auxiliary aviator wings on my ODUs...

"Therefore, some members have tired of waiting and have found vendors to embroider devices on ODU material for sew-on to include Tridents, AuxOps, wings, etc -- and are wearing them."

I(along with several other members in 9CR)got my sew-on AUXOP device directly from the 9CR District Store(who must've got them supplied to him from AUXCEN(where all DSO-MA's get there inventory for their 'store(s)' from))once we were told they were being sold by our DSO-MA. I can't therefore imagine them not being officially authorized. Plus,the AUXOP device is merely a 'membership status' device compared to a coxswain device which is a 'qualification' device. Then again,it's all up to interpretation I guess...

I can't therefore imagine them not being officially authorized.

You may find it hard to imagine that a district store and maybe even national would sell an unauthorized item but it is true - those aren't authorized. We went thru this not so long ago. The AuxMan contains an explicit statement that only the coxswain sew-on is authorized. Another document states that other authorizations might be coming this summer but no document to that effect has been published.

Uniform changes require CG authorization, usually in the form of an ALCOAST or ALAUX. The Aux cannot authorize uniform changes on its own. So for those who think these things are authorized the challenge is simple - find the ALCOAST, ALAUX or COMDTINST that authorizes them.

Until then anyone wearing them is violating the uni rules & regs. For an elected leader to do so undermines whatever credibility they think they have.

BTW - the "M" department has long sought authorization for a sew-on Trident insignia. If one were authorized they would be on it like a dog on a bone. This is from the current The Latest Word from the Chief (DC-M) web page:

quote:

Sew-on Trident Device. Since their creation the Auxiliary TRIDENT, Pilot, aircrew, Boat Forces and Cutterman's insignias are a source of pride and accomplishment to the many members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary that have attained them. Unfortunately those members that have obtained these very hard to achieve recognitions have only been allowed to wear the metal insignia on all of their uniforms. The only sew-on device authorized for the ODU and working uniform in the Auxiliary Manual is the Coxswain device. This proposal seeks to correct the apparent omission to allow a sew-on version of the TRIDENT, Pilot, aircrew, Boat Forces and Cutterman's insignias insignia on the ODU and working uniforms.

If you click on the link it brings up the 2007 proposal to create the sew-ons. That proposal has never been approved by the USCG.

The proposal states the current rules and regs:

quote:

Status
Currently the Coast Guard Auxiliary Manual COMDTINST M16790.1F authorizes only one sew-on insignia to be worn on the ODUs. This is stated in Chapter 10 Uniforms section “F.4 Embroidery Options”:

The propoasl then correctly quotes the rule from the AuxMan. A rule/reg that has never been changed.

quote:

The sew-on coxswain insignia is authorized to be sewn above the nametape over the left breast pocket. No other sew-on devices are authorized. Page 10-23 of the AUXMAN

So how many of your elected leaders who are wearing unauthorized sew-on devices are going to remove them?

There is even a history in D7 of the District Store selling unauthorized items. For a long time the D7 store sold name tags for Air Observers that had unauthorized wings on them. That really infuriated the Grandees and Poobahs or AuxAir7 who felt only pilots should have wings and only grugingly admitted that Air Crew could have them also. They eventually forced the D7 Store to stop selling AO leather name tags with wings on them. Then they tried to tell the AOs, who had purchased them in good faith they couldn't wear them anymore. Most refused to take them off or would only take them off for a full refund of their money or an even exchange (a very logical offer to make).

FWIW - the prime mover of the 'take the wings off campaign' rather proudly wears illegal sew on officer insignia on his flight suit. Not only are they not officially available yet - he has the wrong type. They should be (when available) the large coat style. At last sighting he was wearing home brew collar style.

More proof the other sew-ons are unauthorized. The following AUXILIARY UNIFORM MATTERS post is on the DirAux1SR web site. It is a re-posting of the document from the ChDirAux site.

quote:

AUXILIARY UNIFORM MATTERS - 2008-03-12
1. ALCOAST message 056/08 of February 6, 2008 announced results of the recent Coast Guard Uniform Board 42 (UB42). Past National Commodore Henry G. Pratt, III served as the Auxiliary representative to UB42.

quote:

(4) The sew-on Auxiliary coxswain insignia is still the only qualification insignia authorized to be sewn on the ODU top (metal qualification insignia are not authorized for wear). Sew-on standards for other Auxiliary qualification insignia are being developed and will be authorized for wear when stocks are produced. Sew-on insignia from prior military service other than the Coast Guard are not authorized to be worn on Auxiliary ODUs (or any other Auxiliary uniform).

The last statement may be what lead to RiverAux's confusion. Since only the coxswain device is authorized as a sew-on then any othe sew-on, including prior service, is unauthorized. It remains to be seen, when and if other sew-ons are authorized if prior service sew-ons will also be authorized.

I guess wearing the current issue USCG G-1 jacket with the ODUs could be viewed as taboo by some as well...

quote:

Originally posted by flyandscuba:
I guess wearing the current issue USCG G-1 jacket with the ODUs could be viewed as taboo by some as well...

I suppose
"10. F.9.j. Miniature Devices
Miniature Devices may only be worn on Dinner Dress uniforms. Auxiliarists may wear the AUXOP and past officer devices on all uniforms."

Like I said,it's all up to interpretation of the AUXMAN(especially with the direct contradictory section of the AUXMAN above with another section of the AUXMAN-go figure!)--I seriously don't think anyone's going to actually get in actual trouble for wearing the "membership status" insignia AUXOP device(as opposed to the "qualification" insignia Coxswain device). Otherwise,the CHDIRAUX(or even ADM Allen(or VADM Crea)for that matter))would immediately send out a mass e-mail to everyone ordering everyone that wears it to remove it immediately,or else(I'm sure they got a t-o-n of more important things at CGHQ to worry about than this!)! Heck,a good number of past officers(appointed and elected)in 9CR don't even wear the past officer device(although technically required to do so when out of that office),or even remove the Specialty Training ribbon once they get the AUXOP device(also required to do so)-I know(and have known)several examples in 9CR that fit the above two categories in my just over 15-year history in this organization--but,then again,what do I know