AUXILIARY UNIFORM ITEMS

Posted 10 November 2008 CORRECTED

 

Several questions and concerns about Auxiliary uniform items have recently arisen.  The following provisions are in effect to provide clarification and guidance, and they will be incorporated in the next change to the Auxiliary Manual:

 

1. Ball Caps.

 

      a.  Auxiliary Ball Cap (aka - Dark Blue Auxiliary Baseball Cap, per section 10.D.3.b. of the Auxiliary Manual).  This is the ball cap most commonly worn by Auxiliarists when a ball cap is authorized with certain uniforms.  It can have either "USCG Auxiliary" or "USCG" over the word "Auxiliary" displayed (embroidered) in silver lettering on the front panel (as an option, Auxiliarists may also have the number of their flotilla, division, or region displayed in the same size lettering, for example "FLOT 11-4").  Auxiliarists must wear either the metal office collar insignia or the member collar insignia on this ball cap (embroidered/sew-on versions may be worn as an option).  A few other aspects of wear remain as described in section 10.D.3.b.

 

      b.  Coast Guard Unit Ball Cap (aka - Unit Ball Cap, per section 10.D.3.c. of the Auxiliary Manual).

 

            (1)  This is the ball cap most commonly worn by Coast Guard active duty and Reserve personnel that represents the unit to which they are currently assigned.  The key consideration about an Auxiliarist's wear of a unit ball cap is that they must be authorized to wear it by the unit Commanding Officer.  Recurring support is a key aspect of the command's authorization to wear a unit ball cap.  Such authorization normally results from recurring support provided by an Auxiliarist to the unit, effectively earning recognition by the command as a crew member.  Although an Auxiliarist may live in the surrounding area of a Coast Guard unit, that alone does not provide justification to wear that unit's ball cap - there must be an element of recurring support as defined by the command.  Further, like active duty and Reserve counterparts, a unit ball cap is only worn while assigned to that unit.  This means that once an Auxiliarist ceases their recurring support of the unit, their authorization to wear the unit ball cap also ends.  Auxiliarists must wear either the metal office collar insignia or the member collar insignia on this ball cap (embroidered/sew-on insignia are not an option).  

 

            (2)  If an Auxiliarist is authorized by a Coast Guard command to wear the Coast Guard unit ball cap, then they may wear it in lieu of the Auxiliary ball cap with any uniform and associated activity for which a ball cap is authorized with exceptions defined below. 

 

      c.  General Ball Cap Wear Provisions.

 

            (1)  If an Auxiliary ball cap is authorized for wear with a uniform, and the uniform is authorized for wear with a mission or activity, then that ball cap may be worn for that mission or activity.  For example, since Undress Blue - Summer (Bravo) is authorized for wear during the conduct of VSCs, then the Auxiliary ball cap may be worn with that uniform when conducting VSCs (inclusive of travel to and from the mission site). 

 

            (2)  If an Auxiliarist is authorized to wear a Coast Guard unit ball cap, such wear shall not extend to activities involving public interaction.  This is to ensure that an Auxiliarist is not mistaken by the public as an active member of a Coast Guard unit with commensurate authority.  For example, an Auxiliarist may not wear a Coast Guard unit ball cap when performing VSCs.  

 

            (3)  An Auxiliarist's home unit is the flotilla.  As active duty and Reserve personnel are authorized to wear standard issue Coast Guard blue and unit ball caps with proper uniforms while commuting to and from work (i.e. - home unit), so are Auxiliarists authorized to wear Auxiliary ball caps and Coast Guard unit ball caps, if authorized by the unit command, with proper uniforms while commuting to and from flotilla meetings, a Coast Guard unit to which they provide support (in accordance with unit command policy), and fellowship events (e.g. - flotilla picnic).

 

            (4)  Though not specifically addressed in the Auxiliary Manual for wear with Tropical Blue, per section 3.C.1. of the Coast Guard Uniform Manual, Commanding Officers may authorize standard issue Coast Guard blue or unit ball caps for wear on board Coast Guard shore units, small boats, and vessels with the Tropical Blue uniform.  Ball cap wear with Tropical Blue is limited to the confines of the local unit and for commuting to and from work, including commuting from the wearer's home unit to a remote work site.  Ball caps shall not be worn with Tropical Blue when a higher level of formality is appropriate.  Likewise, Auxiliarists may wear an Auxiliary ball cap or Coast Guard unit ball cap, if authorized by the unit command, with the Tropical Blue uniform in accordance with these guidelines, including while commuting to and from flotilla meetings, a Coast Guard unit to which they provide support (in accordance with unit command policy), and fellowship events (e.g. - flotilla picnic). 

 

 

2.  Operational Dress Uniform (ODU ).  The Coast Guard's new untucked ODUs have black Coast Guard emblems embossed on them in several locations.  Untucked ODUs will not be produced without the emblems.  Therefore, Auxiliarists are authorized to wear the new untucked ODU top with the embossed Coast Guard emblems.

 

 

3.  Plastic Name Tags.

 

      a.  Per section 3.F.1. of the Coast Guard Uniform Manual, active duty and Reserve personnel are authorized to wear plastic name tags that display first and last names in lieu of the standard name tag (last name only).  They may also display an unofficial-but-Coast-Guard-recognized insignia, such as a SAR or NATON school pin, on such name tag.  This applies only to plastic name tags, not to cloth name tapes.  The full name and "U. S. COAST GUARD" legend letter sizes must be the same as for the standard nametag.  Commands have the authority to require the standard name tag when a higher level of uniformity is necessary.

 

      b.  Auxiliarists are similarly authorized to wear plastic name tags with first and last names displayed.  A displayed first name must be the individual's full common first name or conventional shortened derivative (e.g. - "Mike" instead of "Michael").  Nicknames or parenthesized names are not authorized (e.g. - Doc, Mac, "Lefty").  No insignia are authorized on such name tags.  Auxiliarists must also have a standard name tag for when a higher level of uniformity is necessary.