Uniforms of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

The uniforms of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary serve to distinguish Auxiliarists from members of other civilian military auxiliaries and of other armed services.

Background

Auxiliarists are expected to wear a uniform intended for the situation and mission.[1]

Identity

Accoutrements

Each auxiliary uniform is identical to a Coast Guard officer's military uniform, with the exception that the buttons and stripes on dress jackets and shoulder boards are silver in color, rather than gold.

Insignia

On dress uniforms, appointed staff officers wear insignia with a red "A" and elected officers wear insignia with a blue "A", while black "A"s are worn on insignia by both elected and appointed officers on the ODU uniform.

Uniform regulation

Auxiliarists are expected to adhere to the same rules of correct uniform wear as regular Coast Guard officers.

When augmenting Coast Guard personnel, the military-style insignia of Auxiliary position is generally removed and the organizational insignia is worn.

Where Coast Guard uniform regulations and customs do differentiate between officers and enlisted personnel, Auxiliarists usually follow the rule for officers.

Rank insignia and awards
USCG Auxiliary Insignia

Titles

Auxiliarist

While Auxiliarists wear military style rank insignia to signify office or position, they do not use military titles.[2] For example, a Flotilla Commander wears insignia similar to a USCG lieutenant, but is never referred to as "Lieutenant John Smith" or "Flotilla Commander John Smith"

The title most commonly used in official correspondence, reports, and forms is "Auxiliarist", and its abbreviation (e.g., Auxiliarist John Smith or AUX J. Smith).[2]

Commodore

Exceptions to this rule are elected or appointed Commodores, who wear one to three stars depending on their office, and are the only Auxiliarists who use a military style title ("Commodore") and its abbreviation before their name (e.g., Commodore Jane Jones or COMO J. Jones).[2]

Medals and Decorations

Auxiliarists may be awarded medals and decorations of the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary, and may wear medals and decorations awarded in prior military service.[2]

Whereas active and reserve Coast Guardsmen may only wear certain badges and awards earned while serving with other branches, Auxiliarists may generally wear any previously earned awards.

Dress uniforms

Auxiliarists generally wear the same dress and service uniforms as active duty personnel, but with Auxiliary-specific insignia and (on dress uniforms) silver buttons and braid instead of gold.

There is one notable exception – because the Auxiliary does not award full-sized versions of its medals, Auxiliarists are de facto precluded from wearing the Full Dress Blue and Full Dress White uniforms.

History

Prior to 1972, all Coast Guard personnel, including Auxiliarists, wore the same uniforms as the United States Navy, with distinctive Coast Guard insignia.

Bender’s Blues

In 1972, Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Chester R. Bender introduced a new set of blue uniforms for wear by all personnel, which were also adopted by the Auxiliary.

Unlike Navy uniforms, the new "Bender's blues" uniforms made few distinctions between officers and enlisted personnel, with all ranks generally wearing the same style of uniform (with the exception of a few formal uniforms reserved for officers only).

Service dress uniforms
  • Service Dress Blue
  • Service Dress White

Service uniforms
  • Winter Dress Blue
  • Tropical Blue

Dinner dress uniforms
  • Dinner Dress Blue Jacket
  • Dinner Dress White Jacket
  • Dinner Dress Blue
  • Dinner Dress White

Civilian Version

For those Auxiliarists who do not wish to wear military-style dress uniforms, a blue blazer with an Auxiliary crest may be worn with grey slacks (or skirt), a white shirt and navy necktie or black bowtie.

Operational Dress Uniform
  • Operational Dress Uniform (ODU)
  • Flight Suit[3]

Auxiliarists wear the Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) as the standard working uniform.

The ODU is similar to the Battle Dress Uniform, both in function and style, but is a solid dark blue color, rather than camouflage, and lacks lower pockets on the blouse.

Second Generation ODU

In the fall of 2008 a second generation Operational Dress Uniform was introduced, with the major change being that the blouse is worn with the tails on the outside, rather than tucked into, the trousers.

Footwear

Composite toe boots are the standard footwear, but brown leather boat shoes may be (and frequently are) prescribed for wear while aboard boats.

Insignia

In addition a black Coast Guard insignia is embroidered on the left breast pocket of the blouse and the cargo pocket flaps of the trousers.

Headgear

A baseball cap-style cover, with "U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary" embroidered in silver block lettering, is worn with the ODU. There is also an optional broad-brimmed "sun hat" available.

Working uniforms

Auxiliarists also have several distinctive working uniforms and optional uniform items not authorized for active duty personnel.

Hot Weather Uniform

The Hot Weather Uniform consists of the ODU t-shirt, dark blue cargo shorts, and the baseball cap. Either brown leather boat shoes or black ankle boots may be worn.

The Hot Weather Uniform was formerly authorized for active duty personnel, but was withdrawn from service because of its non-military appearance.

Operational Polo Shirt

A dark blue "operational polo shirt" may be worn in lieu of the ODU blouse, or in lieu of the ODU t-shirt with the ODU and the Hot Weather Uniform.

Vessel Examiner Polo Shirt

A light blue "Vessel Examiner polo shirt" is also available for Auxiliarists conducting vessel safety checks. In 2020, the VE polo was redesigned and made available in both white and navy blue.

Although Coast Guard personnel wear the Navy Working Uniform ("NWU") Type III while attached to expeditionary and deployable units, because Auxiliarists are non-combatant civilian volunteers, not subject to involuntary mobilization or deployment, it is unlikely that they would ever be required (or permitted) to wear the NWU.

Notes
  1. http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/16000-16999/CIM_16790_1G.pdf
  2. Auxiliary Manual.
  3. Standard for Flight Suits for Auxiliary Aviation

References
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.