Operational Dress Uniform
Encyclopedia
The Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) is the normal work uniform of the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

 and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard and was established on June 23, 1939 by an act of Congress as the United States Coast Guard Reserve, and was re-designated as the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary on February 19, 1941...

.

The Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

 introduced the new "Operational Dress Uniform" (ODU) uniform in 2004 to replace the winter and summer "Undress Duty" uniform. Resembling law enforcement SWAT fatigues, the ODU uniform resembles the old-style Battle Dress Uniform
Battle Dress Uniform
The Battle Dress Uniform were the fatigues that the armed forces of the United States used as their standard uniform for combat situations from September 1981 to April 2005. Since then, it has been replaced in every branch of the U.S. military. Only the U.S. Navy currently authorizes wear of the...

s, but with the lower pockets on the blouse being eliminated and the uniform being worn tucked into the trousers, similar in nature to the old-style Cold War-era fatigues. The sleeves can be worn folded up and the trousers bloused above the boots, with the ODU black belt and blackened buckle (also referred to as a rigger's belt) being worn with the metal tip 2 to 4 inches from the buckle. A dark blue Coast Guard unit ballcap is worn with this uniform. The ODU also has all of its insignia sewn on, eliminating the chance of puncture wounds created by the pins if an individual suffers a blow to the chest while wearing a PFD
Personal flotation device
A personal flotation device is a device designed to assist a wearer, either conscious or unconscious, to keep afloat.Devices designed and approved by authorities for use by...

.

In 2008, a new version of the ODU, which featured an untucked blouse, was approved and is gradually replacing the tucked version through 2012. The untucked blouse bears the Coast Guard insignia on the breast pocket, and is worn with trousers featuring the same Coast Guard insignia on the cargo pockets.

Coast Guard units that engage in combat operations generally wear the Camouflage Utility Uniform (CUU) in a woodland or desert pattern and color scheme rather than ODUs.

A 2006 issue of the Reservist magazine was devoted to a detailed and easy-to-understand graphical description of all the authorized uniforms.

In 2008, ODU's were authorized for wear by the Commissioned Officer Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...

. The uniform replaces the U.S. Navy working khakis NOAA
NOAA Corps
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps is one of seven federal uniformed services of the United States, which operates under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , a scientific agency within the Department of Commerce...

 officers formerly wore. Sewn on insignia is worn in a fashion similar to the Coast Guard.

See also

  • Uniforms of the United States Coast Guard
  • Uniforms of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
    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 auxiliaries and of other armed services. Auxiliarists are expected to wear a uniform intended for the situation and mission...

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