Uniforms of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Encyclopedia
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. 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. 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. 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.
insignia to signify office or position, they do not use military titles. For example, a Flotilla Commander wears insignia similar to a USCG lieutenant, but is never referred to as "Lieutenant." The title most commonly used in official correspondence and reports is "Auxiliarist", and its abbreviation (e.g., Auxiliarist John Smith or AUX J. Smith). 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).
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. The wear of prior military service awards is different than for active and reserve guardians, as they can only wear awards earned while in the Coast Guard and serving with other branches.
A 2006 issue of the Reservist magazine was devoted to a detailed and easy to understand graphical description of all the authorized uniforms.
uniform with distinctive Coast Guard insignia, primarily cap devices for officers, chief petty officers, and Auxiliarists; incorporation of the Coast Guard shield in lieu of line or staff corps insignia for officers, and differentiated uniform buttons on dress uniforms.
In 1972, the current Coast Guard Dress Blue uniform
was introduced for wear by officers, enlisted personnel, and Auxiliarists; the transition was completed during 1974. Relatively similar in appearance to the old-style U.S. Air Force uniforms, the uniform consists of a blue four-pocket single breasted jacket and trousers in a slightly darker shade. A light-blue button-up shirt
with a pointed collar, two front button-flap pockets and enhanced shoulder boards is worn when in shirt-sleeve order (known as Tropical Blue). It is similar to the World War II-era uniforms worn by Coast Guard Surfmen. Unlike the U.S. Navy, members of the Coast Guard do not wear khaki; all personnel wear the same color uniform. See USCG Uniform Regulations http://www.uscg.mil/ccs/cit/cim/directives/CIM/CIM_1020_6E.pdf for current regulations.
Auxiliarists also have a Dress White uniform, nearly identical to the "choker white" uniform worn by naval officers (aside from Auxiliary-specific insignia), typically used for formal parade and change-of-command ceremonies. For similar occasions, Auxiliarist may also wear either Service Dress Blue or Full Dress Blue. Full Dress Blue replaces the light blue shirt with a white shirt, and miniature medals are worn on the jacket. A white belt may be worn for honor guard
s. Mess dress uniforms are worn by members for formal (black tie) evening ceremonies; like the dress white officer uniform, the mess dress uniforms are identical to those of the U.S. Navy, aside from Coast Guard-specific insignia.
All Coast Guard members wear the combination cap
with all dress and service uniforms. A garrison cap
may be optionally worn with the Service Dress Blue, Tropical Blue, and Winter Dress Blue uniforms.
(ODU). The ODU is similar to the Battle Dress Uniform
of other armed services, both in function and style. However, the ODU is in a solid dark blue with no camouflage patterns and does not have lower pockets on the blouse. The ODU is worn with composite toe boots in most circumstances, but low-cut black or brown boat shoes may be prescribed for certain situations. The former dark blue working uniform has been withdrawn from use by the Coast Guard but may be worn by Auxiliarists until no longer serviceable. In the fall of 2008 a second generation Operational Dress Uniform was introduced. It resembles the current Battle Dress blouse, which is worn on the outside, rather than tucked in. In addition it has a black Coast Guard insignia embroidered on the left shirt pocket as well as the side pockets of the trousers. This next generation ODU is an optional uniform item until 31 December 2012. A baseball-style cover is worn with the ODU uniform, embroidered in silver block lettering with either "U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary" or the name of a cutter, unit, or station to which the Auxiliarist is assigned.
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...
from members of other civilian auxiliaries and of other armed services. Auxiliarists are expected to wear a uniform intended for the situation and mission. Each auxiliary uniform is identical to a Coast Guard officer's military uniform
Military uniform
Military uniforms comprises standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations. Military dress and military styles have gone through great changes over the centuries from colourful and elaborate to extremely utilitarian...
, with the exception that the buttons and stripes on dress jackets and shoulder boards are silver in color, rather than gold. 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
Operational Dress Uniform
The Operational Dress Uniform is the normal work uniform of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.The Coast Guard introduced the new "Operational Dress Uniform" uniform in 2004 to replace the winter and summer "Undress Duty" uniform...
uniform. 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.
Rank insignia and awards
While Auxiliarists wear military style rankMilitary rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
insignia to signify office or position, they do not use military titles. For example, a Flotilla Commander wears insignia similar to a USCG lieutenant, but is never referred to as "Lieutenant." The title most commonly used in official correspondence and reports is "Auxiliarist", and its abbreviation (e.g., Auxiliarist John Smith or AUX J. Smith). 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).
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. The wear of prior military service awards is different than for active and reserve guardians, as they can only wear awards earned while in the Coast Guard and serving with other branches.
A 2006 issue of the Reservist magazine was devoted to a detailed and easy to understand graphical description of all the authorized uniforms.
Dress uniforms
Prior to 1972, all Coast Guard personnel wore the same uniforms as the U.S. NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
uniform with distinctive Coast Guard insignia, primarily cap devices for officers, chief petty officers, and Auxiliarists; incorporation of the Coast Guard shield in lieu of line or staff corps insignia for officers, and differentiated uniform buttons on dress uniforms.
In 1972, the current Coast Guard Dress Blue uniform
Dress uniform
Dress uniform , is the most formal military uniform, typically worn at ceremonies, official receptions, and other special occasions; with order insignias and full size medals...
was introduced for wear by officers, enlisted personnel, and Auxiliarists; the transition was completed during 1974. Relatively similar in appearance to the old-style U.S. Air Force uniforms, the uniform consists of a blue four-pocket single breasted jacket and trousers in a slightly darker shade. A light-blue button-up shirt
Shirt
A shirt is a cloth garment for the upper body. Originally an undergarment worn exclusively by men, it has become, in American English, a catch-all term for almost any garment other than outerwear such as sweaters, coats, jackets, or undergarments such as bras, vests or base layers...
with a pointed collar, two front button-flap pockets and enhanced shoulder boards is worn when in shirt-sleeve order (known as Tropical Blue). It is similar to the World War II-era uniforms worn by Coast Guard Surfmen. Unlike the U.S. Navy, members of the Coast Guard do not wear khaki; all personnel wear the same color uniform. See USCG Uniform Regulations http://www.uscg.mil/ccs/cit/cim/directives/CIM/CIM_1020_6E.pdf for current regulations.
Auxiliarists also have a Dress White uniform, nearly identical to the "choker white" uniform worn by naval officers (aside from Auxiliary-specific insignia), typically used for formal parade and change-of-command ceremonies. For similar occasions, Auxiliarist may also wear either Service Dress Blue or Full Dress Blue. Full Dress Blue replaces the light blue shirt with a white shirt, and miniature medals are worn on the jacket. A white belt may be worn for honor guard
Honor guard
An honor guard, or ceremonial guard, is a ceremonial unit, usually military in nature and composed of volunteers who are carefully screened for their physical ability and dexterity...
s. Mess dress uniforms are worn by members for formal (black tie) evening ceremonies; like the dress white officer uniform, the mess dress uniforms are identical to those of the U.S. Navy, aside from Coast Guard-specific insignia.
All Coast Guard members wear the combination cap
Peaked cap
A peaked cap, forage cap, barracks cover, or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations and also by many uniformed civilian organizations such as law enforcement agencies...
with all dress and service uniforms. A garrison cap
Garrison cap
A Side cap is a foldable military cap with straight sides and a creased or hollow crown sloping to the back where it is parted. It is known as a garrison cap , a wedge cap , or officially field service cap, , but it is more generally known as the side cap.It follows the style which...
may be optionally worn with the Service Dress Blue, Tropical Blue, and Winter Dress Blue uniforms.
Undress and working uniforms
The current working uniform of a majority of Auxiliarists is the Operational Dress UniformOperational Dress Uniform
The Operational Dress Uniform is the normal work uniform of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.The Coast Guard introduced the new "Operational Dress Uniform" uniform in 2004 to replace the winter and summer "Undress Duty" uniform...
(ODU). The ODU is similar to the 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...
of other armed services, both in function and style. However, the ODU is in a solid dark blue with no camouflage patterns and does not have lower pockets on the blouse. The ODU is worn with composite toe boots in most circumstances, but low-cut black or brown boat shoes may be prescribed for certain situations. The former dark blue working uniform has been withdrawn from use by the Coast Guard but may be worn by Auxiliarists until no longer serviceable. In the fall of 2008 a second generation Operational Dress Uniform was introduced. It resembles the current Battle Dress blouse, which is worn on the outside, rather than tucked in. In addition it has a black Coast Guard insignia embroidered on the left shirt pocket as well as the side pockets of the trousers. This next generation ODU is an optional uniform item until 31 December 2012. A baseball-style cover is worn with the ODU uniform, embroidered in silver block lettering with either "U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary" or the name of a cutter, unit, or station to which the Auxiliarist is assigned.