FLEET WEEK
Uniform and Protocol
UNIFORM:
The prescribed uniform for Fleet Week is Tropical Blue Long. This consists of:
Short sleeve dress shirt with shoulder boards
V-neck tee shirt (tee shirt must not show)
Name tag, ribbons and devices
Long dress trousers (work trousers are not acceptable in the place of dress trousers)
Black plain toe dress shoes, and black socks
Combination Hat (white) or a Garrison Cap (blue). Ball Caps are not authorized.
Only uniform outer wear is authorized, if needed.
ODU's are NOT authorized.
Hair must not touch the shirt collar. If you have long hair it must be "up" or covered by your hat. Neck chains, bracelets, or hair ornaments must not be visible.
Uniforms must be neat and clean. Remember you are not only representing the Auxiliary, you are representing the U.S. Coast Guard.
You will stay covered while you are on duty in most cases. Check with the Duty Officer that is in charge of your duty facility to find out if there are any areas that you are required to be uncovered. Also inquire if there are any restricted areas on the ship.
SALUTE:
You are expected to render a proper hand salute when necessary. When saluting raise your right hand from your side, up your buttons to your head. The tips of your fingers will come to the brim of your Combination Hat. With the Garrison Cap your fingers will come to the corner of your eye brow or the corner of your glasses if you should be wearing them. Your arm should be straight from your elbow to the tips of your fingers, and your hand should be facing inward.
While standing, you will be at attention when you salute. When advancing toward a Senior Officer, you will continue to walk, make eye contact, render a greeting and a hand salute. You will hold your salute until it is returned by the Senior Officer.
When the National Anthem is played you will stand at attention, render a hand salute and face the Flag if it visible. If the Flag is not visible you will face the music and render a hand salute. If you are uncovered you will render a Breast salute.
When in uniform you are required to return a salute made by someone else in uniform. This is important to remember. Most other branches of the military do not know who we are.
BOARDING A SHIP:
When boarding (embarking) a ship, you will stop at the top of the gangway and salute the U.S. Ensign at the stern of the ship. Then turn and salute the Duty Officer and request permission to come aboard. After permission has been granted, you will then board the ship. If there is not a Duty Officer at the top of the gangway, you will still turn and salute the U.S. Ensign before boarding the ship.
When leaving the ship (debarking), request permission to leave the ship while saluting the Duty Officer. When permission has been granted, turn to the stern of the ship and salute the U.S. Ensign; then debark.
PROTOCOL AND RANK:
When outdoors you will salute any Military Officer that has a higher rank than the stripes that signify the office you hold or have held (i.e., if your shoulder boards have two stripes, you will salute a military officer with two and a half or more stripes). All Coast Guard and Navy Officers will wear shoulder boards. All other military branches will not wear shoulder boards, but their color devices will be equivalent. There is an old adage that says "If in doubt, salute".
You will address all military members by their Rank (i.e., Seaman Jones, Petty Officer Smith, Chief Brown, Senior Chief Green or Master Chief Blue). Warrant Officers will be addressed as "Mister". All Commissioned Officers will be addressed by sir, ma'am or their rank.
IDENTFYING RANK:
SEAMAN - will wear one, two or three Slashes on their sleeves.
PETTY OFFICERS - will wear one, two of three chevrons with an eagle above.
CHIEF PETTY OFFICER - will wear three chevrons with an arch that extends above the chevrons and an eagle above the arch.
SENIOR CHIEF PETTY OFFICER - same as Chief with a star above the eagle.
MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER - same as Chief with two stars above the eagle.
CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER - silver OR gold and blue bar collar device, blue and gold stripes on shoulder boards.
ENSIGN - single gold bar collar devices , one full stripe on sleeves or shoulder boards.
LIEUTENANT JUNIOR GRADE - single silver bar collar devices, one and a half full stripes on sleeves or shoulder boards.
LIEUTENANT – two silver bars on collar devices, two full stripes on sleeves or shoulder boards.
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER - gold leaf on collar devices, two and a half stripes on sleeves or shoulder boards.
COMMANDER - silver leaf on collar device, three stripes on sleeves or shoulder boards.
CAPTAIN - eagle on collar devices, four stripes on sleeves or shoulder boards.
REAR ADMIRAL (LH) - One star collar devices, one two inch sleeve stripe, solid gold shoulder boards
REAR ADMIRAL (UH) - Two star collar devices, one two inch sleeve stripe plus one inch stripe, solid gold shoulder boards.
VICE ADMIRAL - Three star collar devices, one two inch stripe plus two one inch sleeve stripes, solid gold shoulder boards.
ADMIRAL (CG COMMANDANT) - Four star collar devices, one two inch stripe plus three one inch sleeve stripes, solid gold shoulder boards.
UNIFORM GUIDANCE:
Women's hair must not reach below the collar. Hair in the front must not fall below the headgear when worn. Earrings on women are authorized. When worn, they must be plain gold, silver or pearl studs. No more than one ring on each hand is permitted. No rings on thumbs will be worn.
The skirt, while authorized, is impractical for ships tours. Women's shoes are plain toed oxfords, pumps or flats with no decoration or stitching. Women will wear black socks or hosiery with oxfords and hosiery with pumps and flats.
Women may wear either the men's or women's shirts (except with SDB, where the women's shirt with plackert is worn to conceal the buttons that the man's tie would normally cover). Women may wear either gender shirt or trousers.
Mixing and matching gender specific shirts and trousers should not be done because of the conflicting "gig line" (The opening side of the shirt or coat and trousers should face the same way). The wearer's belt buckle will follow the gig line. Hand bags are authorized for women, and will be plain black, may have a shoulder strap and be no larger than 12 x 8 x 5.
SMOKING:
When in uniform, smoking should be done only in designated areas, whether on a military installation or a public place. Cigarette butts should be disposed of properly. If a container for cigarette butts is not available, they must be "Field Stripped".
To field strip a cigarette: Remove the tobacco from the filter and paper and discard the tobacco. The tobacco is bio degradable. Put the filter and paper in your pocket until it can be disposed of properly. The filter and paper are garbage.
COMO E. Lee Ward, Uniform Advisor, (1SR) and Forwarded by PANACO Dante Laurino
