| Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) Uniforms |
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Submitted by LT Kyle Lyons, USPHS, Uniform Policy Coordinator,
Workforce Policy and Plans Division, Office of Commissioned Corps Force Management Please note: Any uniform questions can be sent electronically to LT Lyons at james.lyons@hhs.gov or 240-453-6098 |
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June 1 was the start of hurricane season. Is your mobility/go-bag ready?
Officers are reminded that ribbons, medals, and attachments must be in a serviceable condition. Serviceable condition is defined as a uniform item that is free of tears, rips, stains, tarnish, frays, holes, or any other condition that detracts from the appearance or brings discredit to the wearer or the Service. Officers should always strive to have a pristinely clean and well maintained uniform at all times. If a ribbon becomes soiled, stained, or frayed, replace it. This may mean buying a whole new ribbon rack if you use a commercial service that mounts ribbons or simply buying a new ribbon if you use the traditional method.
Attachments such as stars, oak leaves, Roman numerals, etc., are to be attached to the ribbon as indicated in CC26.3.3, Wear of Ribbons and Medals, and not just placed anywhere or anyway on the ribbon. There are specific ways the stars, leaves, and other attachments are supposed to be aligned and worn. If wearing multiple attachments, the attachments should form a straight line across the mid-line horizontal axis of the ribbon, and not stray up/down on the ribbon. Large globs of glue should not be visible if using this method to affix attachments. If an attachment falls off and the spot/holes where the attachment was is visible, the ribbon is unserviceable and must be replaced. If a ribbon’s appearance (e.g., wavy lines, bunched edges/material) is not as originally specified, the ribbon must be replaced. Some ribbons also have a specific orientation when worn (i.e., certain color is inboard/outboard, certain design on ribbon faces a specific way, etc.). Officers should know the proper orientation of the ribbon and not wear it upside down or wear the entire ribbon rack upside down. All Corps awards can only be oriented in one way, however some sister service and other agency awards may have a specific orientation, such as the Navy Combat Action Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and Navy Presidential Unit Citation, as shown below. |
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| Below is an example from a World War II veteran’s ribbon rack that shows staining, small rips in the material, misaligned attachments, and improper ribbon spacing. Granted, the soldier did not wear the ribbons in this manner while in the Army Air Corps, but time and improper handling/storage caused some of these blemishes. There are numerous Corps officers, who have ribbons far less than 50 years old, but whose ribbons look worse than these. |
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Q: With promotion season about to kick-off again, what are the rules on frocking and wearing of new rank insignia?
A: First, for those who don’t know what frocking is, it is a custom in which a person (originally monks) wore a vestment or clothing article indicating their change in status. At one time, midshipmen (Naval Academy students) wore a short coat. Once they were promoted to commissioned officer status or promoted in an acting capacity, they wore the long frocked coat of an officer, hence being “frocked.” In some uniformed services, it is customary for members who are selected for promotion to a higher rank to wear that rank on their uniform, even though their current actual pay grade/rank is lower, upon being notified of being selected for promotion. This is not universal across the uniformed services, nor is it automatically done. The Corps does not have an official policy on frocking of officers, but the overall official stance on the matter is that the Corps does not frock, either by wearing the next rank or using the words “Select”, “Rank (Sel),” or any derivation of selected for promotion in the signature block. Officers are reminded that their rank on their uniform must be the same rank on their Uniformed Services of the United States Geneva Conventions Identification Card (military ID). Gate guards or sentries may deny access to military installations if rank on the uniform and identification card does not match and may also confiscate the identification card. Commissioned Corps Issuance CC26.3.1 http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/documents/CCPM26_3_1.pdf, Uniforms and Appearance, dated 1 March 2008, Section 6-2c, states that officers shall not wear “badges, ribbons, medals, or other accoutrements not specifically authorized in accordance with Corps policies, or that have not been annotated in an officer’s electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF).” Q: Are officers considered out of uniform if wearing personal protective equipment while riding a bike or operating a motorcycle? A: The wear of helmets, leathers, reflective vests, gloves, and other personal protective equipment (PPE) are not considered uniform infractions while in operation of these vehicles. However, getting off the motorcycle and walking around with the helmet on, wearing leathers or other items is not permitted when no longer operating the vehicle. The Department of Defense (DoD) requires all motorcycle riders to wear helmets and reflective vests while in operation on DoD facilities. DoD also does not restrict PPE for wear while in uniform when operating these vehicles. Common sense should dictate as to the wear of logos, patches, or affiliation insignia while wearing PPE and the uniform. Anything that would potentially discredit or shine an unfavorable light on the officer, the Department, the Corps or the U.S .Government should not be worn. If there is question whether or not a logo, patch, etc., should be worn, it’s best not to wear it. The wear of PPE (colored gloves, lab jackets, helmets, and hearing-protection) is not restricted while in uniform, however officers should choose the most modest and conservative colors as to not draw undue attention in normal situations. Bright PPE for safety (helmets, vests, etc.) may be worn while engaging in the activity, if warranted, however should be common in appearance when visualization of the officer is not needed. Q: My uniform lacing is starting to “tarnish” do I need to buy all new lacing or is there something I can do to prevent/remove the tarnish? A: Depending on the severity of the tarnish, it may be necessary to replace. Here are some guidelines to maintain the brass, lacing, and embroidery.
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