Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) Uniforms 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   Effective 1 August 2009, the following uniforms and components, according to Personnel Policy Memorandum (PPM) 08-020, dated 28 August 2008, will be phased out and no longer authorized for wear: Winter Blues, to include Winter Working Blues Poly/cotton Working Khakis, to include Long Sleeve Working Khaki Indoor Duty Whites Tropical Uniforms and prescribable items Helmet (khaki and white) Trousers, khaki and white, short (hemmed two inches above the knee, two back pockets and two side pockets) Tropical Dinner Dress Blue Formal Dress Uniform Wing Collar Shirt, Formal White (Male) Tailcoat, Formal Blue (Male) Waistcoat (Male) Necktie, Bow, White (Male) Mother of pearl studs and cufflinks (Male and Female) Tiara (Female) Service Blue (aka Salt and Pepper) Garrison Cap, black with gold piping  Questions and Answers   Q. What is the proper color of the Field Medical Readiness Badge (FMRB) for the coveralls?   A. According to current policy, the FMRB is required to be gold. However, the current vendor of the cloth FMRB has not yet transitioned to the gold cloth version for the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), the Coast Guard ODU, or the Navy Coveralls. The Office of Commissioned Corps Force Management (OCCFM) along with the Office of Commissioned Corps Operations (OCCO) are working closely with the Institute of Heraldry to complete military specifications (MilSpec) for numerous Corps specific items. Once MilSpec is complete, vendors will have to abide by design and color specifications, which would include the proper color of the cloth FMRBs. The MilSpecs which are underway are designed not to create new Corps insignia, but to “clean-up” vendor interpretation of design specifications. If you look at older versions of the Corps insignia, shoulder boards, shoulder marks, and various other items, the look of the anchor and caduceus has changed quite dramatically over the years. This is all because the Corps items did not have to be designed in a specific way and as costs to produce uniform items increased, deviations unfortunately occurred from set designs to a ‘cheaper’ style or look. The new MilSpecs will set the Corps items to the same scrutiny and standards of our sister service uniform items.   Q. Are the coveralls allowed to be worn to get groceries or run errands?   A. According to CC26.3.4 or CC26.3.5, Uniforms for Male Officers or Uniforms for Female Officers, respectively “Coveralls are only worn inside a Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) prison, camp, institution, or medical facility behind the Sally-port or when serving jointly aboard a naval vessel. The coveralls may be worn when traveling directly to or from the facility or ship. It is not to be worn in public (i.e., shopping, conducting non-duty related business). The coveralls are not authorized for wear other than detailed in this paragraph and under no circumstance may it be worn in either an official or unofficial capacity outside of the confines of a military installation, BOP facility or naval vessel.” However, it can be argued that many “What ifs…?” may occur. Common sense should prevail and the officer should use his/her best informed, prudent judgment to address the situation as needed. This question has been asked in numerous Navy uniform forums and their regulation is the policy from which most of ours are derived. Navy has opined, and the prevailing practice is, that if you are running out of gas and need to stop and refuel, that is acceptable; however, going into the station and shopping is not. Going through a drive-thru for food or other services is authorized, but going into the restaurant or store for the same services is not. Rendering medical aide on the side of the street is authorized; however, walking the dog in your neighborhood is not.   Q. What are shirt ‘garters’ and what are they used for?   A. Shirt garters are elastic bands that attach the shirt tails, either fore and aft or laterally, of a uniform shirt to the top of the socks. Their purpose is two fold: (1) It keeps your shirt tucked in, presenting a professional appearance and doesn’t give you a duffle bag appearance with a puffed up/wrinkled shirt around the waistline. It also prevents the shirt from becoming untucked; and (2) It keeps your socks pulled up. White shirt garters should be worn with Summer Whites or any white uniform, while black or other colors may be worn with khaki or dress blue trousers. Aside from shirt garters, there is another device, which is an elastic band worn over the bottom of the shirt at the waistline of the trousers or skirt/dress. This device works similarly by keeping your shirt tucked in. Both items, the garters and the elastic band, are authorized for wear and are available from any uniform shop, tailor, or commercial source.   Q. Are the Certified Navy Twill (CNT) khaki uniforms being phased out?   A. No. OCCFM has contacted numerous official, high-level Navy sources and they have assured us that the CNT khaki is not phasing out. The only khaki uniform material being phased out, as noted above, is the true working khaki material (poly/cotton). The Navy Exchange (NEX) and other governmental supply sources have indicated there is neither shortage of supply nor any cutbacks to this uniform. This uniform is widely used in the Navy in land-based commands or duty stations. It is noted that there are some supply issues with some non-governmental private commercial vendors, but that is a non-governmental issue. Still, the most official and cost effective method of purchasing uniforms and components is through the NEX or Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES).   Q. Are the sleeves of the sweater allowed to be pushed up around the elbows?   A. No. Sleeves/cuffs may be folded back to shorten the length no further back than the wrist. Sleeves are not to be folded, pushed, or scrunched up past the wrist. Officers are required to have a complete uniform shirt, with rank insignia, name tag, and ribbons, as appropriate, for the specific base uniform being worn.   Q. Do shoes and combat boots need to be ‘spit shined’ or patent leather?   A. For those who are unaware, a spit shine isn’t really shined with spit but with a mixture of water, alcohol, and shoe polish buffed and polished to a high sheen. Dress shoes and combat boots do not need to be spit shined, however, they should be clean, shined, and in a serviceable condition. Black dress shoes may be patent leather or plain black leather. Dress brown and white shoes do not come in an authorized patent leather finish and is simply plain leather material. Combat boots may be either plain leather or leather and fabric mix (Jungle Boot or Brushless Boot). Patent leather or ‘parade’ boots are not authorized. Both dress shoes and combat boots should be free of major or obvious scuff marks, scratches, divots, and stains if wearing Jungle Boots or Brushless Boots. Most scuffs, scratches, or divots may be polished out with a good coat of shoe polish and polishing. Heel and sole dressing should be used on the black and brown dress shoes and black combat boots. Heel and sole dressing returns the color of the heel and sole to a dark black color and covers many anomalies in the sole. It is not recommended to use liquid/bottle polishes without a good base polish as significant cracking and chipping of the surface is likely. Liquid polishes are usually used for small, temporary aesthetic fixes. For officers who wear patent leather shoes, follow the recommendations of the manufacturer for minor repairs. Usually, simple window cleaner can be used to fix minor problems in patent leathers. However, significant cuts, scratches, and other anomalies usually cannot be fixed, and therefore, the shoe must be replaced. Current Issue Front Page