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Per Personnel Policy Memorandum (PPM) PPM 08-013, “Uniform Advisory Committee (UAC),” the 2 year required meeting will commence in 2010. Officers who have suggestions, recommendations, or changes to the current uniform, personal appearance, or grooming standards Commissioned Corps Issuance System policies (http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis) should submit their recommendations to their Commissioned Corps Liaison for consideration, who will in turn forward the recommendations to the Office of the Surgeon General for review and acceptance. Please include an impact and/or financial statement as to the reason for change and potential costs to the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service (Corps) should the recommendation be approved. Please do not forward recommendations to the Uniform Helpdesk e-mail or to the Office of Commissioned Corps Force Management (OCCFM) for consideration. All recommendations must follow the above stated chain of command. Additionally, OCCFM is not soliciting membership into the Uniform Advisory Committee at this time; Commissioned Corps Liaisons will be notified when nominations will be accepted. |
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Basic Uniform Components. Uniform items required as part of the basic uniform. These are the minimum items which must be worn unless the prescribing authority directs otherwise. Prescribable Items. Uniform items which may be directed or authorized with the basic uniform. Prescribable items may be worn with the basic uniform at the individual's discretion unless otherwise directed. Optional Item. Uniform items purchased at the wearer's expense, which may be worn with the basic uniform, but which are not prescribable. Optional items may be worn with the basic uniform at the individual's discretion unless otherwise directed. Conspicuous. Obvious to the eye, attracting attention, striking, bright in color. Should blend with, not stand out from, a professional appearance in uniform. What is conspicuous on one person my not be noticeable on another. If attention is naturally drawn to or distracted from the professional appearance, it is conspicuous. Conservative. Not conspicuous or detracting from the professional appearance while in uniform. Faddish. A style followed for a short period of time with exaggerated zeal. Styles are enduring; fads are generally short in duration and frequently started by an individual or event in the civilian community. Fads are generally conspicuous and detract from a professional appearance. Compliments Skin Tone. A conservative color which contributes to the wearer's natural skin tone. Conservative colors are generally inconspicuous and do not detract from a professional appearance in uniform. --Military creases in shirts are optional and cannot be required. --The standardized women's purse has brass closures for officers. --Service Khaki (with ribbons) is made of 100 percent polyester Certified Navy Twill (CNT), or 75/25 poly/wool. --A sword is not worn with the all-weather coat. --Multiple braided hair is authorized for women in uniform, and woven natural/synthetic hair is authorized if it presents a natural appearance. --Personnel having diagnosed skin conditions are required to shave/cut/remove facial hair based on the severity of the condition. For mild or moderate cases--every 2-3 days required, for severe cases--daily with barber clippers if required. --Service Dress Blue Coats (including authorized sweater and jacket replacements) may be removed in the immediate office space only. --Contact lenses must be a natural color--blue, green, brown, etc. --Handbags are carried over the left shoulder or forearm, placing the top of the handbag at waist level. --Decorated belt buckles may be worn, except for ceremonies or inspections, with appropriate Corps insignia device or previous sea command. --Umbrellas will be carried in the left hand to permit saluting. --Women's Berets are worn toward the front of the head, approximately ¾ inches from the forehead hairline, and tilted slightly to the right. Align miniature sized insignia above the left eye. --Women wearing slacks and service shoes must wear socks (no hosiery). --Jackets, when worn, must be zipped at least 3/4 up; Coats completely buttoned up. (Note: If it is not cold enough to zip it or button it - remove it!) --Non-prescription sunglasses are not authorized for wear indoors unless there is a medical reason for doing so. --Only one skill badge or breast insignia is authorized on sweater nametags. --After childbirth, if a woman is unable to reach her normal body fat or clothing size because of valid medical reasons, supervisors or the National Uniform Authority may extend maternity clothing wear for up to 6 months from the date of delivery. --Bulk of hair for both males and females shall not exceed 2 inches. Bulk is defined as the distance that the mass of the hair protrudes from the scalp. --Women's hosiery is made of nylon and is worn in the individual’s skin tone color, undecorated, and seamless. (Hosiery may be panty/hose combination.) --Fingernails for men shall not extend beyond the end of the finger, and fingernails for women shall not exceed 1/4 inch beyond the end of the finger. --Hems on trousers/slacks should hang approximately 2 inches from the floor at the back of the shoe. Hems on skirts may range from 1½ inch above to 1½ inch below the crease behind the knee. (This skirt hem length does not apply to formal skirts.) --Stars on ribbons or medals are worn with two rays pointing down. --Slacks are a prescribable item with women's uniforms. --Unless a medically documented condition exists, white socks are authorized only with Summer/Service Dress Whites with slacks/trousers. --The cap or hat may be removed when riding a bicycle on or off base. Personnel may remove the cap or hat when traveling inside a private automobile off base. Wearing a cover is mandatory when entering or within a military reservation unless impractical or hazardous. --PHS name tags must be worn with the appropriate uniform and may be either the standard PHS or currently authorized OPDIV/STAFFDIV/non-HHS name tag. OPDIV/STAFFDIV/non-HHS name tags may not be worn after transfer out of that organization. --Berets are an optional item for women. --Earrings for women are an optional item and are not required for wear. When worn, the earring shall be a 4-6mm ball (gold for officers), plain with brushed, matte finish, shiny, screw-on or post type. --Officers are required to own at least one complete set of Service Dress Blues, Summer Whites, and the Battle Dress Uniform. Sufficient quantities of uniform items shall be procured and maintained in order to insure the highest possible standards of personal hygiene and appearance. (Rule of thumb, if it is a required basic component or a prescribable item, you are expected to have it.) --Only one bracelet and one wristwatch may be worn while in uniform. Ankle bracelets/chains are not authorized. --Any procedure or components, regarding uniforms or grooming, not discussed in uniform regulations are prohibited. (If the uniform regulations do not specifically say it is allowed—it is not authorized.) --Men are authorized to have one (cut, clipped, or shaved) natural, narrow, fore and aft part in their hair. Hair cut or parted at an unnatural angle is faddish and is not authorized. --Polishing or plating of medals is prohibited. --Personnel with "Shaving Waivers" shall not allow the hair to exceed ¼ inch in length. Hair will not be trimmed or manicured to any style. (Shave it all, or none of it!) --Retired personnel wearing the uniform must comply with current grooming standards set forth in the uniform regulations. --For medals and ribbons--wear either the three senior ribbons, or all ribbons, if you have earned more than three. For miniature medals, wear either the senior five or all. --Pregnant women may wear outer garments (All-weather Coat, Overcoat, Reefer, and Maternity Sweater) unbuttoned when they no longer fit properly buttoned. --Uniform components acquired from other than Navy approved sources (Navy Uniform Stores/Navy Exchanges) must conform to all military specifications regarding fabric, style, and appearance. --The gold metal frame worn on various ribbons is decorated with stalks of wheat forming a "V", open at the top and joining at the bottom. --Command ball caps are made of standard navy blue (black in appearance) wool or synthetic fabric or a blend. --Service Aiguillettes, when authorized, may be worn with Service Uniforms, Overcoat, Reefer, Sweaters and black/khaki Windbreaker jackets. --Women's underpants/brassieres shall be white or neutral/skin color when wearing Whites, otherwise color is optional. White undershorts/boxers are required for men when wearing Whites. --Brown shoes are an optional uniform item for all personnel with the Service Khaki. -- If ‘required’ for FOD or safety reasons, glasses retainer straps are authorized. When worn, they shall be plain, black, and worn snugly against the back of the head. --Uniforms may be tailored to provide a well-fitting, professional military bearing. They shall not be altered to the extent of detracting from a military appearance, nor shall they be tailored to the point of presenting a tight form fit. |