QUICK GUIDE TO PURCHASING UNIFORMS
Flotilla 054-10-05
March 2016
Contents
I. Types of uniforms ..……………………………………….. 2
II. Where to buy uniforms………………………………….… 4
III. Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) Components………. .. 5
IV. Hot Weather Uniform Components……………………..... 7
V. Tropical Blue Uniform Components….………………..…. 8
A. Men’s Tropical Blue……………………………..… 8
B. Women’s Tropical Blue…….…………………....... 10
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I. Types of uniforms.
For detailed descriptions of uniforms and when they are authorized to be worn, refer to Chapter
10 of the Auxiliary Manual, COMDTINST M16790.1G. This “Quick Guide” is intended to help
new members purchase the basic components of the uniforms they will wear most often.
1) Operational Dress Uniform (ODU). This is the most common uniform worn by Auxiliarists
and active duty Coast Guard at Station Oak Island. It can be worn year round as a field utility
uniform and also in an office environment. ODUs are the “uniform-of-the-day” for Auxiliary
flotilla meetings, training sessions at Station Oak Island, vessel examinations, on-the-water
patrols, and some public affairs events. It is recommended that new members purchase an ODU
as their first uniform because it is the most versatile.
Operational Dress Uniform ODU
2. Hot weather uniform. Auxiliarists may wear the optional hot weather uniform during
summer months only, and only for on-the-water operations or vessel exams. The uniform should
not be worn to meetings or public events. An ODU tee shirt is worn with dark blue shorts
(modified ODU trousers), Auxiliary ball cap, boat shoes or athletic shoes.
Hot weather uniform
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3) Tropical Blue Uniform. This uniform can be worn when a tie is not necessary and the
uniform will not be soiled. Auxiliarists wear Tropical Blues when teaching public education
classes, at Division and District workshops and training sessions, Change-of-Watch ceremonies,
and many public affairs events.
Tropical Blue Uniform
4) Service Dress Blue uniform. This uniform may be worn for occasions where the civilian
equivalent is jacket and tie. Most flotilla members do not buy Service Dress Blues until or
unless they regularly attend functions for which the uniform is required. Because this “Quick
Guide” is intended for new members, it does not cover purchasing the service dress blue.
Service Dress Blue
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II. Where to buy uniforms.
Many uniform components can be purchased at the Coast Guard’s Uniform Distribution Center
(UDC) website. Most Auxiliary-specific items are not available from the UDC, but can be
purchased on-line from the Auxiliary’s District 5 store. A few items, such as belts, name tags
and garrison hats, are available on both websites. In most cases, the UDC prices are less than the
District 5 store prices for the same items, and the UDC does not charge for shipping.
An alternative to the District 5 store is the Auxiliary Center (AuxCen) website. The two sites
carry most of the same items and the prices are the same.
There are many commercial sellers of Auxiliary uniform components. Prices vary considerably
among the websites. They can be located by searching online, or by asking flotilla members for
recommendations.
Coast Guard UDC: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg1/udc/
To find descriptions of uniform items, click on UDC Product Catalogue at the top of the home
page. Then click on the item or category. The website does not have a “shopping cart” feature,
so it’s advisable to make a list of the stock numbers and sizes for each item.
To find prices, click on UDC Stockbook.
Once you have a list of the stock numbers, sizes and prices of the items to purchase, the UDC
recommends that you place the order by telephone. (Although it is possible to email orders using
the Standard Order Form, the UDC warns that email orders should not be made from commercial
email accounts.) The telephone number to place an order is 800-874-6841. You must have an
employee ID number (member number) to place an order. There is no tax or shipping charge.
District 5 store: http://uscgaux-5sr.bizhosting.com/index.html .
You will need your member number and flotilla number (0541005) to purchase items. The
website is similar to other online shopping sites, with shopping cart and checkout features.
There is a shipping charge.
The following descriptions of uniform components are meant to help new members buy their
first uniforms. Only ODUs, hot weather uniforms, and tropical blues are covered. Components
of other uniforms, such as Service Dress Blues, Dinner Dress Blues are not described as new
members are unlikely to purchase those.
Only basic uniform items are included here. Accessories and optional components, such as polo
shirts, Tilley hats, sweaters and outerwear are not described. Members should always refer to
the Auxiliary Manual and other uniform guidance documents for detailed information.
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III. Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) components.
Note: all prices and stock numbers listed below are current as of March, 2016.
1. ODU Shirt. Purchase from UDC. Go to the UDC Product Catalogue, click on ODU
Uniforms (Tops, Bottoms and Tee Shirts). Using either the male or female ODU Coat Size
Prediction Chart, find the appropriate stock number. It will be “UOC” followed by the size. It’s
a good idea to use the Body Measurement Guide to get correct measurements. The price of the
ODU shirt is $39.29.
2. ODU Trousers. Purchase from UDC. The ODU Trouser Size Prediction Chart is located
below the shirt sizing charts. Trousers are the same for male and female. Find the appropriate
stock number – “UOT” followed by the size. The ODU trouser price is $38.35.
3. Auxiliary Tape. Purchase from UDC. The embroidered cloth tape that you sew on the ODU
shirt directly above the left pocket. When sewn on, the tape should be the same width as the
pocket. On the UDC Product Catalogue page, click on ODU Accessories and Attachments.
The tape is listed in the ODU Accessories table. Stock number ODUAUX. Price $1.65.
4. Name Tape. Purchase from UDC. It is listed in the same ODU Accessories table as the
Auxiliary tape. Stock number ODUNAME. Price $1.03. When placing an order that includes a
name tape, be sure to specify the last name to be embroidered on it. The embroidered tape
should be sewn directly above the right pocket.
6. Trouser blousers. Purchase from UDC. They are listed in the same ODU Accessories table
as the name tapes and Auxiliary tape. Stock number TB. Price $1.40 for a pair. Blousers are
elastic cords that you hook around your lower leg. You then tuck the bottom of the trousers
under the cords, and pull down over the boot.
5. Riggers Belt. Purchase from UDC. On the UDC Product Catalogue page, click on ODU
Accessories and Attachments. The 52” riggers belt is stock number RB52. Price $4.10. If you
don’t have a 52” waist, either eat more or cut the belt to proper size. This item also can be
purchased from the District 5 store, but price is $5.00 plus shipping and tax.
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6. Ball Cap. Purchase from District 5 store. At the home page, click on Uniform Items, then on
Caps/Hats/Accessories, then on Ball Caps. Select the proper size, click on it, and add to cart.
Stock number 604xx, where xx is the size. Price $12.40.
7. ODU Tee Shirt. Purchase from District 5 store. At home page click on Uniform Items, then
on ODU Dark Blue Tee Shirts. Select the right size, click and add to cart. Stock number is M8813xx. Price $9.70. (2XL is $12.80) The tee shirt is worn under the ODU shirt.
8. Member Sew-Ons. Purchase from District 5 store. On the Uniform Items page, click on
Sew-Ons. Then click Member Sew-On (New)(Sold in Pairs) and add to cart. Stock number
60224, price $2.09. These cloth insignia are sewn on the collar of the ODU shirt, on the
imaginary line bisecting the angle of the collar with the base of the insignia (not the entire patch),
approximately 1-1/8 inches from the collar point.
Note: the illustration on the right shows where the
sew-ons should be placed on the collar. The new
sew-ons, which replaced the letter “A” insignia,
look like this:
9. “Collar” insignia for ball cap. Purchase from District 5 store. On the Uniform Items page,
click on Collar Devices. Select Member Collar Insignia (pair). Stock number 60201, price
$6.05. Although these are called collar insignia, they are no longer worn on the ODU collar.
Rather, one insignia is worn on the ball cap, centered between the “U.S. COAST GUARD’ and
the “AUXILIARY.”
10. Boots. ODUs are worn with plain, black, hard toe boots. (When on the water, athletic shoes
or leather boat shoes or may be worn.) Boots are available on the UDC website. On the Product
Catalogue page, click on Boots. The price of a pair of UDC boots Is $112.01. Most flotilla
members buy less expensive boots from other online or local stores.
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IV. Hot Weather Uniform components.
Note: all prices and stock numbers listed below are current as of March, 2016.
1. ODU shorts. Purchase from District 5 store. On the website’s home page, click on Uniform
Items, scroll down to ODU Shorts, click on the proper size, then add to cart. Stock number is
251368x and the price is $28.32.
2. ODU Tee Shirt. See Item 7 listed under ODU components.
3. Riggers Belt. See Item 5 listed under ODU components.
4. Ball Cap. See Item 6 listed under ODU components.
5. White crew socks.
6. Shoes. Black hard toe boots (see Item 10 listed under ODU components) or low cut, dark
blue or brown leather boat shoes, or atheletic shoes may be worn.
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V. Tropical Blue Uniform components.
Note: all prices and stock numbers listed below are current as of March, 2016.
A. Men’s Tropical Blues
1. Light Blue Short Sleeve Shirt. Purchase from UDC. Go to Product Catalogue. Click on
Male Dress Shirts. Under Light Blue Short Sleeve Dress Shirt find the proper neck size. Stock
number is ALBSSMxx where xx is the size. Price $14.34
2. Dress Trousers. Purchase from UDC. Go to Product Catalogue. Click on Male Dress
Trousers. Select proper waist size and height. Stock number DTMxxx. Price $43.42.
3. Shoes. Black, smooth leather or synthetic, laced shoes without decoration. There should be
no stitching or seams across the toe. If you want to buy shoes, they are available at the UDC,
under Male Shoes. The leather Dress Shoes Male Oxford are stock number DSMxxx, price
$48.74. Dress Shoe Male Cordovans are high-gloss synthetic. Stock number DSMCxxx, price
$46.66.
4. Name Tag. Purchase from District 5 Store. On the home page, click on Uniform Items, then
click on Name Tags, then select Auxiliary Uniform Name Tag, Regulation Size, Stock #80135,
price $4.00. Be sure to specify last name when ordering.
5. Belt. Purchase from (a) UDC or (b) District 5 store. Black web belt with either plain silver
buckle or buckle with Auxiliary emblem.
(a) UDC: On the Product Catalogue page, click on Auxiliary Specific Items. The
Auxiliary belt and buckle is stock number AB, price $8.76. Note: only the plain buckle is
available at the UDC.
(b) District 5 Store: On the home page, click on Uniform Items then Belts/Buckles.
Select Black Web Belt by length (it can be cut). Stock # 6043x. Price depends on length.
Select either Plain Buckle (stock #60435, price $4.40) or Buckle with Aux Emblem (stock
#60457, price $13.40.)
6. Enhanced Shoulder Boards. Purchase from District 5 Store. On the home page, click on
Uniform Items, then Shoulder Boards, then Enhanced Shoulder Boards Regular. Select
Member, Regular Shoulder Boards (sold in pairs). Stock #62150. Price $26.80.
Note: Before buying new shoulder boards, check to see if any are available from other flotilla
members. Staff and elected officers may have member shoulder boards they don’t wear anymore.
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7. Hat. Either a Garrison Cap or Combination Cap may be worn. New members usually buy a
garrison cap first, as it is much less expensive.
Garrison Cap
Combination Cap
Garrison Cap: Purchase from either UDC. On the Product Catalogue page, click on Caps
(Garrison, Ball…). Select Garrison cap size. Stock number GCMxx, price $7.83. This item can
also be purchased from the District 5 store, but price is $16.75 plus shipping and tax.
Garrison Cap Device.
Purchase from District 5 Store. Click on Uniform Items, then
Caps/Hats/Accessories, then Cap Accessories. Stock #60458. Price $6.40. The device is
placed on the left side of the cap, 2 inches from the front, 1½ inches from the bottom.
Combination Cap: The combination cap can be bought as separate components from the UDC
and District 5 store, or as a complete cap from the District 5 store. The separate components are
a frame, vinyl or cloth cover, band with mount, cap device, chin strap, and cap buttons. Because
it’s easier to buy the complete cap, that’s the method described here.
Complete cap. District 5 store: Click on Uniform Items, then Caps/Hats/Accessories,
then Combination Caps (Complete Caps), then Combination Caps - Member Regular
(Complete Caps). Select size. Stock #60460x. Price $65.95.
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B. Women’s Tropical Blues
1. Light Blue Short Sleeve Shirt or Overblouse. Women may wear either the tucked dress
shirt or the untucked overblouse. Purchase from UDC. On Product Catalogue page, click on
Female Dress Shirts.
Light Blue Short Sleeve Female Dress Shirt (Trops). Order by neck and bust size.
Stock number NLBSSFxxXyy. Price $18.64. Note: Female Auxiliarists are authorized
to wear either male or female uniform shirts that provide the best fit.
Female Overblouse Dress Shirt. On the Female Dress Shirt page, either click on
Overblouse Dress Shirt at the top of the page, or scroll down to sizing chart. Follow
directions to order right size. Stock number FOBxxxx. Price $19.52
2. Dress Slacks or Skirt. Women may wear either dress slacks or skirt. Purchase from UDC.
Go to Product Catalogue. Click on Female Dress Slacks and Skirts. Note: Pleated slacks are
no longer available. They have been replaced with flat front slacks. Select proper size from Flat
Front Slacks sizing chart. Stock number DSFFxxxx. Price $42.75. The skirt sizing chart is
below the slacks chart. Skirt stock number DSKxxx. Price $52.76.
3. Shoes. Dress shoes should be black, plain pump style, made of smooth leather or a synthetic
leather without decoration and with closed heels and toes. Heel heights may range from 1 to 2⅝
inches. Heel widths may be no less than ½ inch at the floor. Flat wedge style soles that rise to 1inch heels are authorized. If a new member doesn’t have shoes that meet those criteria, pumps
can be purchased from the UDC. Product Catalogue, then Female Shoes, then Dress Shoe
Female Pump. Stock number DSFPxx. Price $37.60
Optional shoes, for wear with slacks, are black, plain, lace up, oxford style with heels, made of
smooth leather or a synthetic leather. Heel height may not exceed 1 inch. These can be
purchased from the UDC. Go to Product Catalogue, then Female Shoes, then either Dress Shoe
Female Oxford (stock number DSOxx, price $54.70) or Dress Shoe Female Cordovan
(Corframs) (stock number DSFCxx, price $41.35.)
4. Name tag. See name tag under Men’s Tropical Blues.
5. Belt. A belt is worn only with the slacks, not with the skirt. See Belt under Men’s Tropical
Blues.
6. Enhanced Shoulder Boards. Small shoulder boards are worn with the female dress shirt or
overblouse. Purchase from District 5 Store. Click on Uniform Items, then Shoulder Boards, then
Enhanced Shoulder Boards Small. Select Member, Small Shoulder Boards (sold in pairs).
Stock #61150. Price $26.80. Note: Before buying new shoulder boards, check to see if any are
available from other flotilla members. Staff and elected officers may have member shoulder
boards they no longer need.
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7. Hat. Women may wear either the garrison cap or female combination cap with tropical blues.
Most members wear the garrison cap, as it is much less expensive than the combination cap.
Garrison Cap. For garrison cap information, see Garrison Cap under Men’s Tropical Blues.
Female Combination Cap. Unlike the men’s combination cap, the female Auxiliary cap is not
available as a complete cap. You have to buy a woman’s Coast Guard officer’s cap and then
replace the Coast Guard components with Auxiliary ones. Some Auxiliary components can be
purchased from the UDC, some from the District 5 store.
a) Coast Guard female officers cap. Purchase from UDC. On Product Catalogue page,
click on Female Combination Caps. Select head circumference size from chart labelled
Officer Female Combination Hat (Officers LCDR and below, and USCG Auxiliary
members). Stock number CHOF. Price $80.34.
b) Auxiliary Chin strap. Purchase from UDC. On Product Catalogue page, click on
Auxiliary Specific Items. Select Auxiliary chin strap. Stock number ACS. Price $7.00.
Note: This item can be purchased also from District 5 store, but price is $10.05.
c) Auxiliary Cap Buttons. Purchase from District 5 store. Click on Uniform Items, then
Buttons, then Women's Cap Buttons, Prong Type. Stock #60425, price $0.70. This item
can be purchased also from the UDC, but price is $3.68.
d) Hat band. Purchase from District 5 store. Click on Uniform Items, then Cap
Accessories, then Women's hat band (for combination cap). Stock # 60493, price $26.80.
e) Cap device. Purchase from District 5 store. Click on Uniform Items, then Cap
Accessories, then Officers Cap Device (Combination Hat). Stock #60459, price $11.40.