Prototype Operational Dress Uniform Pics

[MIKE]

Not a CAP uniform, but some might be interested: Untuck ODU Photos

Don't care for the USCG emblems all over it, but otherwise not bad.

On a CAP related note, I still think the Field, Utility Uniform and the new blue bag would look better with a matching blue shirt like the ODU instead of the black or white shirts.

[pixelwonk]

Yeah, what's up with all the emblems? 
If they really want them, just one on the pocket would be ok by me.

As for the CAP uniforms mentioned, white undershirts were garish. I can deal with black just fine, but for the love of all that is holy, please match the tapes to the uniform on the BBDU! 

[RiverAux]

jeez, those were pretty bad photos.  I had to squint really hard and could barely tell that they weren't actually jumpsuits.  Better lighting is recommended (forget the high school prom background also). 

[mikeylikey]

hmmm......no thanks!  First get rid of the emblems, it allready says U.S. Coast Guard.

[lordmonar]

What emblems are you guys talking about?

[MIKE]

What emblems are you guys talking about?

View one of the pics full size and you should be able to see them.  Big one on the right chest pocket and two smaller ones on each cuff.

[Eeyore]

I like the uniforms. Wish ours looked that good.

[Chris Jacobs]

I always liked how the coast guard had their shirts tucked in.  I think it looks a lot more professional.

[MIKE]

I always liked how the coast guard had their shirts tucked in.  I think it looks a lot more professional.

Supposedly this one can still be worn tucked in.

[RiverAux]

Guys, I'm not seeing anything on the cuffs.  Am I that blind? 

[MIKE]

You ahould have your eyes checked RiverAux.  Get a bigger screen.

[JC004]

You ahould have your eyes checked RiverAux.  Get a bigger screen.

or better contrast...

Now that this is posted here, are we going to find props/triangles all over our blueberry suits?

Adjusted contrast and brightness to make it stand out a bit:

[MIKE]

Now that this is posted here, are we going to find props/triangles all over our blueberry suits?

I used to think the old style CAP MAJCOM patch (The one with the U.S.) should have been worn on the pocket a la USAF.

[JC004]

Now that this is posted here, are we going to find props/triangles all over our blueberry suits?

I used to think the old style CAP MAJCOM patch (The one with the U.S.) should have been worn on the pocket a la USAF.

That might not have been bad...kill some other patches while we are at it.  Just not on the cuffs and stuff...that's just excessive.   

[afgeo4]

Is it me or is this the same uniform as the current ODU sans the lower pockets? They simply omitted those and changed the material. Brilliant! I guess USCG sticks to "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Wish USAF knew something about that.

[MIKE]

The current ODU does not have lower pockets also and is worn tucked in.

[RiverAux]

Why go to untucked if you aren't going to have lower pockets?  It will just look like you're being lazy and unkempt.  If there were pockets there people would assume it is supposed to be untucked.  I would prefer untucked myself, but this won't look good. 

I don't like the extra shields.  Unnecessary. 

[lordmonar]

Why go to untucked if you aren't going to have lower pockets?  It will just look like you're being lazy and unkempt.  If there were pockets there people would assume it is supposed to be untucked.  I would prefer untucked myself, but this won't look good. 

I don't like the extra shields.  Unnecessary. 

Back in the old days with the OD fatigues.  We could go tucked or untucked.  In hot weather it was a lot more comfortable to leave your shirt untucked and it looked okay, sometimes even better because it camouflaged the belly.

[MIKE]

Which will be perfect for many Auxies. 

[O-Rex]

Am I missing something?

Essentially, it's the BBDU with a little custom-embroidery, no?

[JohnKachenmeister]

It sure looks like our BBDU, except a little darker in color.

[DNall]

The embroidery is stupid, don't get the lack of lower pockets thing if it's going to be worn untucked, or for that matter why they (the smallest) service wouldn't use an off the shelf BBDU kind of thing, or just use the same stuff as the navy for that matter.

[RiverAux]

Hey, we're already wearing AF blue dress shirts!  Saves a bundle for CAP-CG Aux members like myself.   

[DNall]

I don't think concern for the auxiliary is that big a priority. The CG is a small service that can't afford to make new things from scratch just to be different. The Army/AF/Navy, to a much lesser extent the marines, CAN do that cause they'll be buying so many millions of copies that the development & manufacturing is basically the same or less than using an existing item. That & they can bury it in a massive budget. The CG especially cannot do that.

I don't even understand why the Army had to start this crap with black berets, then MARPAT, then ACUs, ABUs... everyone's got to be different. That's just bull & it wastes millions. What's it worth to accomplish that? and can the CG afford it?

Now why is this on here exactly?

[RiverAux]

Now why is this on here exactly?

Because the guy in charge wanted to talk about it.

[JohnKachenmeister]

Back in the good old days... before the military was messed up by McNamara... every branch of service had their own uniforms, and in fact, their own procurement.  McNamara decided that everybody in DoD should use the same stuff, and took procurement away from the services and placed it under DoD.

What we have now is a move away from that concept, and back to each service deciding what works for them.

[Sgt. Savage]

I like the ODU sans embroidery. I'm one of those who think the BDU is useless for SAR work. I would actually like to see us leave the AF in favor of DHS, and start getting funding to equip our people. As a DOD entity, we could still wear our prior service bling with less restriction and receive support from all branches, not just the AF. In summary, I like it.

[MIKE]

Now why is this on here exactly?

Because the guy in charge wanted to talk about it.

  Not exactly the guy in charge though.

[Hawk200]

I would actually like to see us leave the AF in favor of DHS, and start getting funding to equip our people. As a DOD entity, we could still wear our prior service bling with less restriction and receive support from all branches, not just the AF. In summary, I like it.

If we move to DHS, then cadets go away. Any operational members of DHS need to be able to carry a firearm.

Second, cadet programs would not be a supportable program for DHS. There would be no need for them. Not to mention the inevitable camparisons to Hitler's Youth if DHS actually did support such a program.

There's really no reason that we shouldn't be able to receive funding from them anyway. Besides, even though the military works with DHS, their(DHS) components are not military. They would really have no reason to permit the wear of our prior service insignia. Their components' uniforms are not military uniforms either.

[mikeylikey]

If we move to DHS, then cadets go away. Any operational members of DHS need to be able to carry a firearm.

Second, cadet programs would not be a supportable program for DHS. There would be no need for them. Not to mention the inevitable camparisons to Hitler's Youth if DHS actually did support such a program.

Why would the cadets have to go away?  The cadet program would simply become a feeder into the Officer Corps, just like it was during and after WW2.  We could still have the mission of Aero Education just like now, which means we could keep our cadets.  It would simply be like a JROTC, excpet the parent organization would just be a different FED agency. 

[DNall]

I like the ODU sans embroidery. I'm one of those who think the BDU is useless for SAR work. I would actually like to see us leave the AF in favor of DHS, and start getting funding to equip our people. As a DOD entity, we could still wear our prior service bling with less restriction and receive support from all branches, not just the AF. In summary, I like it.

DHS doesn't wamt us, actually would prefer we were dissolved so they could take our funding & missions. No other service is willing to give us a tenth of the support the AF is. We survive only because AF has a sentenmental attachment to us that's worht 40mil out of their budget. What CAP does isn't worth a fraction of that to the government & certainly no other individual agency. They could get much greater bang for the buck in other ways. Just so you know, that's NEVER happening unless as the death-nill of the org.

We can & do get DHS funding now. The Wing Banker program (though misguided) is an attempt to clean up our financial records mgmt to qualify for much larger & block grants. For the time being DHS money is distributed to states & your wing as an ES organization are free to apply, which they do, that's how a lot of SDIS systems get paid for.

Why would the cadets have to go away?  The cadet program would simply become a feeder into the Officer Corps, just like it was during and after WW2.  We could still have the mission of Aero Education just like now, which means we could keep our cadets.  It would simply be like a JROTC, excpet the parent organization would just be a different FED agency. 

The cadet program gets paid for cause it's a feeder program into the military. If we're not directly affiliated with them then there's no money, and by the way you don't spend 30mil administering an org that does 10mil ES in business. Very little of that money goes to cadet programs. Almost all of it goes to operating the org & purchasing gear.

[MIKE]

Not in my thread please.

[Sgt. Savage]

Soory Mike, my bad, I started it. Still, I like the ODU

[DNall]

and I followed... no problem.

[mikeylikey]

As did I, my apologies!

[MIKE]

Looks like metal insignia will no longer authorized on the ODU.  I was looking forward to being able to not have to have sewn on collar insignia on this uniform... being able to change out between member insignia and office insignia.

F.  ALL ACCESSORIES SHALL BE IN GOOD REPAIR AND WORN AS FOLLOWS:

    1.  AFTER 15 JULY 2007,  ALL ACCESSORIES WORN ON THE ODU SHALL BE EMBROIDERED.

    2.  COLLAR RANK AND SPECIALTY INSIGNIA CAN BE METAL (STANDARD UNTIL 15 JULY 2007) OR EMBROIDERED (CURRENTLY OPTIONAL, BECOMING STANDARD AFTER 15 JULY 2007). NO MIXING OF STYLES IS AUTHORIZED. INSIGNIA SHALL NOT BE SCRATCHED, BENT, TORN OR DISFIGURED IN ANY WAY. ALL COLLAR RANK INSIGNIAS, WITH EXCEPTION OF EMBROIDERED O3 AND O6, SHALL BE PLACED ON THE IMAGINARY LINE BISECTING THE ANGLE OF THE COLLAR WITH THE BASE OF THE INSIGNIA (NOT THE EMBROIDERED PATCH) APPROX 1 1/8 INCH FROM COLLAR POINT. DUE TO THEIR HORIZONTAL FORMAT, EMBROIDERED O3 AND O6 RANK INSIGNIA SHALL BE PLACED 1 1/2 INCHES FROM THE POINT.

Still...  Trying to hold off getting a set until after March of '08, waiting for the new ones.

[RiverAux]

My first shirt came with the member insignia already sewn on.  As I don't wear the Aux office insignia, I'd rather have them sewn on anyway -- less work to deal with. 

Funny, how CAP folks make such a big deal about not being able to wear metal rank and now the entire CG is switching to sew-on.....

[MIKE]

If I have to have embroidered insignia on it, it will be member insignia... I just like the metal insignia because it's not permanent.  1NR District Store has nice looking cloth insignia though from what I saw... Unlike others I've seen.

[MIKE]

Mega Bump.

http://www.uscg.mil/uniforms/odu08/index.html

I was gonna buy a set of the current tuck in ones so I would have 'em for the winter.  Maybe I'll hold off a little longer?  Can't pre-order though.

Like that they changed the sizing to be BDU-like.  The "special" hidden pen pocket is kinda lame though... with the exposed "pen pocket" still on the left pocket.

BTW: Last ALAUX I saw says metal collar devices are still authorized for Auxies for the time being. 

[mikeylikey]

^hmm......looks like some of you will have access to black boots for years to come!  The boots look very "thick"??

So can anyone in the DOD community order through the CG Uniform distribution center?

[Tubacap]

I like the elasticized cargo pockets in the trousers.  That would really come in handy!

[MIKE]

So can anyone in the DOD community order through the CG Uniform distribution center?

I don't think so... You'd need an EMPLID. 

[RiverAux]

Mike, I think they're having a big sale on the current ODUs, but I'm definetely waiting on the new ones before buying anything new.  Have a set of the current ODUs that I haven't put the tapes and insignia on yet that I'm debating on whether or not it is worth it to do. 

[MIKE]

Yeah.. there is the two for one sale, but not in my sizes since I am Coastie-sized and not Auxie-sized. 

Since Auxie phase outs are when the uniform falls apart, you might as well rig them out... If they are Med-Longs and 40ish Longs... I'll take 'em though. 

[MIKE]

Bump: http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/651/220075/

But when can I order mine?  Winter is coming and I don't wanna wear trops in the snow anymore.

[MIKE]

Bump.

Mainly directed at PaulR, do you have a set yet?  ALCOAST says I won't be able to get a set until '09, but I was wondering what the sizing is like if you have some.  Is it comparable to the BDU/CUU?  I have a set of regular length BDU trou that are too short when bloused, but the size chart makes it seem like regulars would be long enough, and longs would be too long.

[PaulR]

Hey Mike,

I have been waiting for mine since August.  I am not holding my breath to receive mine for a while yet.  I just hope that my ODUs dont wear out before they come in! LOL

There is an entire section on the UDC website that tells you how to measure your diminsions.  You will most likely need a second person to help you!  I would not count on the sizing being the same! 

I think(hope) they got rid of the cuff emblems.  They are freak'n stupid, in my opinion!

[MIKE]

I think(hope) they got rid of the cuff emblems.  They are freak'n stupid, in my opinion!

They did, just the one on the shirt pocket and the two on the trouser pockets.  See that ADM Allen is still wearing the prototype though.

[PaulR]

I think(hope) they got rid of the cuff emblems.  They are freak'n stupid, in my opinion!

They did, just the one on the shirt pocket and the two on the trouser pockets.  See that ADM Allen is still wearing the prototype though.

There is a God!!!   :clap:  I am sure glad they decided to get rid of the sleeve emblems. 

For those who may not know...

The reason our new untucked uniform has only two pockets is that members wearing a gunbelt must have the shirt tucked in.  There is no other way to get the gunbelt though the loops unless the shirt is tucked in.  It would be a real bear trying to tuck in the blouse with the lower pockets.

[MIKE]

Yeah, they make it so everyone not wearing a gun belt has to have it untucked so you can't wear the windbreaker over it like the old one. 

[RiverAux]

Wish they would hurry up with this as I've lost a bunch of weight and no longer fit in my old ODUs and am not going to waste money buying a smaller set of the old versions.... 

[PORed]

We have a couple guys in my shop who have the new untucked ODUs and really like them. I always felt that CAP should move to a non-cammie working uniform, ground team members want to be seen not blend in. I agree that it is nice they took the emblems off the cuffs and pants pockets. I like the emblem on the pocket, reminds me of the eagle, globe and anchor found on the USMC uniforms.

[MIKE]

I always felt that CAP should move to a non-cammie working uniform, ground team members want to be seen not blend in.

The hard truth of the matter is that dark blue doesn't blend in any less than woodland camoflauge... and that horse has been throughly beaten.

[PORed]

I know Mike, and I agree it has been beaten. An off the shelf tan or Khaki ODU/BDU would probably be the cheapest/easiest solution but that is neither here nor there