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By CAPT Bruce Tierney
For a PDF of slides to provide guidance on
converting the SDB to the DDB for both male and
female officers by CAPT Bruce Tierney click here:
SDB
to DDB Slides PDF
It's
New, It's Blue, It's the PHS ODU.
Almost everything you need to know about
the new Operational Dress Uniform (ODU),
but were afraid to ask! - January 2,
2013 Update
By CAPT
Bruce Tierney
To see a detailed description of the new ODU by
CAPT Tierney click here: ODU
PDF.
By CAPT Bruce Tierney
For a PDF of slides from a presentation given by
CAPT Bruce Tierney in December 2012 click here: Updated
Uniform PDF
By CAPT
Bruce Tierney
As we
continue to work through the ongoing changes to
PHS Commissioned Corps Uniforms, both current
and proposed, many officers who do not yet own
the Battle Dress Uniform wonder whether they
should purchase the current version knowing that
the uniform will likely change in the near
future. Indeed, few uniforms have generated more
questions or concerns for officers than the
Battle Dress Uniform or “BDU”. The BDU currently
used by Commissioned Officers was renamed from
the Field Utility Uniform or FUU in an update of
the Special Uniform Situations Instruction on 20
July 2005. This Instruction, CC
26.3.7,
was updated on 24 September 2008 and once again
on 11 March 2010. The BDU is now the primary
Working uniform for deployment and is the best
uniform option for use in the potentially
adverse living and working conditions that often
result from a deployment following a hurricane
or other natural disaster.
One of
the first questions asked is whether the BDU is
now a “required” uniform. Effective with updated
uniform instructions, CC26.3.4
and CC26.3.5,
the BDU has become a uniform officers are
required to maintain starting in 01 January 2009
as noted in section 6. In addition the Working
Khaki, the former alternative Corps working
uniform, has been phased out of the uniform
inventory effective 01 August 2009 as was
originally noted in PPM 08-020 (PPM link no
longer available. PPM 08-020 has been
incorporated into CC
26.3.1
). It is my personal opinion that officers
should seriously consider purchasing at least
two sets of the BDU for wear on deployment.
Based on my own experience with recent hurricane
deployments it is clearly the superior uniform
for wear in extreme conditions.
Commissioned
Corps leadership continues to evaluate options
for a replacement uniform for the BDU. There is
some indication that a final decision regarding
this replacement will occur in the near future,
perhaps even in the next few months. But even if
a decision is made soon there will most likely
be a transition period of at least one year and
the current BDU will remain the primary working
uniform for potential deployments during the
current hurricane season.
 Components
of
the BDU
Utility
Coat and Trousers:
The BDU uniform consists of the Woodland Green
BDU that, up until a few years ago, had been
worn by all services as a working uniform
(except the Coast Guard which typically uses the
Operational Dress Uniform or ODU which is a
solid “Coast Guard” blue in color). But more on
that later! The BDU consists of a Utility Coat
(sometimes referred to as a blouse to
distinguish it from the Field Jacket) and
Trousers. It should be noted that military
creases are not required on the Utility Coat or
Trousers. There are two materials for the BDU,
the temperate material and the hot weather
material, which typically looks like rip stop
nylon. Uniform materials should not be mixed
between the Utility Coat and Trousers. Uniform
components purchased from an authorized
manufacturer should be labeled as such and as a
result should meet all design requirements.
Sources for purchase will be discussed later in
the article. In addition to the Utility Coat and
Trousers, the basic components of the uniform
include the following:
Belt
and Buckle:
The belt is of a black web material that is 1 ¼
inch wide with a black metal tip and an
open-faced black buckle. This buckle is
completely different from the buckle worn with
service uniforms like the service dress blue and
must be purchased separately. A black web belt
with a Velcro closure or a 1 ¾ inch black web
belt with a flat black buckle, known as a
“rigger’s belt” are acceptable alternatives, but
they may be more difficult to find.
Combat
Boots:
Boots are the only type of footgear authorized
with the BDU uniform. However there are several
different styles of boots available. Boots
should have uppers (including the part going up
the ankle) that are approximately 10 inches
high. The material can be all leather or a
combination of leather and fabric. The fabric
may be either black or green (what used to be
known as the “jungle boot”). In the newest
update of the Special Situations Uniform
Instruction a brown “brushless” boot was also
authorized. The toe of the boot may be plain or
capped (commonly known as a “jump boot”). Steel
toes and zipper closures are acceptable options
for the Combat Boot.
Socks: These
should be at least as high as the boot top and
should be either olive drab or black in color.
No other color should be visible above the top
of the boot although some socks are now made
with a white foot and an olive drab/black ankle
portion that would be an acceptable alternative.
Undershirt
(the new black PHS “t-shirt”): One
major change in the BDU with the new uniform
instruction published in July 2005 was the new
PHS specific undershirt to be worn with the BDU.
The new undershirt is black in color with short
sleeves and a crew neck. The previous plain
brown undershirt was phased out by PPM 06-005 on
20 July 2007. All officers should now be using
the new black PHS specific undershirt for wear
with your BDU.
Originally
the new undershirt was described as having a
yellow 3 inch diameter PHS seal on the upper
left breast of the front of the shirt but the
update found in PPM 06-005 indicates that both 3
inch and 4 inch diameter seals on the front of
the undershirt are now acceptable for wear. This
allows for use of shirts that have been produced
with a 4 inch seal. As a result either size seal
is now authorized and acceptable for wear. The
words U.S. Public Health Service are printed in
three lines with 2 inch Arial font (first line:
U.S. / second line: Public Health / third line:
Service) on the back of the shirt, in the same
yellow color as the yellow quarantine flag. A
similar shirt with an olive drab seal and
lettering on black is authorized in the
Instructions for tactical situations or when
directed by the appropriate authority but this
version is currently not readily available and
is not likely to be needed for most PHS
deployments.
Undergarments:
Standard undergarments for male and female
officers are not specifically spelled out in the
updated instruction but should be similar to
those worn with other uniforms. Undergarments in
brown or olive drab color are available and
would be appropriate with the BDU but are not
required.
 Headgear:
Standard required headgear for the BDU is the
utility cap. The cover design is the Navy-style
eight-sided cover with a firm bill, plated sides
and a high front panel. Note that the utility
cap comes only in the hot weather style (rip
stop nylon appearance) and can be worn with a
uniform of different material. Be sure not to
purchase the similar cap that has the preprinted
Marine emblem on the front panel. The Army style
rounded utility cap which may still be found in
military surplus stores is completely different
and is not authorized for wear with the PHS BDU.
Insignia for the utility cap has also changed
from prior instructions. In the past the
miniature rank insignia or a subdued version of
the miniature PHS cap device was worn. Now the
large bright metal rank insignia is authorized
for wear unless the Local Uniform Authority
(LUA) specifies use of the subdued large metal
or cloth rank insignia. Note that routine use of
the sewn on subdued cloth insignia is not
authorized. The need for use of subdued rank
insignia on headgear would be unusual for most
Corps deployments. It should be worn centered,
horizontally and vertically, on the front panel
of the cap. For O-6 officers, the eagle faces to
the wearer’s right. Every officer should possess
at least one utility cap to carry on
deployments.
 An
additional cover that is described in the
updated Uniform Instruction 7 is the Command
Ball Cap which serves as an alternative for wear
with the BDU. While it is not required for wear
with the BDU it appears to be a common
alternative with the BDU and I would encourage
officers to purchase at least one. This cap is a
conventional black ball cap style with “U.S.
Public Health Service” embroidered in ½ inch
upper case Arial font that is golden yellow in
color in an arch across the front panel. The
bill is plain for grades O-1 through O-4 and has
half or partial fretting known as “scrambled
eggs” on the bill for grades O-5 and O-6 similar
to the combination cover (as is the case with
the combination cover, flag officers have their
own unique “scrambled eggs” on the bill known as
full fretting). The insignia is again the large
bright metal rank insignia centered vertically
between the bill of the cap and the “U.S. Public
Health Service” lettering and should be
positioned horizontally above the wearer’s nose.
As always for O-6 officers, the eagle faces to
the wearer’s right. One draw back, in my
opinion, is that the design of the cap makes it
very difficult for some officers to wear the cap
comfortably with the insignia in place because
those officers whose insignia pins are worn in a
vertical configuration tend to have the lower
pin backing strike them in the forehead. One
possible alternative would be to wear the
insignia without the lower pin backing and to
simply bend the lower pin upwards. But it may
take a redesign of this cap with a more upright
front panel design similar to the Navy and Coast
Guard versions of the ball cap to make it more
comfortable and ultimately safer to wear.
When deployed it is advisable to carry both
covers if you have them as the deployment
commander or designated Local Uniform Authority
(LUA) can authorize wear of the ball cap with
the BDU if they choose to do so. Ideally all
members of the team under the local command in a
deployment must have the same cover to maintain
a uniform appearance. That is, if one member
does not have the appropriate ball cap, but has
the required utility cap, the utility cap would
be the designated cover for all members of the
team. Only when all members have the correct
command ball cap for their rank would the LUA be
able to change the authorized cover.
Additional headgear include the cold weather
cap, the jungle or sun hat, and the Army-style
combat helmet worn with the woodland green
camouflage cover. Insignia placement for these
covers is described further in Instruction 7.
Field
Jacket with Liner:
The Field Jacket looks similar to the Utility
Coat and is of the same woodland camouflage
material, except that it has shoulder straps.
The black windbreaker and raincoat as well as
standard civilian jackets and coats are not
authorized to be worn with the BDU, so to ensure
you have adequate protection in cold weather,
one should consider purchasing the Field Jacket.
The Jacket also has an optional removable green
liner available that attaches to the inside of
the Jacket with buttons. As an option, the
Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS)
camouflage parka and trousers are authorized for
wear with the BDU. Details of the ECWCS can be
found in the Special Uniform Situations
Instruction 7.
Sweater:
The sweater authorized for wear with the BDU
uniform is not the same as the black sweater
worn with the Service khaki uniform and other
general uniforms. Instead the Marine Corps olive
green sweater (“wooly pully”) made of 100% wool
or acrylic, in a heavy ribbed knit crew-neck
design with shoulder and elbow patches, is an
optional item. Note that it is worn only under
the utility coat, never as an outer garment. The
sweater may have shoulder tabs but wear of the
soft board rank insignia is not authorized on
this sweater. In addition an olive drab
green wool scarf is authorized for wear with BDU
outerwear.
Rain
Poncho or Suit:
A Rain Poncho or Suit can be worn as an optional
item in either woodland camouflage or solid
olive drab green. If a poncho is worn, it is of
the pullover style. Most military clothing
stores sell a woodland camouflage rain jacket in
the same pattern as the BDU that would be
appropriate to wear. Appropriate wear of
insignia includes either a slip-on cloth loop
insignia or the subdued miniature metal rank as
described in the Special Uniform Instruction.
Gloves:
Light duty work gloves should consist of black
leather shells with optional fabric inserts of
olive drab or black material. On a personal
note, I have never found the gloves with inserts
to be of particularly good function, and have
worn conventional black gloves with no brand
markings with good results. Some companies will
make plain black gloves specifically for that
purpose.
Grooming/Jewelry:
Grooming and jewelry standards for all PHS
uniforms also apply to the BDU uniform. However,
the LUA may require removal of jewelry under
field conditions or when the mission dictates.
Officers may also wish to consider the purchase
of a set of ID or “dog” tags to wear as part of
the BDU uniform although they are not
specifically described in the Instruction.
Insignia
and Identification Patches
Even more
so than the basic uniform components, few things
cause more confusion for officers than
appropriate wear and placement of insignia and
patches on the BDU. Cap insignia has been
described above and includes the only “pin on”
insignia authorized with the basic BDU uniform.
All other patches should be embroidered cloth
that is sewn on. Note that embroidering directly
onto the uniform is not authorized. They should
be sewn-on with thread that matches the
background material or edge. A straight machine
stitch should be used in sewing; cross-stitches,
whip-stitches, or other stitches are not
authorized.
 Utility
Coat collar:
Insignia on the collar is similar to what is
worn on the Working Khaki uniform. On the left
collar the subdued cloth PHS corps device
insignia on an olive drab background is worn in
a similar fashion to the Service Khaki with the
point of the caduceus towards the tip of the
collar and falling along an imaginary line
bisecting the angle of the collar point with the
anchor pointing inward. The center of the device
should be 1½ inches perpendicular from each
collar edge. The patch itself should be 1 inch
square. On the right collar, the subdued cloth
rank device is worn. For O-1 thru O-3, the
bar(s) should be pointing toward the collar
point, for O-4/O-5, the stem of the oak leaf
should be pointing towards the collar point and
for O-6, the head and feet of the eagle should
both be on the imaginary line that bisects the
collar point with the eagle facing forward. The
center of the device should be 1½ inches
perpendicular from each collar edge and the
amount of extra cloth around each side of the
rank device should be roughly symmetrical.
Utility
Coat front:
An olive green cloth tape with the upper case
letters “USPHS” embroidered on it (Closely
spaced with no periods between the letters!)
should be worn over the left pocket. A cloth
tape with the officer’s name is worn over the
right pocket. The tapes should be one inch wide
and 4 ½ inches long (same width as the pocket)
and worn parallel to and touching the top edge
of the pocket (Note: The cloth name tapes from
Navy sources tend to be 1.25 inches wide, not 1
inch. The description above is more consistent
with tapes from an Army source. However since
the Army changed to their new combat uniform the
olive green material is no longer readily
available. At a minimum you should not mix
different size tapes on the same uniform). The
letters should be in black, block-style and ¾
inch high. (Name tapes containing more than ten
letters shou ld
be in Franklin Gothic Extra Condensed print, 48
point, ½-inch high). Different manufacturers may
tend to use cloth tapes of slightly different
appearance, so it is highly recommended that you
always purchase a name tape and a USPHS tape at
the same time from the same location for each
set of a BDU so that they match in appearance.
However, there is no specific guidance on what
type of cloth tape is used other than it be
olive green and of the dimensions noted above.
 In
addition to the name tapes, officers are
authorized to wear special skill badges, such as
the Field Medical Readiness Badge (FMRB), on the
utility coat. Badges are limited to a maximum of
two and the
skills badge is worn centered on and ¼ inch
above the "USPHS" tape. If two badges are worn,
the second badge is worn centered on and ¼ inch
above the lower badge. Only subdued cloth badges
are authorized. Subdued metal badges such as
those worn by other Services are not authorized.
The FMRB is now available in a subdued cloth
patch for wear on the BDU. The skills badge is
worn centered on and 1/4-inch above the “USPHS”
tape. If two badges are worn, the second badge
is worn centered on and 1/4-inch above the lower
badge. Also note that if the FMRB and a skill
badge from another service are worn together
then the FMRB should always be worn above the
second badge.
Utility
Coat left shoulder:
Effective with the Hurricane Katrina response,
the subdued USPHS unit patch began to be
available on a regular basis and should now be
accessible for all officers. The patch has now
been formally defined as a required part of the
BDU in the newest update of Instruction 7, 6-4.b
(4) in the special unit identification
patch paragraph and every officer should have
one sewn on each BDU they own. The subdued PHS
unit patch should be worn on both the utility
coat and field jacket centered horizontally on
the wearer’s left sleeve, ½-inch below the
shoulder seam. The date “1798” should be
oriented such that it is at the bottom, similar
to the way the seal is oriented on a standard
PHS nametag.
Utility
Coat right shoulder:
At the same time as the unit patch was
authorized for the BDU, the reverse American
flag patch was authorized for wear on the right
shoulder. However, the flag patch was authorized
for wear only for Katrina-related activities and
should not be worn routinely on the BDU.
One exception is that the flag patch is
authorized for wear when assigned to DoD
operational units according to POM 06-003
dated 27 September 2006. Otherwise, no patch is
typically worn on the right shoulder of the BDU.
Trousers: No specific patches are
currently required for the BDU trousers. While
other services sometimes have a cloth name tape,
identical to the one worn on the Utility Coat,
sewn over the right rear pocket flap, such
action was not authorized in the past. But in
the most recent update of Instruction 7 for the
BDU trousers officers are now authorized to
wear, as
an option, the officer's last name embroidered
on an olive green name tape worn touching and
parallel to the top edge of the right rear
pocket. The name tape should extend to the
pocket edge but not beyond. In lieu
of a name tape officers may wish to consider
marking their trousers with their name in
indelible ink on the inner waist band of the
trousers to better identify personal uniform
components while in the field where group
laundry facilities may be employed.
Field
Jacket Insignia: The
cloth “USPHS” and name tapes are worn over the
front pocket flaps, in the same manner as
described for the utility coat. No collar
insignia are worn on the Field Jacket, but
subdued, embroidered sew-on type rank insignia
are worn centered on each shoulder strap, with
the bottom edge of the insignia 3/4-inch from
the outer end of the shoulder strap, in much the
same fashion as the metal pin on insignia are
worn on the black windbreaker and raincoat. In
addition, the PHS unit patch is worn on the left
sleeve and special skills badges are worn in the
same manner as described for the utility coat.
Wear
of the BDU
The BDU
is intended to be a working uniform and as such
should be loose fitting and comfortable.
Alterations to make it form-fitting are not
authorized. The utility coat should be worn
outside the trousers, not tucked in, and all
buttons should be buttoned except for the collar
button. The collar is worn open. The PHS
undershirt is always worn tucked in. The
trousers are worn bloused at the boots. The
trouser legs will not be wrapped around the leg
so tightly as to present a pegged appearance.
Blousing accessories may be found at military
clothing sales stores to assist in giving the
pant leg a bloused appearance if you choose not
to tuck the pant leg into the boot. When working
in extreme heat, the LUA may authorize removal
of the utility coat and unblousing the trousers
from the boots. This should only be done when
authorized. The cover is still worn when the
utility coat is removed in outdoor settings
unless the LUA indicates it is appropriate to
remove it.
Loose threads must be trimmed from all uniform
components. Shoe laces must be secured in a
manner such that no loops are created and the
ends of the laces must be tucked into the boots.
Boots should be shined to the extent that is
possible to do so depending on the working
environment. The sleeves may be rolled up only
when allowed by the LUA. The manner in which the
sleeves are rolled up has changed recently and
is now back to the Navy style such that the
underside of the sleeve is exposed when the
sleeve is rolled. The sleeves will be rolled
neatly above the elbow, but the bottom should be
no more than 3 inches above the elbow.
Acquisition
of BDU Components
PHS BDU
components can come from a variety of sources.
Although PHS uniforms are generally similar to
Navy uniform components in many ways there are
still components unique to our own service. Also
of note is the fact that other uniformed
services are rapidly moving to a new version of
their utility uniform, to include the Navy, and
the BDU worn by PHS is getting more difficult to
find as a result. Navy clothing stores may still
carry the BDU that we wear but that is expected
to be less common with the recent introduction
of the Navy Working Uniform (NWU) Type I. For
Atlanta area officers’ one option for uniform
components had been NAS Atlanta but that
facility is now closed. The uniform clothing
store has now moved across Dobbins Air Reserve
Base to the main base exchange has only a very
limited number of PHS components or even Navy
uniform components. BDU components, including
new items like the PHS Undershirt and Command
Ball Cap, can still be found at the Navy
Nex Uniform site for the
time being although the main BDU uniform
components are no longer available in the online
catalog. For now they can still be found by
calling Navy Nex directly. However, Navy Nex
personnel are not always as familiar with
specific PHS uniform requirements, so it is
important to work closely with them to ensure
you get what you are looking for. Often you will
have more success if you call the toll free
uniform number, 800.368.4088, and identify
yourself as a PHS Officer to ensure you find
what you are looking for.
The Officer Device Supply Center is also a
source for BDU components and unique PHS items.
They carry the black T-shirt and the Command
Ball cap as well as the PHS collar insignia. You
can reach them by phone at 225.756.3793 or on
their website.
Future of the PHS BDU
As I have
alluded to previously, after more than 20 years
where each of our sister services used the
Woodland Camouflage BDU, each of them has
recently deployed a new field utility uniform
that differs greatly from the current PHS BDU.
It was originally expected that the PHS would
adopt a version of the NWU as the new PHS field
utility uniform as a result of the policy
decisions made by the ASH in August 2007.
However that plan is now being re-examined by
the ASH and Office of the Surgeon General to
determine whether the NWU or another uniform
option best meets the needs of the Commissioned
Corps. There is still an expectation that the
current PHS BDU will be replaced at some point
in the future but it is currently expected that
it will remain the primary PHS working uniform
for the upcoming hurricane season at a minimum.
Even
though the BDU may be changing in the near
future it is now a required uniform to maintain
and will likely be required for future
deployments. Should it be phased out in the
future it is also expected that there will be a
transition period for the current BDU. This will
make it authorized for wear for at least some
period of time yet to be determined but would
likely last into 2012 or even beyond. And since
officers are now once again authorized to wear
the BDU once a week effective with the 2011
Spring/Summer Uniform of the Day memorandum you
will have ample opportunity to make use of your
investment. So to ensure that you are prepared
for deployment, I encourage every officer to
start now to put your BDU together, so that you
can ensure it is correct and ready to go when
you are called to go to the field to do what we
do best as PHS officers, helping others in need
at a time of crisis.
CAPT
Tierney is a Past President of ACOA and has
drawn on his past service in the U.S. Army to
develop a number of presentations and articles
to help update officers on uniform changes
over the past six years. He is currently a
member of the CDC/ATSDR Commissioned Corps
Policy Advisory Committee (CCPAC) and served
on the Uniforms, Personal Appearance and
Grooming Standards Working Integrated Project
Team representing the CDC/ATSDR CCPAC.
USPHS
Commissioned
Corps
Far
Left: Current PHS Battle Dress Uniform
(BDU), front view.
Left
Center: Current PHS Battle Dress Uniform,
side view.
Right
Center: BDU with the current sleeve roll
style shown in profile.
Far
Right Upper: Close up of sleeve roll with
underside of material exposed.
Far
Right Lower: BDU Field Jacket with PHS Patch
and cloth embroidered rank on epaulet
similar in location to metal rank used on
Black Windbreaker.
 
Left:
Close up of PHS Patch shown centered
horizontally on the wearer’s left sleeve,
½-inch below the shoulder seam with correct
orientation, date at bottom.
Right: Close up of front of
BDU Utility Coat with name and USPHS tape
over pockets, collar insignia with rank on
right, PHS insignia on left and skill
badges, if any, over USPHS tape above left
pocket
U.S.
Coast Guard
 
Left: New
“untucked” version of the Operational Dress
Uniform or “ODU” used by the Coast Guard.
Typically worn with a ball cap cover.
Right: A
proposal for an eight point cover similar in
shape to the current PHS BDU cover is
currently being considered by the Coast
Guard for wear with the ODU.
Note: The
PHS currently plans to adopt a version of
the ODU as the new PHS working uniform.
Details of this new PHS Working Uniform
are expected to be released in the very
near future. The PHS is expected to use a
new blue T-shirt and blue ball cap with
this uniform and also use the blue 8 point
cover seen in the above picture (similar
in shape to the current BDU 8 point cover)
U.S. Navy
  
Left
and Center: Recently approved Navy Working
Uniform (NWU), Type I – The primary working
uniform for the Navy is predominantly blue
and gray in color for shipboard use.
Right:
Proposed NWU Type III is a digital woodland
camouflage uniform for tactical
requirements. A desert version, the NWU Type
II, is also being developed but is currently
restricted to Special Operations forces.
U.S.
Army
Top
Row: Army Combat Uniform (ACU) – Intended as
an all purpose uniform for both woodland and
desert terrain. This uniform pattern may be
replaced in the near future.
Bottom
Row: The Army recently adopted a second
battle uniform pattern for use in
Afghanistan only known as Operation Enduring
Freedom Camouflage Pattern or OCP (Commonly
known as “Multicam”). It is also one
possible option of a future replacement for
the ACU.
U.S.
Air Force
 
The Air Force has recently
adopted a new grey-green camouflage uniform
(to include grey-green suede boots) as shown
above which is now known as the “Airman
Battle Uniform” or ABU.
U.S. Marine Corps

Marine
Corps Woodland BDU or “Combat Utility
Uniform” [pictured above] – First service to
introduce a digital camouflage pattern which
is known as MARPAT (Marine Pattern). A
desert camouflage version is also in use.
CAPT Tierney is a Past President of ACOA and
has made a number of presentations and written
articles to help update officers on uniform
changes over the past several years. He is a
member of the CDC/ATSDR Commissioned Corps PAC
and served on the Uniforms, Personal Appearance
and Grooming Standards Working Integrated
Project Team representing the CDC/ATSDR
Commissioned Corps PAC. [Top]
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