ODU untucked?

[PAC Jamie Devitt-Chacon ret]

Has anyone heard any substantial scuttlebut about wearing an untucked blouse with the ODU's? I heard a whisper...

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

When MCPO-CG was down here he told us it was being looked into. But they would have to look at using a different blouse. The one that we have wouldn't be uniform because of the cut. They fall higher or lower depending on the waist of the wearer. They had talked about adopting something along the lines of one that the Marines currently use. The other issue is that we have around $11,000,000.00 of inventory on stock. How would we go about a phase out ? Would we keep issuing the in stock items to new members........ ? Lots of logistics in all big decisions.

[SKC Eric S. Highland]

At the PSUs where I am currently stationed, we wear the navy desert and woodland camo. An ODU like uniform with the shirt untucked. Let me tell you from 1 year experience at the PSU wearing this uniform, the ODU untucked would be a blessing. Hard to explain, but the uniform is much more comfortable, practical and breathes better.. so it is cooler..

I really hope this is something the Coast Guard adopts...

v/r

[BMC John Phillips III]

On the MALLET, I pulled into a station that is doing their own thing I suppose, by wearing the blouses untucked at the unit and it looks very sloppy and unprofessional. That's my opinion anyway. I suppose if the blouses were tailored to be untucked the comfort factor would be worth it. But I will be a good sailor and wear 'em like the Commandant tells me too...tucked.

[SKC Eric S. Highland]

JP3 I knew you wouldn't be able to resist this one..

LOL Actually the blouses would all have to be new and pockets on the bottom half. It doesn't look sloppy at all with the correct blouse.

But as far as that unit doing "their own thing" I really hope that someone squares them away. We are not authorized to change POLICY unless the policy change goes through the right hoops.

That is unsat and should be corrected immediately.

v/r

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

I read an article on the new Navy ODU and they are making their blouses without bottom pockets. They are to be worn untucked. But they opted to leave off the bottom pockets in the event they needed to tuck the blouse in. If they can do it why can't we. But I agree the blouses we have look like a$$ if they are untucked. Just not designed correctly. The maternity ODU blouses look good. But they are a completely different design, and they have bottom pockets.

[ETC Pat Kaschube]

Much better look untucked with the correct blouse. Easier to deal with when you are working and then have to go to quarters or the noon meal. Just throw on the blouse on you are ready to go. I think the tucked look is very vietnam retro not unlike Forest Whitaker in Good Morning Vietnam. I have a feeling this isn't going to happen untill the existing inventory is reduced quite a bit. The trouble is what is that threshold. I'm sure the Coast Guard is going to get stuck with a large supply of the odd sizes. I'm hoping it happens sooner than latter.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

From what I have heard in briefings two thingsare holding this up:

1. ODU top will need to be redesigned, apparently fabric was removed from the original design to allow for tucking in without bunching it up

2. Somewhere in the neighborhood of an $11 million dollar inventory exists that needs to be addressed. We could go to the new design, but then we would have to throw away the old inventory, bad financial design, especially inlight of a recent issue with a beer making kit at the Academy.

[BMC John Phillips III]

LOL Actually the blouses would all have to be new and pockets on the bottom half. It doesn't look sloppy at all with the correct blouse.

Eric, I am not argueing that the right blouse untucked looks bad at all. I am only talking about the blue one, so we are in agreement.

Ex: with the current blouse, I have heard of members cutting the bottom of the shirt off so they didn't have to tuck it down to their knees. Of course the rest of the shirt fits properly.

As far as doing their own thing, I was amazed when I saw it. It looks bad and even worse when it became an optional thing and not everyone was doing it. Doesn't that completely destroy the definition of "uniform?"

[BMC James M. Clark]

1. ODU top will need to be redesigned, apparently fabric was removed from the original design to allow for tucking in without bunching it up

It's been a while since I ironed a DOD woodland BDU blouse, but I seem to remember they flare slightly from the waste down. The CG ODU blouses don't have that flare, and if anything are slightly tapered.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

I'm just going with what was passed by a Gold Badge following the latest Uniform Board.

Apparently 3" of fabric were removed from the sides in order to tuck them in, that would have to be put back in the next design.

The bigger issue, I think is the existing inventory, I don't see the Coast Guard throwing away money by just trashing the inventory.

It is no big secret, that Adm Allen would prefer to have them untucked, he mentions it at nearly every All Hands.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

And if he keeps mentioning it you know that there's a gaggle of JOs running around somewhere looking for a way to distribute what's on the shelf to make room from what's coming next.

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

I wore the woodland BDU while in Cuba for 3 and a half months. That was a very comfortable uniform, except we had to wear the sleeves down (per the two star that we worked for); in the summer that could be very hot and sticky.

Side note - Hopefully, when they redesign the blouse and get rid of the velcro, the buttons were much better IMHO.

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

We threw away money when we put this design together, and aparantly no one at the top seemed to mind. Think about it, we spent money removing material from the shirt. Hell we spent money making a shirt with no pockets, we spent money making pants with zippers, we spent money making pants with velcro. From the members side, it costs much more to buy and replace a zipper than a button, it costs much more to replace velcro than to replace a button. But then again, the last i knew we could not buy buttons for the blouses if we broke one of them. I have looked in many catalogs and on many shelves, I have not found anything that we have. Now do I like this better than the fuel stop clothes......yep lots, but it is still not good. At least we did make a change, now maybe there will be an ODU Alt.

[MSTCS Jerald P. Motyka]

Hmmm. I guess I'm the only guy out here that actually likes the ODUs. Oh, well.

If you need buttons, go to the UDC website and get an order form - and in the area for what you want to buy, put in "ODU BUTTONS" and a quantity - no price.

I just got a dozen to take care of two buttons per jacket that were shattered after I had sent them to the cleaners. They use molten-hot irons and the steam cracked the buttons completely off the darned uniform sleeves. I spent an entire weekend sewing them back on.

EDITED TO ADD:

The buttons are NOT in the stock system - so there is no item number or anything like that. Just write in "ODU BUTTONS" and the number you want.

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

I didn't know that the UDC had gotten the buttons. They did not have them last I checked. I am good now though. Get to wear Strike Team pajamas.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

AHHHHH, I miss my NSF Pajamas

[BMC Gene Daigle]

Well if the Coast Guard needs to unload the ODU's we have in stock, well the Auxiliary would look better in the tucked in version of the ODU blouse vs the old working blue. Make it a blue light special. The sleeves should also have a short sleeve option, without having to make the accordian style rolls.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

They won't go to a short sleeve version, because amoung other things, you'd need it just for flash gear..................

[ITC Shawn Wichelns]

While logically, that makes sense, it only does so until you think about it a bit more.

Many units wear T-shirts, or tropical blue shortsleeve underway, and upon drill/GE/helo ops etc adorn the required flashgear/long sleeve shirt from the repair locker

Also the old working blues had a short version, so that explaination doesn't wash either.

[PAC Jamie Devitt-Chacon ret]

Well, I don't know if they'll change to an untucked version during my time, but it sure looks a lot more comfortable than the tucked -- and more professional, more <eek> military. I've been asked twice now if my odu's are coveralls. Apparently, the Navy wears a belt with their dark blue coveralls, and the look is similar. Peachy.

[BMC James M. Clark]

When the ODUs first came online, a couple of guys from the Station stopped at the local gas station to fuel the GV. A retired Coastie got all over them, scolding them for wearing coveralls into town. Threatened to "call the Chief up". Evidently they tried and tried to explain to him that they were wearing the new work uniform, but he wasn't buying any of it. He probably would have been horrified had he stopped by the Station, and caught the OIC sitting behind the desk in coveralls... :D

[MSTC M McElney]

I just heard from what I consider a reliable source that untucked ODU's is officially through the MCPOCG and COMDT, approved and coming to a unit near you. Has anyone else heard anything? Word is it was approved yesterday.

[BMC Robert Holland]

The civilian who is in charge of uniforms (his names escapes my memory) visited CG Station New York two weeks ago. He had stated he was briefing MCPO Bowen last week regarding the untucked ODU Blouses and several other uniform matters. He mentioned the significant concern regarding the current inventory at the UDC. He was looking for input in how we could untuck the current blouses until a new one could be phased in. I was left with the impression that we will see untucked ODUs very soon.

BMC Robert Holland

[BMCS R. Scott Pugh]

I hope we get to untuck these things really soon... BUT the question remains, what are we going to do with the 11 million dollars of inventory of blouses with the extra button (a.k.a. the button of truth OR the extra belly button)?

[DCCS Brett Wickett]

Maybe we could sew them all together and make a nice new set of blue sails for the Eagle.

[BMCS Steven Lowry]

I hope we get to untuck these things really soon... BUT the question remains, what are we going to do with the 11 million dollars of inventory of blouses with the extra button (a.k.a. the button of truth OR the extra belly button)?

I was told that one possibility is to find a foreign military sevice to buy them from us.

Anybody have a good contact ;)

[BMCS Burt Ford]

The Comdt said while he was here last thursday that he wants to change it but he has 11 million worth of uniforms that we have in inventory that we have to use first. Until then, there will be no changes. his words, not mine.

[SKC Ronald Brumble]

Maybe we could sew them all together and make a nice new set of blue sails for the Eagle.


Best Idea Yet, I love it, ROFL :D :D

[BMC Trent Spiroff]

I still don’t understand the benefit of untucking the “Blouse”. How is it more comfortable? I'd agree the shirt has problems with the extra fabric we're tucking into our pants. Is there another solution than just untucking it? How about remove some more fabric? Whether or not it's more professional is personal opinion? My opinion is tucked in and trim looks more professional.

Most members in the dirty-hand jobs already shed the blouse in the shop. Is this to limit the step of having to tuck it in when the office worker get's up to go down the hall to the meeting/copy room? When you get there and sit down, you'll have to pull the shirt out from between your seat and the chair.

A positive twist - imagine what you can hide under the shirt on your belt (cell phone, knife, flashlight, keys, EMT kit, multi-tool, snack pack). For those that have trouble shedding those extra snack packs... yep, you'll also be able to hide the pack.

Untucked some of us will be able to go down a pants size.

How about conducting LE, will our LE uniform change? No more blouse? Are we going to wear the gun belt over the untucked blouse? That’ll be cute. It’ll look like we’re wearing a skirt. Those with narrow waist and larger lower half’s will have ruffles. How about keepers? Thank goodness for holsters on the thigh, at least our weapons will be below the blouse.

Picture the untucked blouse worn with the fleece portion of the foul wx jacket. Remember those days when you wore shirts longer than your jackets? No offense, maybe you still wear it this way.

How many years did we work to get the current uniform approved and developed? Why didn’t we go untucked from the beginning?

T.S.

[ETC Chris Wagner]

Thanks for the great mental images Trent. :D

I am happy we finally got away from the working blues. The one thing I do not like about the ODU is the need to constantly tell people to fix their pants pockets when I am transiting the base. But hey, it is just part of the job.

[BMC Trent Spiroff]

More ODU talk... ...I'm sorry if I missed it in earlier discussion on the ODU's, but if we're going to untuck the blouse, has anyone talked about doing something different with the sleeves like rolling them up vice the Coast Guard fold?

If you want to save time doing something, I'd like to find a new way to deal with our sleeves. I mess with the sleeves constantly. They look great for the first 10 minutes.

T.S.

[SKC Eric S. Highland]

How about conducting LE, will our LE uniform change? No more blouse? Are we going to wear the gun belt over the untucked blouse? That’ll be cute. It’ll look like we’re wearing a skirt.

Trent,

As I stated in an earlier response to this thread, the untucked version of a military uniform most of us have no practical experience with. I had been in the CG over 15 years before I wore anything but good ol' Coast Guard Blue.

However, when I reported to PSU 307 about a year and a half ago, all of that changed. At PSU we wear the Navy/Marine Corps CUU (Combat Utility Uniforms) basically what you see some of the troops wearing in the Desert, not the "digi" or digital pattern, but the old "splotch" pattern. These uniforms have the shirt untucked in the manner in which the Coast Guard is considering.

Let me tell you, it was a very awkward feeling the first time I threw on "cami". Quickly though, I learned how much more breathable and comfortable the uniform is with the outer shirt untucked.

Also like I said earlier, the uniforms would have to be altered, it wouldn't be a simple "untucking" of the shirt. It would require a redesign, adding pockets to the bottom portion of the shirt and hemming the bottom. Having said that, once it is done it will be more in line with what the other armed services are wearing and in my opinion, it will also look pretty sharp if done right.

As for your comment quoted above, the gun belt does go over the untucked blouse. This is the standard method of carry for all uniformed personnel who wear an untucked blouse. It does not look as awkward as you might think it would. It actually is pretty sharp as I stated earlier.

Having said all of this, I still think that if they are going to redesign the shirt, they should redesign the sleeves as well. The roll of the CG ODU shirt is not practical in any way, shape, or form. The method of roll for the sleeve for the uniforms we wear is a standard straight roll up rather than the back and forth roll. It looks sharper, is a tighter roll and doesn't come undone with a little work and sweat.

Any questions about the untucked uniform model that the CG is looking to go toward let me know.. I have over a million dollars worth of the inventory in my cage.. I could probably answer some basic questions regarding the wear, construction and durability.

v/r

[DCCS Keith Wilbee]

I also heard through a reliable source that we are about to change it. Someone is currently thinking about a resolution for the whole button/extra pocket ordeal. Some people within our organization are always going to be reluctant to change. I try to keep my opinions and other comments on this board, professional. By spewing forth non sense and other jargon, we take away from what us Chiefs are all about. I never intended to have to read some of the non sense on this board. This is not Freds Place, or Military Dot Com.

[BMCS Ian McVicker]

I try to keep my opinions and other comments on this board, professional. By spewing forth non sense and other jargon, we take away from what us Chiefs are all about. I never intended to have to read some of the non sense on this board. This is not Freds Place, or Military Dot Com.

???

I must have missed it Keith. What were you talking about?

[BMC Trent Spiroff]

Good Evening,

Eric H. Thank you for the info/comments on the upcoming/proposed changes.

If my comments are the ones referred to as spewed non sense and jargon, I apologize that they appear that way. Those issues are the ones that come to my mind when I try to picture the wearing of the ODU untucked. I had no intent of making lite of the uniform changes. It seems we've been stuggling with this version of the ODU since it hit the market. When to wear/not wear it, style of belt, t-shirt choices, metal qual pins/cloth tapes.

Have a great weekend.

T.S.

[SKC Eric S. Highland]

No worries Trent! I totally understand your concerns with the uniform. I didn't think you were trying to "make light" of the changes at all. As a matter of fact, many people who have called me or emailed me have asked me similar questions. You are not alone.

As far as what Keith said, I have no idea what he is talking about either. I'm as lost as Ian on that one. Maybe he could expand on his thoughts.

Anyhow, if you have any other questions regarding the style of the uniform, or whatnot, let me know. Again I can't speak to the specifics of what the Coast Guard is going to, but I can say quite a bit on the model they are taking it from.

v/r

[BMCS Ian McVicker]

I thought that maybe it was the comment about making sails for Eagle. Personally I thought that was funny, and would be money better spent than the beer kits.

[BMCS Bill Gheen]

The roll of the CG ODU shirt is not practical in any way, shape, or form. The method of roll for the sleeve for the uniforms we wear is a standard straight roll up rather than the back and forth roll. It looks sharper, is a tighter roll and doesn't come undone with a little work and sweat.
I disagree. The way we currently roll our sleeves is most practical in every sense. It’s much faster to pull them down for long sleeve "Battle Dress" configurations. If your sleeves are coming undone, then you are not doing it right. I rolled my sleeves for six years while in the Army, add that time to the ODU sleeve rolling, I would say I have a very good amount of experience with it.

[SKC Eric S. Highland]

Senior, you bring up a very good point regarding battle dress. I hadn't considered it from that angle. Perhaps the sleeves should be left alone in light of the CG mission of rapid and ready response.

In the PSUs we know when we are deploying to a combat, or operational area so we can roll them up or down with notice.

Hadn't considered that... I will have to retract my statement on the sleeves and agree with you here.

v/r

[SKC Ronald Brumble]

I like the rolling up the prescribed way. It looks better to me.

I also think it is easier than a normal "Roll"