MISSION:

"To balance the individual Marine's need for 'best value' clothing in terms of practicality, quality and cost within  realistic supply support and fiscal constraints to ensure that the Marine Corps maintains functional, traditional and distinctive uniforms."

NOTES OF INTEREST:

UNIFORM BOARD 209; GROOMING STANDARDS REVISION  Per CMC decision memo of 11 Jul 07 (and MARADMIN 504/07), paragraphs 1004 and 1005 have been significantly revised.  See the attached changes here. 

NEW FEMALE FRAME CAP  The new female frame cap will be introduced to the MCRDs in FY09.  The cap is similar to the male cap in that there is one frame and two crowns (one green, one white).  The braid for both caps will be black (no longer will have the red braid with  the service cap).  The cost of the caps will be equivalent to the male caps.  The caps should be available for purchase in second quarter FY09 and the mandatory possession date for the new cap and phase out date for the old caps is 1 Oct 2012.  See graphics here.

WEAR OF THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM  Per ALMAR 035/07, when the combat utility uniform is worn during the summer months the desert MarPat uniform will be worn with the sleeves up.  In the winter the woodland MarPat will be worn with the sleeves down.  Effective immediately, if you are wearing the combat utility uniform you may not do so out in town/off base.  If you commute in the uniform you may exit your vehicle only in bona fide emergencies.  Waiver requests to these policy changes may be submitted to CMC via the Uniform Board (see POC below).  Until the desert MarPat maternity work uniform is available for purchase/issue, pregnant Marines will wear either the woodland MarPat maternity work uniform or the service maternity uniform.

TATTOO POLICY CHANGE Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA) published an ALMAR (014/07) and MARADMIN (198/07) announcing a change to the tattoo policy.  Effective 1 Apr 2007sleeve tattoos are prohibited.  M&RA will grandfather Marines who currently have these tattoos.  Marines will have until 1 Jul 2007 to request the grandfather authority.  For further information on this issue click here.

Change to the Civilian Clothing Allowance Program (See Allowance FAQ link in left column for specific details on the program) - Beginning 1 Apr 2007, TAD and initial civilian clothing allowances will no longer be mailed to DFAS, Kansas City, instead they will go directly from the unit to the MCUB.  See the aforementioned link for filing instructions.

PHASE OUT OF OLD UTILITIES.  As of 1 Oct 2006 you are no longer authorized to wear the old tri-color camouflage utility uniform.  All Marines, and Sailors serving with the Corps should have two sets of desert and two sets of woodland Marine Corps Combat Utility uniforms ("digital" utilities). 

TRANSITION TO WINTER/SUMMER UNIFORMS POLICY.  There is no HQMC established date that you have to roll your sleeves up or down.  Local commanders dictate when their commands will transition to the winter/summer uniforms.  For information on the Washington Metro Area uniform of the day policy, click here.

NEW CLOTHING INITIATIVES/SURVEYS:

CURRENT UNIFORM BOARD INITIATIVES  (Click on initiative for status):
--Grooming Regulations Revision CMC decisioned the Board on 11 Jul 07.  Click here to see the results.
  
--Female Dress Blue Coat Modification Initiative (CMC disapproved the new coat, recommend revisit in the future)

SNCO EVENING DRESS SURVEY RESULTS  The overwhelming majority of Marines responding to the survey were not in favor of adopting the new uniform.  The results of the survey have been forwarded back up to the Commandant for final decision.  At this time it the initiative is considered "inactive" and we are no longer actively soliciting a decision from CMC.

IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION:  SHOOTING BADGE (RIFLE EXPERT RE-QUAL AFTER SHOOTING OTHER THAN EXPERT)
Recent clarification provided by TECOM indicates that if you are an expert rifleman who fails to re-qualify as an expert then shoots expert the following year, the year you re-qualify as an expert your badge should reflect the total amount of times you've qualified as an expert throughout your career.  This will be specifically addressed in the update to the Marksmanship Manual (up for signature), so start spreading the word!