July 2010 Navy
by LCDR David M. Bradley, USN (Ret)
Uniforms
Reserve Component (RC) personnel, when ordered to active duty for other than their annual training, must have the same uniforms as the Active Component (AC) of similar grade or rate. The exception is that for periods of less than six months, officers need not have a sword or dinner dress uniforms. Though, depending on the assignment, it may be advised.
RC personnel will wear the prescribed uniform while on ACTDUTRA and during associated travel. They may also wear the prescribed uniform of their grade or rate on occasions of an official nature, and on other occasions when the individual’s presence is due primarily to membership in the RC and wearing a uniform is appropriate. They may also wear the uniform of their grade while instructing a cadet corps or similar organization at approved naval or military academies or other approved academic institution NROTC, JNROTC, etc. If in a foreign country, however, you may only wear the uniform when on an invitation to ceremonies or social functions, or the regulations or customs of the country demand that attendants wear uniforms. Complete instructions are given in COMNAVRESFOR P7300.1.
Retired personnel may wear uniforms at ceremonies or official functions when the dignity of the occasion and good taste dictate. Wearing a uniform is appropriate for memorial services, weddings, funerals, balls, patriotic or military parades, ceremonies in which any active or reserve United States military unit is participating, and meetings or functions of military associations. When instructing a cadet corps, etc, the regulations are the same as those for RC personnel.
Retired personnel MAY NOT wear the uniform in connection with personal enterprises, business activities, or while attending or participating in any demonstration, assembly or activity for the purpose of furthering personal or partisan views on political, social, economic, or religious issues. This explains why all of the Association’s officers’ pictures appear in civilian dress at the head of their column.
Uniform requirements for retired personnel in foreign countries are the same as those as for the RC. While the retired individual may wear the uniform authorized at the time of their retirement or the current uniform, current grooming standards apply, so long hair and beards are out.
Current and former military personnel are encouraged to wear their miniature medals with civilian evening and dinner dress in the same manner as on the uniform. Ribbon miniatures should be worn on the left lapel of a suit or jacket.
Navy Retired Activities Branch (OPNAV N135C)
The Navy has established the Retired Activities Branch to serve the more than 575,000 Navy retirees and more than 81,000 widows and widowers. Tasked to keep the retired community apprised of their benefits and provide customer services to retirees and their families, the office provides a toll-free number (1-866-827-5672), an e-mail address (MILL_ RetiredActivities@navy.mil), and “snail mail” requests for information may be sent to:
RETIRED ACTIVITIES BRANCH
OPNAV N135C
5720 INTEGRITY DRIVE
MILLINGTON, TN 38055-6220
Its Web site, Retired Activities Home Page at http://www.persnet.navy.mil/CommandSupport/RetiredActivities/ provides a portal to many and varied topics such as SBP, a Retired/Survivor’s Checklist, Deceased Retiree Survivor’s Guide, various publications, links to other retiree and veteran sources of information, TRICARE sites and links to other services’ retiree offices.
The menu on the left side of the home page is a smorgasbord of information of value to every retiree. The top of the list for Retired Activities on the menu is information concerning the “Joe Sal” project. This project is an initiative designed to help ease the burden of Navy terminally ill retirees and their families. Also included in this listing are the locations for your nearest Retired Activities Office and contacts for various Veteran Service Organizations.
One of the more important, and probably least known sites provides a service to wounded, ill, and injured Sailors. Called Safe Harbor, the site is the Navy’s lead organization for coordinating the non-medical care of wounded, ill, and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and their families. It is tailored to support WII Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and their families: pay/personnel issues, invitational travel orders, lodging and housing adaptation, child and youth programs, transportation needs, legal and guardianship issues, education and training benefits, commissary and exchange access, respite care, TBI/ PTSD support services, and much more. It also provides information related to Child Care, Financial and Compensation Issues Education, Job Training, and Employment Assistance, Home, Transportation and Workplace Accommodations, Information and Resources on Major Injuries, Injured Support Process, and Personal and Family Counseling. Truly and example of the Navy taking care of its own.
Also included, and related to the subject above, is US Navy Uniforms. This is an access to everything related to uniform matters from the latest changes and regulations to Navy policy as well as links to Clothing Allowance Regulations, Other Services’ Uniform Regulations/ Policies, and General Information (a handy ribbon checker is included) as well as a list of decorations, which, if awarded, may be worn on the Navy uniform. By the way, the Naval Reserve Association/AUSN ribbons and badges issued may be worn only while actually attending meetings or conventions or while participating in parades or other ceremonies as a member.
Thanks and take care. See you at the conference in Las Vegas.