R 130810Z MAR 02
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//MCUB//
TO ALMAR
BT
UNCLAS //N00123//
ALMAR 015/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MCUB//
SUBJ/UNIFORM REGULATIONS FOR THE NEW COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM AND NEW
MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOTS (MCCB'S)//
REF/A/DOC/CMC/04JAN02//
REF/B/MCO P1020.34F//
NARR/REF A IS CMC DECISION MEMORANDUM FOR MCUB NO. 202. REF B IS THE
MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS. //
POC/GS12 M. BOYT OR CAPT D. DUKES/MCUB/TEL: (703) 784-0661/
EMAIL: BOYTMK@TECOM.USMC.MIL AND DUKESDW@TECOM.USMC.MIL//
RMKS/1.  SITUATION.  THE COMMANDANT APPROVED THE ADOPTION OF THE
COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM AND MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOTS (MCCB) ON 6 JUNE
2001.  REF A IS THE RESULT OF THE MARINE CORPS UNIFORM BOARD (MCUB)
NO.202 DISCUSSION OF THE REGULATIONS FOR THE WEAR AND CARE OF THE
COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM AND MCCB'S.
A.  FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS MSG AND REF B, THE FOLLOWING
DEFINITIONS/ DESCRIPTIONS APPLY.
(1) OLD OR CURRENT UTILITY UNIFORM ITEMS.
- UTILITY UNIFORM (COAT, TROUSERS AND CAP) WITH OLD CAMOUFLAGE
PATTERN REFERRED TO AS THE "CAMOUFLAGE UTILITY UNIFORM"
- INFANTRY COMBAT BOOTS (ICB) REFERRED TO AS "ICB'S"
- JUNGLE (GREEN / BLACK) COMBAT BOOTS (JCB) REFERRED TO AS "JCB'S"
(2) NEW UTILITY UNIFORM ITEMS.
- UTILITY UNIFORM (COAT, TROUSERS, FIELD AND GARRISON CAPS) WITH
 DIGITAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN REFERRED TO AS THE "COMBAT UTILITY
 UNIFORM"
- MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOTS, TEMPERATE WEATHER REFERRED TO AS
 "MCCB(TW)"
- MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOTS, HOT WEATHER REFERRED TO AS "MCCB(HW)"
- WHEN THE TERM "MCCB" IS USED BY ITSELF, IT REFERS TO BOTH MCCB(TW)
 AND MCCB(HW) BOOTS.
2.  MISSION.  CMC PROVIDES POLICY GUIDANCE FOR THE WEAR AND CARE OF
THE NEW COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM AND MCCB TO SUPPORT TRANSITION FROM
THE CAMOUFLAGE UTILITY UNIFORM.
3.  EXECUTION.  THE BELOW POLICY CHANGES TO REF B ARE IN EFFECT UPON
RECEIPT OF THIS MESSAGE.
A.  COMBAT UTILITIES UNIFORM OF THE DAY POLICY.
(1) CHANGE PARAGRAPH 1002.1 TO READ:
"1.  THE UNIFORM OF THE DAY WILL BE AS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMANDER,
PER GUIDANCE PROVIDED IN CHAPTER 2."
B.  COMBAT UTILITIES OCCASIONS FOR WEAR POLICY.
(1) RENUMBER PARAGRAPH 2008-2010 AS 2009-2011
(2) INSERT THE BELOW TEXT:
"2008.  COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM.
1.  THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM CONSISTS OF UTILITY COAT AND TROUSERS
(PER PARAGRAPH 3038), APPROPRIATE CAPS (PER PARAGRAPH 3038) AND
COMBAT BOOTS (PER PARAGRAPH 3010.2).  THE UTILITY COAT MAY BE
REMOVED FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING AND WORK DETAILS.
2.  COMMANDERS MAY PRESCRIBE THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM AS THE
UNIFORM OF THE DAY.  THE UNIFORM IS AUTHORIZED FOR PARADES, REVIEWS
OR OTHER CEREMONIES AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS.
3.  REGULATIONS FOR WEARING THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM ARE DETAILED
IN PARAGRAPH 3038.
4.  PARAGRAPH 2007 OF THESE REGULATIONS REGARDING THE WEAR OF THE
CAMOUFLAGE UTILITY UNIFORM OFF BASE APPLIES TO THE COMBAT UTILITY
UNIFORM."
C.  THE COMBAT UTILITIES WEAR REGULATION POLICY.
(1) RENUMBER PARAGRAPH 3038 AND 3039 TO READ 3039 AND 3040.
(2) DELETE PARAGRAPH 3037 HEADING "UTILITY UNIFORM" AND REPLACE WITH
"CAMOUFLAGE UTILITY UNIFORM".
(3) INSERT THE BELOW TEXT:
"3038.  COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM.
1.  THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM SHOULD BE LOOSE FITTING AND
COMFORTABLE.  ITEMS SHOULD BE FITTED LOOSELY ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR
SOME SHRINKAGE WITHOUT RENDERING THE GARMENT UNUSABLE.  NO ITEMS OF
DESERT AND WOODLAND CAMOUFLAGE PATTERNS WILL BE MIXED.  CARE OF THE
COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM WILL OBSERVE GUIDANCE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH
10104.
2.  NAME/SERVICE TAPES WILL BE WORN ON THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM AS
PRESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH 3032, WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT NAME/SERVICE
TAPES WILL BE PLACED IMMEDIATELY ABOVE AND PARALLEL WITH THE TOP OF
THE SLANTED CHEST POCKETS FLAPS.  THE BACKGROUND OF THE NAME/SERVICE
TAPES IS OF THE SAME FABRIC AND PRINT AS THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM.
3.  THE COMBAT UTILITY COAT WILL BE WORN OUTSIDE THE TROUSERS.  WHEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMANDER, SLEEVES WILL BE ROLLED WITH THE INSIDE
OUT, FORMING A ROLL ABOUT THREE INCHES WIDE, AND TERMINATING AT A
POINT ABOUT TWO INCHES ABOVE THE ELBOW.  WHEN MARINE CORPS COMBAT
BOOTS (MCCB'S) ARE WORN, THE TROUSERS WILL BE BLOUSED IN A NEAT
UNIFORM MANNER.  WHEN THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM IS PRESCRIBED FOR
PARADES, REVIEWS AND CEREMONIES, THE HELMET WITH CAMOUFLAGE COVER
MAY BE PRESCRIBED.
4.  THE COMBAT UTILITY GARRISON CAP WILL BE WORN IN GARRISON AND MAY
BE WORN IN FIELD ENVIRONMENTS AT THE COMMANDER'S DISCRETION.  THE
COMBAT UTILITY FIELD CAP MAY BE WORN DURING FIELD-TYPE EXERCISES
ONLY, AND MAY NOT BE PRESCRIBED FOR PARADES, REVIEWS OR OTHER
CEREMONIES.
5.  NO WOODLAND OR POPLIN FABRIC ITEMS OF THE CAMOUFLAGE UTILITY
UNIFORM WILL BE MIXED WITH THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM."
D.  COMBAT UTILITIES CARE REGULATIONS POLICY.
(1) RENUMBER PARAGRAPH 10104-10115 TO READ 10105-10116.
(2) DELETE PARAGRAPH 10103 HEADING "UTILITY UNIFORMS" AND REPLACE
WITH "CAMOUFLAGE UTILITY UNIFORMS'.
(3) INSERT THE BELOW TEXT:
"10104.  COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM.  IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE SERVICE LIFE
AND MAINTAIN OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE, THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD
BE FOLLOWED WHEN CARING FOR THE UNIFORM:
1.  WASH IN WARM WATER AND MILD DETERGENT CONTAINING NO OPTICAL
BRIGHTENERS OR BLEACH.  TUMBLE DRY AT LOW HEAT (NOT TO EXCEED 1300
F). REMOVE IMMEDIATELY FROM THE DRYER AND FOLD FLAT OR PLACE ON A
RUSTPROOF HANGER TO ENSURE HEAT FROM THE DRYER DOES NOT SET
WRINKLES.  TO DRIP DRY, REMOVE FROM THE WASHER/WATER AND PLACE ON A
RUSTPROOF HANGER.  DO NOT WRING OR TWIST.
2.  A HAND IRON SET ON LOW HEAT MAY BE USED TO INDIVIDUALLY PRESS ARE
AS SUCH AS COLLAR POINTS OR POCKET FLAPS TO HELP MAINTAIN A NEAT
APPEARANCE.  CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN WHEN PRESSING CREASES, AS THE
UNIFORM IS MANUFACTURED WITH PERMANENT CREASES.  IMPROPER PRESSING
MAY RESULT IN MULTIPLE PERMANENT CREASES.  NO NEW CREASES MAY BE
CREATED.
3.  THE USE OF STARCH, SIZING AND ANY PROCESS THAT INVOLVES DRY-
CLEANING OR A STEAM PRESS WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TREATMENTS AND
DURABILITY OF THE UNIFORM AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED."
E.  COMBAT UTILITIES WEAR OF OFFICER GRADE INSIGNIA POLICY.
(1) CHANGE THE FIGURE MENTIONED IN THE TOPIC LINE OF PARAGRAPH 4005
TO READ "(SEE FIG 4-12)" VICE "(SEE FIG 4-11)."
(2) CHANGE PARAGRAPH 4005.1 TO READ:
1.  GENERAL.  OFFICERS WILL WEAR ONLY THE GRADE INSIGNIA PRESCRIBED
FOR THEIR GRADE.  INSIGNIA WILL BE MADE OF EITHER SHINY (ANODIZED OR
OXIDIZED) METAL OR SUBDUED (FLAT BLACK OR BROWN) METAL WITH PIN-ON
(CLUTCH-TYPE) FASTENERS. . .
(3) ADD THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE AT THE COMPLETION OF SUBPARAGRAPH
4005.3A:
"COMMANDERS WILL PRESCRIBE SUBDUED OR SHINY PIN-ON RANK INSIGNIA FOR
OFFICERS (AS APPROPRIATE) WITH THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM AND OTHER
FIELD CLOTHING IN FIELD ENVIRONMENTS.  DRAB BROWN SUBDUED INSIGNIA
WILL BE USED TO REPRESENT GOLD COLORED INSIGNIA (2NDLT AND MAJOR)
AND FLAT BLACK SUBDUED INSIGNIA WILL BE USED TO REPRESENT SILVER
COLORED INSIGNIA.  SHINY PIN-ON GRADE INSIGNIA WILL BE WORN FOR ALL
OTHER OCCASIONS AND UNIFORMS, EXCEPT AS DETAILED ABOVE."
(4) IN SUBPARAGRAPH 4005.3C(2) DELETE "TO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE
COLLAR" AND REPLACE WITH "TO THE DECK."
F.  COMBAT UTILITIES BREAST INSIGNIA WEAR REGULATIONS POLICY. CHANGE
PARAGRAPH 4002.3(C) TO READ:
"(C) WHEN WORN ON THE CAMOUFLAGE UTILITY COAT, THE BOTTOM OF THE
INSIGNIA WILL BE CENTERED, 1/2 INCH ABOVE THE SERVICE TAPE.  WHEN
WORN WITH THE COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM, THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE
INSIGNIA WILL BE CENTERED OVER THE POCKET ON A HORIZONTAL (PARALLEL
TO THE GROUND) LINE EVEN WITH THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE SERVICE TAPE
(SEE FIGURES 4-11, 4-12, 8-2 AND 8-4).  EITHER SUBDUED OR SHINY
BREAST INSIGNIA MAY BE WORN IN THE FIELD AT THE COMMANDER'S
DISCRETION."
G.  MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOTS (MCCB'S) WEAR REGULATIONS POLICY.
CHANGE PARAGRAPH 3010.2 TO READ:
"3010.2.  COMBAT BOOTS.  UNLESS OTHERWISE PRESCRIBED BY THE
COMMANDER, TEMPERATE WEATHER AND HOT WEATHER BOOTS, AS DESCRIBED
BELOW, MAY BE WORN WITH ANY VERSION OF THE UTILITY UNIFORM AT THE
INDIVIDUAL'S OPTION.  ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUE SAFETY BOOTS AND
DEVIATIONS AS APPROVED BY COMMANDING OFFICERS AND/OR MEDICAL
OFFICERS ARE ALSO AUTHORIZED.
AUTHORIZED BOOTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A.  MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOT, TEMPERATE WEATHER (MCCB(TW)).  THE
STANDARD TEMPERATE WEATHER COMBAT BOOT IS THE BROWN ROUGH-SIDE-OUT
LEATHER BOOT AND WILL BE WORN AS ISSUED/SOLD THROUGH THE MARINE CORPS
SUPPLY SYSTEM/RETAIL CLOTHING OUTLET AND THOSE PRIVATE VENDORS WHO
HAVE AUTHORITY TO SELL THE PATENTED BOOT.  A MARINE CORPS EMBLEM
HEAT-EMBOSSED ON THE OUTER ANKLE IDENTIFIES MCCBS THAT ARE
AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR.  THE MANDATORY POSSESSION DATE FOR THE MCCB(TW)
IS 1 OCTOBER 2004.
B.  INFANTRY COMBAT BOOT (ICB).  THE TEMPERATE WEATHER BLACK ICB,
WITH ALL BLACK SMOOTH-SIDE-OUT LEATHER UPPER, WILL BE WORN AS
ISSUED/SOLD THROUGH THE MARINE CORPS SUPPLY SYSTEM/RETAIL CLOTHING
OUTLET AND THOSE PRIVATE VENDORS WHO HAVE AUTHORITY TO SELL THE
PATENTED BOOT.  MARINES WHO ENTERED THE MARINE CORPS BEFORE 1 MARCH
2002 ARE AUTHORIZED TO CONTINUE TO WEAR THIS BOOT UNTIL 1 OCTOBER
2004, AT WHICH TIME THEY ARE REQUIRED TO REPLACE IT WITH THE
MCCB(TW).
C.  MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOT, HOT WEATHER (MCCB(HW)).  THE STANDARD
HOT WEATHER COMBAT BOOT IS THE BROWN ROUGH-SIDE-OUT LEATHER BOOT AND
WILL BE WORN AS ISSUED/SOLD THROUGH THE MARINE CORPS SUPPLY
SYSTEM/RETAIL CLOTHING OUTLET AND THOSE PRIVATE VENDORS WHO HAVE
AUTHORITY TO SELL THE PATENTED BOOT.  A MARINE CORPS EMBLEM
HEAT-EMBOSSED ON THE OUTER ANKLE IDENTIFIES MCCB'S AUTHORIZED FOR
WEAR.  THE MANDATORY POSSESSION DATE FOR THE MCCB(HW) IS 1 MARCH
2004.
D.  JUNGLE COMBAT BOOT (JCB).  THE HOT WEATHER JUNGLE BOOT, WITH
EITHER GREEN OR BLACK FABRIC UPPER, WILL BE WORN AS ISSUED/SOLD
THROUGH THE MARINE CORPS SUPPLY SYSTEM/RETAIL CLOTHING OUTLET AND
THOSE PRIVATE VENDORS WHO HAVE AUTHORITY TO SELL THE PATENTED BOOT.
MARINES WHO ENTERED THE MARINE CORPS BEFORE 1 MARCH 2002 ARE
AUTHORIZED TO CONTINUE TO WEAR THESE BOOTS UNTIL 1 MARCH 2004, AT
WHICH TIME THEY ARE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THEM WITH THE MCCB(HW).
E.  OPTIONAL BOOTS.  OPTIONAL BOOTS (BLACK ONLY) MAY BE WORN WITH THE
COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM UNTIL 01 MARCH 2004. OPTIONAL BOOTS (BLACK
ONLY) MAY BE WORN WITH THE CAMOUFLAGE UTILITY UNIFORM UNTIL 01
OCTOBER 2004.
THE BOOTS MAY BE WORN PER THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE:
(1) ALL MARINES MAY PURCHASE OPTIONAL COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE BLACK
LEATHER OR BLACK HOT WEATHER TROPICAL (JUNGLE) COMBAT BOOTS FROM ANY
SOURCE PROVIDED THEY MEET CRITERIA SET FORTH IN THE FOLLOWING
PARAGRAPHS.  THESE ITEMS WILL NOT BE USED TO SATISFY MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS.  THESE BOOTS MAY BE WORN AT THE OPTION OF THE
INDIVIDUAL WHENEVER COMBAT BOOTS ARE PRESCRIBED/AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR,
EXCEPT THAT COMMANDERS MAY REQUIRE THE WEAR OF THE STANDARD ISSUE
BOOTS ON SPECIFIC OCCASIONS WHEN UNIFORMITY IS REQUIRED, I.E.,
INSPECTIONS, PARADES, CEREMONIES (AS AUTHORIZED BY ABOVE TIMELINES).
(2) ALL OPTIONAL BOOTS WILL MEET THE FOLLOWING GENERAL APPEARANCE
STANDARDS. THE BOOTS WILL BE OF ALL-BLACK LEATHER OR, FOR HOT WEATHER
BOOTS, ALL-BLACK LEATHER WITH BLACK FABRIC UPPERS.  BOOTS WITH A
PATENT LEATHER OR GLOSSY FINISH, ARE NOT AUTHORIZED.  SPEED LACES OR
EYELET LACING IS ACCEPTABLE.  THE TOTAL HEIGHT OF THE BOOTS WILL BE
FROM 8 TO 12 INCHES.  LINING, INSULATION, OR PADDING IS OPTIONAL.
(3) BOOTS WORN UNDER THIS AUTHORITY WILL BE FUNCTIONAL AND SUITABLE
FOR COMBAT AND FIELD WEAR.  EXAMPLES OF BOOTS, WHICH DO NOT MEET THIS
CRITERIA, ARE LIGHTWEIGHT HIKING SHOES/BOOTS BASED ON RUNNING SHOE
LASTS OR TECHNOLOGY, BOOTS WITH PATENT LEATHER AND/OR ZIPPERS, OR
BOOTS MADE ENTIRELY OF CANVAS AND RUBBER.  BOOTS DESIGNED FOR POLICE
AND SWAT USE IN URBAN AREAS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE COMBAT BOOTS BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT SUITED FOR LOAD BEARING IN ROUGH TERRAIN."
H.  ISSUE:  MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOTS (MCCB'S) CARE REGULATIONS
POLICY.
INSERT THE BELOW PARAGRAPH:
"10106.4.  MARINE CORPS COMBAT BOOTS (MCCB'S).  THE BROWN MCCB(TW)
AND MCCB (HW) SHOULD BE KEPT CLEAN BY USING A STIFF BRISTLE BRUSH TO
REMOVE MUD AND DIRT AND THEN RINSING WITH PLAIN WATER.  ALLOW THE
BOOTS TO NATURALLY DRY BY PLACING THEM IN A COOL, DRY AREA WITH GOOD
AIR CIRCULATION.  USE OF FORCED HOT AIR TO DRY BOOTS WILL STIFFEN
THE LEATHER AND CAUSE CRACKS.  APPLICATION OF SPECIAL TREATMENTS
SUCH AS WATERPROOFING SEALANTS AND WAX POLISH WILL SEAL PORES AND
RESTRICT BREATHING OF THE LEATHER AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED.  OTHER
TREATMENTS SUCH AS LEATHER CONDITIONING AND SADDLE SOAP WILL CAUSE
EXCESSIVE AND PERMANENT FADING OR DARKENING OF THE BROWN LEATHER
TANNING AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED.  THE USE OF EDGE DRESSING IS
PROHIBITED.  SPOTS WORN SMOOTH BY EXCESSIVE WEAR MAY BE GENTLY
ABRADED WITH EITHER A WIRE-BRISTLE BRUSH OR ROUGH-GRAIN SANDPAPER
UNTIL THEY HAVE A SURFACE APPEARANCE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER AREAS OF
THE LEATHER UPPER.
4.  ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS.
A.  ADMINISTRATION.  THIS ALMAR CONSTITUTES AUTHORITY TO CHANGE THE
MCUR (REF (B)) AS DIRECTED IN PARAGRAPH 3.  GRAPHICS FOR THESE
CHANGES WILL BE PUBLISHED VIA THE MCUB WEBSITE AT
WWW.TECOM.USMC.MIL/USMC.
B.  LOGISTICS.  SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING FIELDING OF THE NEW
COMBAT UTILITY UNIFORM AND MCCB'S (OBSOLETION AND MANDATORY
POSSESSION DATES), AND PHASING OUT OF THE CAMOUFLAGE UTILITY UNIFORM
AND BLACK BOOTS WILL BE PUBLISHED VIA SEPCOR.  INFORMATION ON
PRODUCTION AND AVAILABILITY OF THE COMBAT UTILITIES AND MARINE CORPS
COMBAT BOOTS, AND A LINK TO THE NAVY EXCHANGE UNIFORM WEB SITE CAN
ALSO BE FOUND ON THE MCUB WEBSITE.
5.  COMMAND AND SIGNAL.
A.  THIS ALMAR IS APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
B.  SUBSEQUENT BULLETINS CHANGING, CORRECTING, OR AMPLIFYING THIS OR
THE REFERENCES WILL BE PUBLISHED AS MARADMINS.
C.  QUESTIONS MAY BE REFERRED TO THE FOLLOWING POINTS OF CONTACT:
(1) MCUB: GS12 M. BOYT (EMAIL "BOYTMK@TECOM.USMC.MIL") AND CAPT D.
DUKES (EMAIL "DUKESDW@TECOM.USMC.MIL") AT DSN 278-0661/2.
(2) HQMC INSTALLATIONS AND LOGISTICS FOR SUPPLY POLICY ISSUES, GS12
T. FLORIAN (EMAIL "FLORIANTA@HQMC.USMC.MIL") AT DSN 225-8946.
(3) MARCORSYSCOM FOR DESIGN AND QUALITY, LTCOL J. NELSON (EMAIL
"NELSONJL@MCSC.USMC.MIL") AT DSN 256-3010.//
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