Dress Black uniform
Occasions for wear: 1. Off duty, the Black Dress Blouse is normally the prescribed uniform for social functions. 2. On other appropriate occasions, as desired. When worn with white gloves, the Blouse, Dress Black Uniform constitutes a formal uniform and corresponds to a civilian tuxedo.
Composition: The Black Dress Blouse is comprised of the jacket, dress trousers, a branch of service undershirt/dickey, and accoutrements as authorized below.
Jacket:The jacket is based on a steward’s jacket available commercially from several retail sources. It has 6 large buttons as a closure aligned down the center of the front of the garment. All buttons must be secured for the uniform to be properly worn. It includes a mandarin style standing collar. Marines may replace the stock buttons of the jacket with an anchor type button, 25mm in size. Buttons will be gold for all Officers, and Warrant Officers, silver for Enlisted, or black for all Marines. permanently installed or affixed through the use of commercially available hook and loop (i.e. Velcro) fasteners.
Trousers: Dress Trousers are low waist, flat front, straight legged, and with side hip pockets. There is a wide range of acceptable materials, but every effort should be made to use the same material as the jacket. A 1-inch wide red blood stripe will be worn on the outside seam of both trouser legs, running from the seam of the waistband to the bottom hem of the trouser leg. The dress black trousers may be worn bloused with boots, or unbloused with dress shoes. If a belt is worn, it is worn with the buckle edge aligned with the blouse and pant closure edges. The buckle is gold for Officers and Warrant Officers, silver for Enlisted.
Branch of Service Undershirt/Dickey:an undershirt or dickey in the individual’s branch color will be worn under the jacket. First Sergeants, Sergeants Major, Unit Officers in Charge, and General Staff officers may wear a white dickey instead of the branch of service color.
Headgear: No headgear is authorized for wear with the Black Dress Uniform.
Footwear: High gloss black dress shoes, or ankle boots may be worn with the Mess Black Uniform. Aerospace branch and parachute qualified members of the Infantry and Special Operations Branches may wear spit shined Jump boots.
Insignia & Accoutrement: Only the following items are authorized for wear:
Award ribbons – worn centered on the left chest, centered, left to right, along an imaginary vertical line drawn from where the shoulder meets the neck of the jacket, down along the body of the jacket, and horizontally with the second button of the uniform.
Combadge – worn 1/2-inch below and centered, left to right, on the award ribbons.
Branch Devices (Type A Insignia) – worn 1/2-inch above and centered, left to right, on the award ribbons. Only one branch device will be worn at any time.
Campaign Ribbons (Type D Insignia) – worn on the right chest. Ribbons will be centered, left to right, along imaginary vertical line drawn from where the shoulder meets the neck of the jacket, down along the body of the jacket, and centered, up and down, with an imaginary horizontal line drawn across the chest from the center of the second button.
Command College Qualification Badges (Type C Insignia) – worn on the right chest, 1/4-inch below any campaign ribbons. If no campaign ribbons are worn, the badge will be centered, left to right, along imaginary vertical line drawn from where the shoulder meets the neck of the jacket, down along the body of the jacket, and centered, up and down, with an imaginary horizontal line drawn across the chest from the center of the second button
Qualification Badges (Type B Insignia) – worn on the right chest, 1/4-inch above any campaign ribbons. If no campaign ribbons are worn, the badge will be centered left to right along imaginary vertical line drawn from where the shoulder meets the neck of the jacket, down along the body of the jacket, and1/2- inch above an imaginary horizontal line drawn across the chest from the second button of the uniform.
SFMC Collar Brass – Company Officers, Field Officers and Enlisted persons will wear brass on the left collar 1-inch from the edge of the collar, centered, and vertical to the deck.
Insignia of Grade – Company Officers, Field Officers and Enlisted persons will wear insignia on the right collar. Flag Officers will wear rank insignia on both collars worn on the right collar.
Officer’s Bars – worn vertically, 1-inch from the edge of the collar with the leading edge of the insignia parallel to the edge of the collar, and the bottom edge parallel to the seam between the body of the jacket and the collar. Company and field Officer bars will be spaced 1/8-inch apart (Flag Officer bars are produced with this spacing). Any filled (black bars) are worn furthest away from the edge of the collar.
NCO Chevrons – worn horizontally, 1-inch from the edge of the collar, and the bottom edge of the insignia parallel to the seam between the body of the jacket and the collar. The greatest number of chevrons will point toward the front of the neck.
Shoulder Cord – worn on right shoulder. Two types of attachments are authorized.
A pin attachment – which would attach the cord at the shoulder seam.
Button loop attachment – single plain black button will be attached to the left shoulder of the jacket for this purpose.
Dress gloves – White (when authorized by local commanders).
Mess White Uniform (Salt and Peppers)
Occasions for wear: 1. On duty, as prescribed by local commander. 2. Local social functions of a general or official nature after retreat. 3. On other appropriate occasions, as specified by local commanders. When worn with long sleeves and white gloves, the Mess White Uniform constitutes a formal uniform and corresponds to a civilian tuxedo.
Composition: The Mess White Uniform is comprised of a white dress shirt, dress trousers, the black four-in-hand necktie, and accoutrements as authorized below.
White Dress Shirt: This is a buttoned white shirt, long or short sleeved, with two button- down chest pockets and shoulder epaulets. This is often called an aviator style shirt and is often worn by security officers and policemen. The shirt is worn tucked into the trousers, so that the front row of buttons (the Gig Line) lines up with the belt buckle and closure of the pants.
Trousers: The trousers are low waist, flat front, straight legged, without cuffs, and with side hip pockets. There is a wide range of acceptable materials, but every effort should be made to use the same material as the jacket. A 1-inch wide red blood stripe will be worn on the outside seam of both trouser legs, running from the seam of the waistband to the bottom hem of the trouser leg. The dress black trousers may be worn bloused with boots, or unbloused with dress shoes.
Black Four-in-hand Necktie: A conservative black tie, without adornment or design, is worn with the long sleeve shirt. The necktie is optional with the short-sleeved shirt. If a tie clasp is used to secure the tie, it must be small, gold in color and plain in style. Enlisted may choose to wear a wear a silver colored tie clasp instead of a gold colored one.
Belt: The black web belt is worn with the buckle edge aligned with the shirt and pant closure edges. The buckle is gold for officers, silver for enlisted.
Headgear: No headgear is authorized for wear with the Mess White Uniform.
Footwear: High gloss black dress shoes, or ankle boots may be worn with the Mess White Uniform.
Insignia & Accoutrements: Only the following items are authorized for wear.
Award Ribbons – worn aligned directly on the top edge of, and centered on, the left chest pocket flap.
Combadge – worn centered, left to right, top to bottom, on the left pocket flap.
Branch Devices (Type A Insignia) – worn 1/2-inch above and centered on the award ribbons. Only one branch device will be worn at any time
Nameplate – A 3-inch-long by 1-inch wide engraved plastic nameplate is worn centered above, and flush with the top of the right chest pocket. The nameplate has gold or white lettering on a black background and shows only the wearer’s last name.
Qualification Badges (Type B Insignia) – Worn centered, left to right, top to bottom on the right chest pocket flap.
SFMC Collar Brass – worn on the left collar centered, left to right, 1-inch from the tip of the collar, along an imaginary line drawn from the tip of the collar.
Insignia of Grade – worn on the right collar.
– Officer’s Bars – centered, left to right, 1-inch from the tip of the collar, along an imaginary line drawn from the tip of the collar. Company and Field Officer bars will be spaced 1/8inch apart, and any filled (black bars) are worn highest on the stack, toward the neck.
– NCO Chevrons – worn centered, left to right, 1-inch from the tip of the collar, along an imaginary line drawn from the tip of the collar. Greatest number of chevrons will be worn upward, pointing toward the neck.
Shoulder Cord – worn on right shoulder, the button loop attachment is the only authorized method of attaching the shoulder cord.
Dress gloves – White (when authorized by local commanders).
Mess White Uniform Female (Salt and Peppers)
Occasions for wear: 1. On duty, as prescribed by local commander. 2. Local social functions of a general or official nature after retreat. 3. On other appropriate occasions, as specified by local commanders. When worn with long sleeves and white gloves, the Mess White Uniform constitutes a formal uniform and corresponds to a civilian tuxedo.
This variant replaces the dress trousers with the dress skirt and changes the headgear and footwear to a more feminine style.
Skirt: This is a plain black skirt with a 1-inch red blood stripe running vertically along the two outer seams, from the bottom of the waistband to the bottom hem of the skirt. It shall be hemmed so the edge falls within a range of 1-inch above to 1inch below the knee. It can be with or without side hip pockets.
Headgear: The beret is authorized for wear with the women’s White Service Uniform. The beret may be replaced with a US Navy Women’s Service Hat, if so desired.
Footwear: There are three types of footwear authorized with the Woman’s variant. Plain black pumps, black oxfords, and hosiery are worn with the skirt. The pumps, and oxfords should be polished, without decorations. The pumps will have a heel of 1.25-inches. Stockings or pantyhose should be flesh-toned, without decoration or visible seams. Fishnet, lace, or multicolored hosiery is specifically prohibited. Calf-high black boots are also authorized. Boots will be polished, without decorations, plain toe and have heels of three inches or less.
Insignia & Accoutrements: The same items are authorized for wear on the Women’s Variant. The combadge is worn above the ribbons and the other accoutrements may be adjusted as necessary for proper fit and image. Women are also authorized to carry a plain black purse with no adornment or decoration.
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