End of Year Message and reminder: Uniform Inspections due 12/31/2024
First, I’d like to wish each of you a safe and happy holiday. Regardless of which holiday you are celebrating (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and/or New Years), please enjoy the company of your family and friends this season. If you are traveling, please be safe!
Secondly, a gentle reminder that uniform inspections are due by the end of the year. If you haven’t already had your uniform inspected, please take 10 minutes to put your uniform on, snap a picture, and send it to your Flotilla Commander, Vice Flotilla Commander, or other elected officer in your Chain of Leadership and Management (COLM). See details below.
In September of 2023, the Chief Director of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Boating Safety office (BSX) announced that all Auxiliarists are required to have an annual inspection of their uniform no later than December 31st of each year.
To date, about 72% of our members are in compliance, which leaves a fair number still needing to fulfill this requirement in the next 10 days.
The uniform inspection may be done in person, virtually, or by submitting photos to an elected leader who is performing the inspection. This could be the Flotilla Commander, Vice Flotilla Commander, Immediate Past Flotilla Commander, or any other elected officer in one’s Chain of Leadership and Management (COLM). The inspection can be made while wearing any authorized Coast Guard Auxiliary uniform, including:
- Tropical Blue (Trops)
- Operational Dress Uniform (ODU)
- Alternative Work Uniform (AWU); can be with VE Polo Shirt
- Auxiliary Blue Blazer (if it is the only uniform one wears for Auxiliary activities)
Uniforms NOT authorized include:
- Dinner Dress uniforms
- Hot weather uniforms
- Auxiliary Jump Suit or flight suit
- Organizational clothing
Members without a uniform are exempt from the requirement if the exemption is recorded in AUXDATA II by the unit’s Information Services (IS) Officer. Elected leaders should have their IS Officer enter the completion date of the inspection into the member’s record. This is a currency maintenance task.
The annual uniform inspection counts as an annual currency maintenance task for all Auxiliary competencies. Failure to get an annual uniform inspection during the calendar year means that one can lose their currency and eligibility to be assigned to duty in all their competencies for the following year (i.e. be placed in REYR status).
As we wind up the year, this is a great time to take a picture of yourself in uniform and submit to one of your elected leaders.
Please get this done if you haven’t already!
For questions, please contact your Flotilla Commander
Again, have a safe and happy holiday…
Mary Kirkwood

THE NATIONAL COMMODORE
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY