United States Corps of Chaplains Uniforms

Basic Uniforms for New Members

Informal Civilian Ministry Options


USCOC Logo Buttons may be worn on any casual
or dress shirts or coats. Polo (Golf) Shirt with USCOC Logo
and Logo Button are available from USCOC Gear.

The Polo (Golf) Shirt may be worn with Name Tag.
 Rank Insignia may be worn on collars,  or a USCOC Chaplain
may wear the PVSA Pin on right Collar with Chaplain's Cross
on left collar as shown below.

A slip in Name Tag (shown below) may be worn
on any casual or dress shirt or coat pocket.

Since uniforms and uniform items can be a big expense for new members the following is the description of a "New Members Basic Service/Duty or USCOC Meeting Uniform" with options to progress into the standard uniforms listed further down on this page. For Civilian Ministry, the Logo Buttons may be worn on casual or dress shirts or coats. For Civilian Ministry, the USCOC Polo (Golf) Shirt may be worn with or without accessories or rank insignia also as shown on the right.

The New Members Basic Service/Duty or USCOC Meeting Uniform consists of:

  • White Shirt/Blouse: Dress or Polo (Golf)
  • Black Pants/Skirt
  • Black Belt with Plain Buckle (or military belt with plain brass buckle)
              Note: The belt is not required for skirts without belt loops
  • Black Plain Toe Shoes/Women's Pumps (not extremely high heeled) (or Black Boots for field work)

The Polo (Golf) Shirt may be worn with Name Tag & Rank Insignia (shown below) as part of a the basic service/duty or USCOC meeting uniform..

A USCOC Logo Button (or Screen Printed Logo, or USCOC Logo Patch) should be on the shirt/blouse. If a Logo Button is used, it should be displayed on the Left side, above the pocket, if the shirt/blouse has a pocket. If the shirt/blouse does not have a pocket, then it should go above where a pocket would be located on the left side). If the embroidered USCOC Logo Patch is used, it should be on the Right Sleeve per regulations. (The Buttons are available from USCOC Gear and the USCOC Logo Patches are available from HQ)

For semi-dress occasions, the dress shirt/blouse would be more appropriate and should be worn with a black tie (crossover for the ladies). For less formal occasions, the shirt/blouse may be worn with the collar open, or the Polo Shirt may be worn. The Polo (Golf) Shirt with Logo is available from USCOC Gear.

As other uniforms items/devices can be acquired, they should be added to the uniform per regulations (as they can be acquired the Class A, B, C, and D uniforms should be completed):


 

Standard Class A, B, C, and D Uniforms

NOTE: The Optional Uniform items shown below are at the Unit Commanders descretion

Only Chaplains wear the Gold Cross above the left pocket.
Click here for information on proper placement of Insignia on Coat and Shirts
Class A: Formal Dress
  • Black Pants/Skirt
  • Black web belt with plain brass buckle
  • White Shirt with Black Tie. (Chaplains may wear the clergy shirt with clergy collar or the clergy dickie)
  • Black Dress Coat:
  • Pin-on Metal Rank Insignia on Collar of Coat. (If coat has epaulette straps, slide-on shoulder epaulette rank insignia may be worn)
  • Black Beret,  Black Garrison Hat, or Round Combination Hat
  • Black plain toe shoes
  • Chaplains should wear Gold Cross above left pocket of coat.
Class B: Informal Dress, Work/Duty
  • Black Pants/Skirt
  • Black web belt with plain brass buckle
  • White Shirt with Black Tie, or Open Collar. (Chaplains may wear a clergy dickie under the shirt with open collar, or the optional clergy style shirt - see illustration below)
  • Pin-on Metal Rank Insignia on Collar (If shirt has epaulette straps, slide-on epaulette rank insignia may be worn)
  • Black Beret, Black Garrison Hat, Round Combination Hat, or Black Baseball Cap
  • Black plain toe shoes
  • Chaplains should wear Gold Cross above left pocket of coat.
  • Optional Black MA-1 Flight Jacket or Black Military Style Windbreaker
  • At the Unit Commander's Option, the Short Sleeve Shirt may be worn Open Necked without the Tie.
Class C: Work/Duty, or Field
  • Khaki Pants/Skirt
  • Black web belt with plain brass buckle
  • Khaki Shirt with Open Collar. (Chaplains may wear a clergy dickie under the shirt)
  • Pin-on Metal Rank Insignia on Collar (If shirt has epaulette straps, slide-on epaulette rank insignia may be worn).
  • Black Beret, Black Garrison Hat, Round Combination Hat, or Black Baseball Cap. White Hard-Hat may be worn in field.
  • Black plain toe shoes or boots
  • Chaplains should wear Gold Cross above left pocket of coat.
  • Optional Black MA-1 Flight Jacket or Black Military Style Windbreaker
Class D: Work/Field
  • BDU (woodland pattern) Pants
  • Black web belt with plain brass buckle Or Black BDU Belt
  • BDU (woodland pattern) Shirt
  • Pin-on Metal Rank Insignia on Collar
  • BDU (woodland pattern) Cap, Black Beret, Black Baseball Cap, Black Patrol Cap. White Hard-Hat may be worn in field.
  • Black Boots
  • Chaplains should wear Gold Cross above left pocket of coat.
  • Optional BDU (woodland pattern) Field Jacket

Optional Clergy Style Shirt
Worn with Class B Uniform

Name Tag on right chest
Rank Insignia on left chest with
Gold Cross above it.
USCOC Beret
May be worn with Class A, B, C, or D uniforms.
Chaplains may wear the Black Beret or the Maroon Beret

For information on correct wear of the Beret, and tips on shaping it, click here.

Optional 
Worn with Class A, B, or C uniforms.

Optional
Worn with Class A, B, or C uniforms.
Round Combination Hat

Baseball Caps
Worn with Class B, C, or D uniforms only.
 
Chaplain Cap
with Rank Insignia
Non-Chaplain
with Rank Insignia

CafePress Cap
USCOC Logo Patch
on Cap

Custom Baseball Cap (below)
 Worn with Class B, C, or D uniforms only.

(See USCOC Manual for proper devise use)

USCOC Uniform Patches

  • On Class A, B, and C uniforms:
    The USCOC patch on the right shoulder and the dress U.S. Flag patch on the left shoulder.

  • On BDU's:
    The Dress U.S. Flag patch on left shoulder and the Dress Reverse U.S. Flag patch on right Shoulder. The USCOC patch is worn centered on the left chest pocket of the BDU's.

  • NOTE: The USCOC patch is available from USCOC National Headquarters. The USCOC patch may be placed on the black ball cap also.  USCOC Members, click here for ordering information

 

  Rank Insignia is Smooth or Knurled Finish.
No Subdued Rank Insignia is used on the USCOC Uniforms

USCOC Enlisted Rank Insignia
PRIVATE PRIVATE
(PVT) E-1/E-2		 PRIVATE FIRST CLASS
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS (PFC) E-3		 CORPORAL
CORPORAL
(CPL) E-4		 SERGEANT
SERGEANT
(SGT) E-5		 STAFF SERGEANT
STAFF SERGEANT
(SSGT) E-6
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS  (SFC) E-7		 MASTER SERGEANT
MASTER SERGEANT
(MSG) E-8		 FIRST SERGEANT
FIRST SERGEANT
(1SGT) E-8		 SERGEANT MAJOR
SERGEANT MAJOR (SGM) E-9		 COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR
COMMAND SGT MAJOR (CSGM) E-9
USCOC Officer Rank Insignia

SECOND LIEUTENANT
(2LT) O-1
FIRST LIEUTENANT
(1LT) O-2
CAPTAIN
(CPT) O-3
MAJOR
(MAJ) O-4
LIEUTENANT COLONEL
(LTC) O-5

COLONEL
(COL) O-6
BRIGADIER GENERAL
(BG) O-7
MAJOR GENERAL
(MG) O-8
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
(LTG) O-9
GENERAL
(GEN) O-10


For more information on Placement, click here

USCOC Name Tags

The Name Tags for the Class A, B, and C Uniforms should be Gold with Black Lettering as shown above. The word CHAPLAIN on the name tag may be abbreviated to CHAP when needed. The Initial of the first name may be included on the name tag on either the Chaplain or Non-Chaplain name tag. Name Tags are worn over the right pocket of the shirt or coat. On coats without a right pocket, the name tag is centered on the right side and aligned with the top of the left pocket.

The Name Tapes for Class D (BDU) Uniforms should be Black with Gold or Yellow Lettering as follows:

Suggested Uniform Item Suppliers