PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE FULL UNIFORM POLICY HERE FOR PICTURES, AND DIAGRAMS
OFFICIAL
UNIFORM POLICY OF THE ESC(SA)
1) The purpose of this policy is to establish a guideline for all members of the ESC (SA) as to present an uniform standard of the ESC (SA).
2) This policy also recognizes that Chaplains can wear two kinds of uniform, in the case of those Chaplains who are appointed as official Chaplains within local / provincial government Emergency Services / Metro Police departments.
It must be noted that Chaplains who are authorized to wear official EMS / Metro Police uniforms, must adhere to the uniform policy of such department. Under most, if not all, situations, Chaplains can also wear the relevant ESC (SA) position markings & lapel and / or breast badges, as approved by the relevant Chief of such department(s).
These departments have their own prerogative as to introduce departmental Chaplain breast shields, eg. the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services and the Metropolitan Police.
3) All registered, paid-up members of the ESC (SA) can wear the Chaplains uniform, and it is imperative that the correct uniform is worn, and in the correct manner.
a) SUMMER UNIFORM (MALES)
Ø Open neck white pilot shirt (short sleeve), with side straps;
Ø Chaplain position markings: Relevant Chaplain georgettes (OPTIONAL for normal chaplains, but required for positioning identification on chaplains in a senior roll, normal chaplains must wear the for formal occasions) The georgettes should be worn, with the collar seam sticking out at the sides and bottom. Thus, it should not stick out over the edges of the collar but at least have a minimum of 5mm of the collar creating a border around it. No georgettes are ever worn on a shirt when wearing a tie. When a tie is worn, the georgettes should be on the jacket.
Ø Chaplain Rank epaulettes
Ø Chaplain shoulder flashes; Please note that the Bird on the flashes should always be facing to the front, thus, you will have two different flashes, a left and a right one.
Ø Chaplain breast badge (to be worn on the LEFT side); 2cm above the shirt pocket centre.
Ø Name plate (to be worn on the RIGHT side) 5mm above shirt pocket, centre:
Ø Black pair of formal trousers, with black belt; “no black jeans or casual pants may be worn”.
Ø Black socks;
Ø Black shoes / boots;
Ø Chaplain purple lanyard (to be worn on the RIGHT side); with end going into the right pocket.
Ø Any ribbons which the Chaplain is entitled to wear (OPTIONAL, more for formal occasions);
Ø Chaplain cap, with purple band, “peace leaf” peak and the Chaplain cap badge (OPTIONAL, but must be worn where required, eg. training schools; parades; military and police installations; funerals).
Ø Chaplaincy Baseball cap. (OPTIONAL, more for operational use, for protection against sun or rain) The executive members will have a protea on their caps, as well as the Regional Chief Chaplains. Other chaplains may only use baseball caps with normal peace leaves.
PLEASE NOTE: When wearing long sleeve shirt, the shirt must be closed at the neck, the Chaplain plain purple tie must be worn, and NO Chaplain georgettes are worn, NEITHER must a lanyard be worn in this case.
b) WINTER UNIFORM (MALES)
Ø Closed neck white shirt (short or long sleeve) together with the Chaplain plain purple tie OR an open neck white shirt can be worn, without the tie;
Ø Black jersey with side straps OR black “bomber” jacket with side straps;
Ø Chaplain position markings: Relevant Chaplain georgettes (OPTIONAL for normal chaplains, but required for positioning identification on chaplains in a senior roll, normal chaplains must wear them for formal occasions) The georgettes should be worn, with the collar seam sticking out at the sides and bottom. Thus, it should not stick out over the edges of the collar but at least have a minimum of 5mm of the collar creating a border around it. No georgettes are ever worn on a shirt when wearing a tie. When a tie is worn, the georgettes should be on the jacket. NO Chaplain georgettes are worn on this uniform if a jersey is worn, but the georgettes are warn on the “bomber” jacket;
Ø Chaplain Rank epaulettes (wear on jersey) and bomer jackets, or other jackets;
Ø Chaplain shoulder flashes (wear on jersey or jackets) Please note that the Bird on the flashes should always be facing to the front, thus, you will have two different flashes, a left and a right one;
Ø Chaplain saw-on breast badge and name plate should be worn on jersey OR breast badge and nameplate on black “bomber” jacket, but lanyards are not worn on a jersey, but they must be worn on the “bomber” jacket;
Ø Black pair of formal trousers, with black belt, “no black jeans or casual pants may be worn”;
Ø Black socks;
Ø Black shoes / boots;
Ø Any ribbons which the Chaplain is entitled to wear (OPTIONAL, only for “bomber” jacket);
Ø Chaplain cap, with purple band, “peace leaf” peak and the Chaplain cap badge (OPTIONAL, but must be worn where required, eg. training schools; parades; military and police installations; funerals).
Ø Chaplaincy Baseball cap. (OPTIONAL, more for operational use, for protection against sun or rain) The executive members will have a protea on their caps, as well as the Regional Chief Chaplains. Other chaplains may only use baseball caps with normal peace leaves.:
c) FORMAL / STEP-OUT UNIFORM (MALES)
Ø Closed neck white shirt (short or long sleeve);
Ø Chaplain plain purple tie;
Ø Black jacket with side straps and gold plated buttons;
Ø Relevant Chaplain georgettes on formal jacket only, not on the shirts; The georgettes should be worn, with the collar sticking out at least 5mm at the sides and bottom. Thus, it should not stick out over the edges of the collar but at least have a minimum of 5mm of the collar creating a border around it. No georgettes are ever worn on a shirt when wearing a tie, or formal uniform. When a tie is worn, the georgettes should only be on the jacket.
Ø Chaplain purple lanyard (to be worn on the RIGHT side);
Ø Chaplain rank epaulettes (wear on jacket);
Ø Chaplain shoulder flashes (wear on jacket) Please note that the Bird on the flashes should always be facing to the front, thus, you will have two different flashes, a left and a right one;
Ø Chaplain breast badge (to be worn on the LEFT side) 2cm above the shirt pocket centre;
Ø Name plate (to be worn on the RIGHT side) 5mm above shirt pocket, centre;
Ø Any medals / decorations which the Chaplain is entitled to wear;
Ø Black pair of formal trousers, with black belt;
Ø Black socks;
Ø Black shoes / boots;
Ø Chaplain cap, with purple band, “peace leaf” peak and the Chaplain cap badge;
Ø Black leather gloves (for parades; funerals; etc.);
PLEASE NOTE: The Chaplain lapel badge can be worn on the summer uniform above the Chaplain’s nameplate, but it is not for use on the collar when wearing the ESC (SA) uniform.
4) CHAPLAIN GEORGETTES
a) Executive georgettes: (seven leaves)
- National Executive members of the ESC(SA):
Elected office bearers, and acting executive members will wear these georgettes. The correct way of wearing them is with the 3 leaves showing in, and the 4 leaves showing outwards. An executive officer will be entitled to wear his executive georgettes after completion of his/her time in the elected office. However, a member that resigns before their term in office is over, or are released from duties without a honourable discharge may not continue wearing these georgettes. They will have to go back to wearing the 1 stripe georgettes
b) 3-stripes georgettes:
- Regional Chief Chaplains: as appointed by their regions and approved by the national Executive Committee. This R.C.C. needs to have at least 5 Chaplains in his / her region, as per the regional policy. They may only wear these georgettes whilst in the position of Regional Chief Chaplain, and will have to stop wearing them, should they no longer be the elected person in that position.
c),, 2-Stripe with thin third stripe in the Middle:
- Deputy Regional Chief Chaplains, or Sub Regional Co-ordinating chaplains will be appointed by the Regional Chief Chaplain, and they will be wearing this insignia to show to their position. They may only wear these georgettes whilst in the position of Regional Chief Chaplain, and will have to stop wearing them, should they no longer be the appointed person in that position.
d) 2-stripes georgettes:
- District Chaplains: as appointed by their regions and approved by the national Executive Committee. This D.C. needs to have at least 3 Chaplains in his / her district. The region also needs at least two districts. They may only wear these georgettes whilst in the position of Regional Chief Chaplain, and will have to stop wearing them, should they no longer be the appointed person in that position.
e) 1-stripe georgettes:
All Chaplains are entitled to wear these, as per uniform policy.
REGION: (5 or more Chaplains);
1) District if less than 6 Chaplains and no geographical / municipal boundaries are crossed; OR
2) or more Districts, provided that each District has at least 3 Chaplains, and that such Districts are crossing geographical / municipal boundaries, eg. Northern KwaZulu-Natal Region with 4 Chaplains in Newcastle District, 7 in Vryheid District and 3 in Paulpietersburg District.
PLEASE NOTE that both the Georgettes and the shoulder flashes are “left” and “right” sided. On the shoulder flashes it must be noted that the “eagle’s head” must ALWAYS face forward, PLEASE ensure that your uniform is correctly worn.
5. EPAULETTES
5.1 All chaplains will be wearing the purple epaulettes with the gold Alpha Omega on it.
5.2 The Executive members that are currently in their elected office will be wearing gold epaulettes, with the purple Alpha Omega on the epaulettes. This will indicate that they are the current serving executive members. When the executive members has completed their term in office, the will have to go back to wearing the purple epaulettes, but may continue wearing the executive georgettes to indicate that they are ex-executive members, should they meet the requirements as stipulated in point 4a.
6. Uniform Dress Code:
6.1 When in uniform, chaplains must be dressed in accordance with the relevant uniform policy.
6.2 When making use of the dress uniform, members may not mix civilian clothing with their uniforms, except with regard to personal protective equipment.
6.3 Only issued and approved uniform items shall be worn.
6.4 The uniform must be maintained in a clean and neat condition.
6.5 Uniform, or uniform pieces, shall not be tampered with, or modified as to distort original design.
6.6 Black belts must be worn in the loops provided.
6.7 Outdated uniforms shall not be worn, unless permitted by the executive of the ESC(SA)
6.8 Jerseys shall not be worn under uniform shirts.
6.9 In the event of a T-shirt worn under the uniform, it should be a plain white t-shirt.
6.10 When on duty or dressed in uniform, members of the ESC(SA) shall not enter premises where intoxicating liquor is served to the public, nor into adult stores or casino’s, except when necessary in the execution of their duties.
6.11 When on duty or dressed in uniform, members of the ESC(SA) may not be smoking any tobacco products, or drinking any form of liquor, nor be using any form of illegal substances.
6.12 The appearance of uniform clothing and the conduct of the person at all times shall be beyond criticism, building the image and being an ambassador for the Emergency Services Chaplaincy of Southern Africa.
6.13 Only reasonable jewellery shall be permitted while on duty, or when wearing the uniform. These will be stipulated in point 7 of this document.
7. HAIRSTYLES, SIDE BURNS AND MOUSTACHES.
7.1 The hairstyles for female members as illustrated below shall be adhered to.
7.2 The hairstyles for male members as illustrated below shall be adhered to.
7.3 The moustache and beard of male members must be grown along the natural hairline contours of the face and must be a natural full beard from the ear to the chin and to the top of the adam's apple.
7.4 This is applicable to all members wearing our uniform.
-Please see the illustrations in the downloadable copy of this document -
8. JEWELLERY.
8.1 Male members may wear a wrist watch
8.2 Male members may wear a wedding ring or one ring per hand on the ring finger.
8.3 Male members may wear a single thin chain around the neck for either a religious symbol, or even a medic alert shield. No other neck jewellery will be allowed.
8.4 Male members, only medic-alert arm bracelets may be worn.
8.5 Female members may only wear Wedding and/or engament rings and/or a single ring per hand on the ring finger.
8.6 Female members may only wear ear studs with a maximum with of 13mm or earrings (sleepers) with a maximum with of 3mm. Only one earring per ear is allowed.
8.7 Female members may wear a wrist watch
8.8 Female members, only medic-alert arm bracelets may be worn.
8.9 No other arm jewellery may be worn.
8.10 Female members may wear a single thin chain around the neck for either a religious symbol, or even a medic alert shield. No other neck jewellery will be allowed.
8.11 All members may not wear any other jewellery, this includes jewellery worn on the nose, eyebrow, or any other visible part of the body.
9., TATTOO MARKS.
9.1 No tattoo mark may be visible when wearing a uniform.