GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

1. Uniforms should be neat, clean, pressed, and in serviceable condition.
2. Personnel should make every effort to maintain a neat, clean, and professional appearance when in contact with the public.
3. No substitutions for issued uniform items will be allowed, unless approved by a fire chief.
4. Employees should immediately report any loss of uniforms, badges, insignia, identification cards, or any other city property entrusted to them. A memo reporting the loss should be sent to the quarter master and through the chain of command.
5. Only wear Red Oak Fire Rescue issued uniforms

Personnel will be in uniform at 0700 hours and will remain in uniform until relieved at each shift change.

UNIFORMS

1. Shirts
   
   1. Blue Dress Shirt: Will be worn by fire suppression personnel, ranks firefighter through captain as dress uniform only (see dress uniform).
   2. White Dress Shirt: Will be worn by chief officers, and the fire marshal.

   The dress shirt will be worn with nameplate, badge, appropriate collar insignia, and appropriate patches. All buttons will be buttoned with the exception of the top button unless a tie is worn. The short sleeve shirt or long sleeve shirt may be worn at the discretion of each individual for regular duty days.Special events or assignments will require the wearing of the issued tie with the long sleeve blue or white dress shirt (i.e., funerals, graduations, or any other event designated by a chief officer as a “dress uniform” event). (See dress uniform)

   3. Polo Shirt: The fire department-issued polo shirt will be worn by fire suppression personnel ranks firefighter through captain.
   4. Chief Officers shall wear white dress shirts unless approved by Fire Chief.
   5. Tails of polo shirt are to be worn inside trousers.
2. Pants
   
   1. Dress Slacks: Worn by suppression personnel as duty uniform.
   2. EMS Pants: Worn by suppression personnel at the discretion of each individual for regular duty shirts
3. SocksSocks should be black. They may have a white sole. White socks are acceptable while wearing boots.
4. Ties
   
   1. Black ties will be issued by the fire department. If purchased by the individual, they must be the same width and length in final appearance. The material should also look the same.
   2. Ties will not normally be required for regular duty.
   3. Special events or assignments will require a tie with the appropriate long sleeve dress shirt (i.e., funerals, promotional ceremonies, graduation, or any other event designated by a chief officer on a “dress uniform” event).
5. Duty Uniform
   • Polo Shirt
   • Uniform pants
   • Navy Blue Shorts
   • Black Boots or Shoes
   • Black Belt
6. Dress UniformThe dress uniform will consist of the appropriate long sleeve dress shirt with badge, rank insignia, name, tag, service awards, and patches. A tie will be worn with the dress uniform, the navy blue dress pants issued by the fire department. The black belt and approved footwear will also be worn. No baseball caps will be worn with the dress uniform.
7. Baseball Caps
   
   1. Baseball caps are optional
   2. Baseball caps are not to be worn with the dress uniform.
8. Footwear
   
   1. Shoes or boots worn with the uniform must be black. They should be shined and in serviceable condition.
   2. Shoes or boots must be a smooth-grained leather or similar synthetic material having an acceptable likeness to leather. Shoes or boots constructed of oiled or rough leather that cannot be shined are not permitted. Shoes or boots constructed of canvas are not acceptable.
   3. Shoes or boots must have black stitching and black leather or synthetic soles (no crepe soles).
   4. Shoes or boots should have a plain rounded toe.
   5. Wing tips or shoes with ornamental designs, straps, or tassels are not acceptable.
   6. Heels for shoes will be no greater than 1 1/2” from top of the sole to the bottom of the heel. Heels for boots will be no greater than 1 5/8” from the top of the sole to the bottom of the heel.
9. InsigniaThe fire department will issue all badges, nametags, buckles, buttons, and rank insignia. They will be gold or silver according to rank. No other insignia may be worn on or with the uniform without permission of a chief officer.
   • Chief Officers: Gold
   • Captains: Gold
   • Lieutenants: Gold
   • Driver/Engineers: Silver
   • Firefighters: Silver
10. Collar Insignia
    • Chief 5 crossed bugles
    • Deputy Chief 4 crossed bugles
    • Battalion Chief 3 crossed bugles
    • Captain 2 crossed bugles
    • Lieutenant 1 bugle (all gold)
11. NameplatesNameplates are to be centered on the right pocket with the top edge of plate parallel and parallel and approximately ¼ “ below the top edge of the pocket.
12. BadgesBadges will not be worn on shirts of suppression personnel, ranks firefighter through captain, during regular duty shifts, with the following exceptions:
    1. at the discretion of the station officer or chief officers.
    2. with dress uniformBadge Shrouding: The shrouding of a badge is accomplished by placing a ½ “ to ¾ “ piece of black material horizontally at the badge’s midpoint entirely around the badge. Badge shrouding will be done at the direction of a chief officer.

RED OAK FIRE RESCUE SERVICE BARS

1. PurposeThe purpose of these service awards is to distinctively display awards given by the department. Our personnel are valued employees and we want to stress this value.
2. ObjectiveTo display various merit, academic, and seniority awards given by the department.
   1. Wearing of Metals and AwardsThe Departmental Award Ribbons are not designed for everyday wear. They are to be worn only in situations that warrant the wearing of Department dress shirt, dark dress slacks, and badge. Situations where service bars might be worn are: promotional ceremonies, funerals, council commendations, television appearances, or where a dress appearance is required. In most of these situations the departmental issue tie will be worn.
   2. Location of Bars on shirtAward bars will be worn ¼ “over the top of the right pocket. The name badge will be worn on the pocket tab below the award bars. The location of a single award bar will be above the pocket in the center of the flap line. Two bars will be in a holder located in the center of the area above the pocket. Three bars in a holder will be located across the top of the pocket flap line. They will be centered as much as possible.Seniority bars will always be the bar in a multiple set that are located on the right side of the double or triple holder. Seniority bars are to be placed in multiple sets every time. All other award bar sequence is up to the wearer. Only one seniority bar may be worn at a time.
   3. Award Bar Categories
      
      • Seniority Bar: Bars awarded to individuals to reward time-in-service. These awards are given in five- year increments.
      • Fire Fighter of the Year: Awarded to outstanding fire fighter designated Fire Fighter of the Year.
      • Paramedic of the Year: Awarded to outstanding paramedic designated Paramedic of the Year.
      • Master Fire Fighter: Awarded to fire fighter who carries a Master Fire Fighter’s Certification from the Commission on Fire Protection Standards.
      • Merit Award: Awarded to individual who solely deserves special recognition on some type of fire rescue assignment.
      • Council Commendation: Awarded to fire fighter who is given a special Council Commendation individually.
      • Life Saving Award: Awarded to fire fighters who participate in life saving efforts as described below:
      • Any situation, whether fire, rescue, or EMS, which results in a life being saved that obviously would have been lost had fire fighter intervention not occurred.
      • All members of the crew who perform functions that have direct impact on the life-saving efforts will be eligible for the award.
   4. Logos
      • An approved (by the fire chief) Red Oak Fire Rescue logo is acceptable on physical training T-shirts, gym shorts, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and windbreakers. A chief officer must approve clothing with other logos.
   5. Optional Wear
      
      1. Jackets: The jacket issued by the fire department may be worn at the discretion of the employee.
      2. Windbreakers: An non- issued windbreaker may be worn at the discretion of the employee. It may not be worn with dress uniform. It must be approved by the chief.
      3. Sweatshirt: The sweatshirt may be worn at the discretion of the employee. It may not be worn with the dress uniform.
      4. Jewelry: Jewelry worn by employees in uniform will be conservative and minimal in amount. Uniformed personnel may wear a wristwatch, medic alert bracelet, or identification bracelet. Rings may be worn, buy only one on each hand. A wedding set will be considered as one ring. Earrings, ear studs, and other decorative jewelry should not be worn.
      5. Necklaces may be worn, but must remain concealed from view beneath the uniform shirt.

   PHYSICAL TRAINING UNIFORM (PT UNIFORM)

   • Shorts
   • Issued T-shirts
   • Socks – White
   • Shoes – Personnel are encouraged to purchase a good quality athletic shoe for comfort and support.
   • Issued Sweatshirts
   • Issued Sweatpants
   • Watch Cap – Solid navy blue; may be worn during cold weather.
   • Baseball Cap

   CALLS RECEIVED DURING WORKOUT If a call is received while working out, shorts must either be covered with bunker pants or duty pants.

   Personnel should not lounge in station in PT uniform. Personnel are encouraged to return to duty wear as soon as possible after physical training.

    

   APPEARANCE SAFETY REGULATIONS These rules pertaining to hairstyles, length of hair, sideburns, moustaches, beards, and makeup are necessary to ensure employee safety.

   1. No hair should be exposed during fire suppression operations. This includes moustaches and sideburns.
   2. Hair should in no way interfere with, or lessen, the ability to perform any EMS skill or patient care. Hair will not hang in personnel’s way, nor will hair come in contact with a patient, any exposure, or any EMS equipment.
   3. No hair should interfere with, or lessen, the protection afforded by required safety equipment. Hair should not be visible outside the hood, mask, or helmet under any circumstances.

   APPEARANCE GROOMING REGULATIONS

   ALL GROOMING REGULATIONS MUST MEET NFPA 1500- 5-3.9

   These rules pertaining to hairstyles, length of hair, sideburns, moustaches, beards, and makeup are necessary to ensure a measure of grooming uniformity representative of the department’s professional image.

   1. All uniformed personnel should be clean-shaven, except that a moustache may be permitted. If a moustache is worn, the following guidelines should be utilized.
      
      1. All grooming regulations must meet NFPA 1500 –5-3.9
      2. Moustaches will be trimmed so they do not interfere with the seal of the S.C.B.A Face piece.
   2. Sideburns are acceptable, provided they meet the following guidelines:
      
      1. Sideburns should not extend downward below the bottom of the earlobe and will end in a clean-shaven horizontal line.
      2. Sideburns should be kept neatly trimmed and will not be busy or flared.
      3. Eccentric sideburns that attract undue attention will not be permitted.
      4. Hairstyles of all uniformed male personnel should conform to the following guidelines.
      5. Hair should be neat, well trimmed, and combed at all times, except under the most adverse conditions, such as during emergency operations. Ragged, unkempt, appearance will not be permitted.
      6. Hair, when combed, will not present a ragged, unkempt, or extreme appearance.
      7. Hair in the back should not extend below the top of the dress shirt collar. When the person is in a standing position with the head erect. The length of the hair will not present a ragged, unkempt, or extreme appearance.
      8. Bangs should not extend lower then ¼ “ above the eyebrows.
      9. Hair should not cover more than three-fourths of the ear.
      10. Hair should not be dyed an unusual or unnatural color.
      11. Hair should not be worn in an extreme or fad style, such as a Mohawk, ducktail, braids, or in a way that exceeds length standards.
      12. Wigs or hairpieces are acceptable if they meet all of the hair guidelines.
   3. Hairstyles of all uniformed female personnel:
      
      1. Hair shall be neat, well trimmed, and combed at all times, except under the most adverse conditions, such as during emergency operations. Ragged, unkempt, appearance will not be permitted.
      2. Hairstyles must maintain a professional appearance representative of the department. Hair should not be dyed an unusual or unnatural color.
      3. If longer or loose hair violates a safety regulation, then it must be braided and/or held in place. Items used by female personnel to hold the hair in place should be concealed as much as possible and should be of a color and style that blends with the uniforms. Decorative items such as ribbons and combs will not be worn in the hair.