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DIRECTOR'S ORDER #43:
UNIFORM PROGRAM Approved: Robert Stanton /s/ Effective Date: October 1, 2000 Sunset Date: This Order will remain in effect until amended or rescinded NPS-43, "Servicewide Uniform Program Guideline" (Release No. 2, June 1993), is superseded and replaced by this Director’s Order and Reference Manual 43 (RM-43). Table of Contents 1. Purpose and Scope 2. Background and Goals 3. Authorities 4. Roles and Responsibilities 5. Instructions and Requirements 1.
Purpose and Scope This Director’s Order sets forth the policies and procedures necessary to establish, maintain, and administer the National Park Service (NPS) uniform program. This Director’s Order does not address:
2.Background
and Goals The Uniform Image The appearance of uniformed NPS employees greatly influences public perceptions. The uniform and the men and women who wear it, are recognized and respected as symbols of excellence and dedication to resource stewardship and public service. The gray and green colors, distinctive hat, arrowhead patch, and sequoia cones all help to identify NPS employees as stewards of America’s special places. Wearing the uniform, therefore, is a privilege and imposes a great responsibility, steeped in tradition. By wearing the uniform, each employee conveys integrity, competence, pride, and approachability. The American people have entrusted the NPS with their most treasured places. As a measure of their pride in that trust, employees must wear the uniform in such a way as to present a competent and confident image to the Nation and to the world. Accordingly, the goals of the NPS uniform program are to:
3. Authorities Authority to issue this Director’s Order is contained in 16 USC 1 -- 4 (NPS Organic Act), and the delegation of authority contained in Part 245 of the Department of the Interior Manual. Authority to establish the NPS uniform program is contained in 5 USC 5901 -- 5903. The NPS uniform program is subject to the annual monetary allowance specified in 16 USC 1a-4. Use of the NPS arrowhead symbol and badge is governed by 36 CFR Part 11. Unauthorized use is a criminal offense, punishable in accordance with 18 USC 641 and 701. 4. Roles and Responsibilities 4.1 Associate Director, Park Operations and Education, acting through the Washington Office (WASO), Division of Ranger Activities, will oversee the uniform program, develop policies and standards, and administer the uniform contract. The Associate Director will issue, and review and revise as appropriate, RM-43. 4.2 Uniform Program Manager, WASO, Division of Ranger Activities, will oversee the NPS uniform program and direct program implementation. 4.3 Service-wide Uniform Committee, chaired by the Uniform Program Manager, will provide support and guidance in the development and revision of uniform policy and the development of apparel items. The 12-member committee will include regional uniform managers (or designees) and one member (or designee) from the advisory councils from each of the following disciplines: ranger activities, interpretation, maintenance, resource management, and administration. In the absence of an advisory council, a field employee will be appointed from the discipline. 4.4 Regional Directors, or as delegated, Associate Regional Director, Park Operations, will ensure compliance with the Service's uniform standards and administer the uniform program for their regions. 4.5 Regional Uniform Managers manage their regional program on a daily basis and provide liaison between parks, the uniform contractor, and the Uniform Program Manager. 4.6 Superintendents and Managers, in accordance with the criteria contained in this Director’s Order and RM-43, will determine which positions in their parks or offices require wearing of a uniform, and specify the particular uniform(s) to be worn. In addition, they will develop and communicate park uniform and appearance standards in accordance with this Director’s Order, and implement sufficient and appropriate controls to insure compliance herewith (see also section 5.4.2, Accountability). 4.7 Park Uniform Coordinator will be responsible for administering the uniform program at the park level, as delegated by the superintendent. 4.8 Supervisors will regularly evaluate their uniformed subordinates for compliance with this Director’s Order, and provide counseling or recommend remedial action for violations of uniform standards. Supervisors will set an example through their own appearance and behavior while in uniform. 4.9 Employees whose position requires wearing the NPS uniform will do so in accordance with this Director’s Order, the accompanying Reference Manual and approved park uniform standards, and will conduct themselves professionally at all times when in uniform. These are conditions of employment for all uniformed employees. A "Condition of Employment Statement" must be signed prior to acceptance of any proffered uniformed position (see Exhibit A). Proper wearing of the uniform includes: (1) wearing all prescribed uniform items; (2) wearing the uniform at all prescribed times; and (3) maintaining a clean and neat personal appearance (taking into account the nature of work assignments). 5. Instructions and Requirements 5.1 Criteria for Designating Uniformed Positions 5.1.1 Authorized Wear. Only NPS employees [i.e., those whose employment requires a Request for Personnel Action (SF-52)] are authorized to wear the NPS uniform. Occupants of the following positions are authorized to wear the NPS uniform on a full-time or occasional basis, and are provided with a uniform allowance: ·
Positions
requiring regular and recurring public contact; ·
Positions
involving duties of any kind that require clear identification with the NPS; ·
Positions
involving representation of the NPS outside the park or office environment,
such as interpretive, informational, or recruitment activities; ·
Central office
positions involving regular contact with uniformed employees; and ·
Other positions
that the Superintendent or manager considers essential for the maintenance of
morale, team identity, and esprit de corps. 5.1.2 Condition of Employment. To ensure that incoming employees understand that uniform and personal appearance standards are conditions of employment, the following actions will be taken: ·
Vacancy
Announcements for uniformed positions will contain a notice that the occupant
is required to wear the uniform in accordance with applicable policies, and
will be required to sign an acknowledgement letter (see RM43); ·
Position
Descriptions will reflect the requirement to wear the NPS uniform in
accordance with this Director’s Order; ·
When the
selecting official offers the position, verbal notification of the same will
be given; and ·
The attached
letter (Exhibit A) must be signed and dated by each prospective employee. This must be done prior to appointment to any
uniformed position, regardless of length of NPS service, and a copy of
the letter will be placed in his or her Official Personnel Folder. 5.1.3 Unauthorized Wear. Persons not employed by the NPS may not wear any identifiable part of the official NPS uniform, or dress in a manner that attempts to duplicate the appearance thereof. Such persons include: ·
VIPs; ·
Members of
natural history, cooperating, or conservation associations, including the
Student Conservation Association, members of Job Corps, Youth Conservation
Corps, or other work projects; ·
Student interns
or students or faculty of cooperative park study units (CPSUs); ·
Concession
employees; and ·
Retired NPS
employees. 5.2 Uniform Classes and Categories 5.2.1 Uniform Classes. When selecting the classes of uniform to be worn, the rule is to dress up, not down (that is, given an option, dressier components are always preferred). For an expanded list of uniform components authorized for each class, see RM-43, Subpart A, section 2. 5.2.1.a Service. The standard uniform for employees engaged primarily in public contact and office duties. This class allows managers to prescribe components that dress up the standard components for ceremonial and high profile occasions, or dress down slightly for light, outdoor duties (corresponds to Class A Service and Semi-Formal uniforms identified in the 1993 guideline). 5.2.1.b Field. The standard uniform for employees whose primary duties involve public contact or who are in the public view, where environmental conditions dictate a more practical uniform (corresponds to Class A Field and Class B Service uniforms identified in the 1993 guideline). 5.2.1.c Work. The standard uniform for employees whose primary duties involve significant physical work; whose public contact work is a secondary function; and where the uniform can reasonably be expected to get soiled, stained, or rumpled. Positions typically assigned to this uniform include those engaged in work projects, backcountry, and some resource management duties (corresponds to Class A and B work uniforms identified in the 1993 guideline). 5.2.2 Special Uniforms — two types are defined for Service-wide use: 5.2.2.a Maternity: For any uniformed female employee during any stage of her pregnancy. 5.2.2.b Formal Attire: A white, long-sleeved shirt, purchased from the open market, is worn with the uniform tie, under the Dress Service Coat (see RM-43, Subpart A, section 2, for specifications), for formal occasions where a 3-piece or evening suit might be worn, or where military personnel would wear a tuxedo shirt under their dress coat. 5.2.3 Work Apparel. Managers may determine that a group/category/employee class needs other special work apparel due to safety and/or environmental conditions. Such items may include, but are not limited to: lifeguard, ski, and snowmobile clothing; painter’s whites; welder’s aprons; firefighting, caving, bicycle-patrol, and boat-patrol apparel; tool belts; and flight suits. Special work apparel items are not available from the contractor; they are combined with standard uniform components. When specifically required and approved (in a park’s uniform standards; see section 5.5), for identified duties, these items will be provided by the government (see RM-43, Subpart A, section 2). 5.2.4 Uniform Items. The NPS Service-wide uniform contractor supplies all components that are authorized as part of the NPS uniform. Only the items supplied by this contractor or items specified in this Director’s Order and Reference Manual 43, are authorized for wear as uniform items. 5.2.5 Non-Uniform Items. Employees in uniform are specifically prohibited from wearing non-uniform items, other than as undergarments. Undergarments (including t-shirts) must not be visible. Garments bearing the NPS arrowhead marketed through Eastern National as part of the arrowhead products program (Arrowhead Products) are expressly prohibited from wear with the uniform. 5.2.6 Ornaments. Pins (including length-of-service pins), badges (other than the NPS-issued badge), insignia, ribbons, decorations, pin-on jewelry, and similar items, may not be worn on the uniform. The NPS-issued badge and the NPS-provided name bar are the only two ornaments approved for regular wear on the uniform. The Associate Director, Park Operations and Education may approve, in writing, the wearing of special commemorative pins, provided they comply with provisions of RM43, Subpart A, section 3. The Director or a regional director may approve, in writing, wearing NPS badge covers for a specified, limited-time period (see RM43, Subpart A, section 3). 5.3 Wear and Appearance Standards 5.3.1 Wear Standards. Upon reporting for duty, employees must ensure that they are in the appropriate uniform for scheduled duties, and that uniform components are neat and clean. Commensurate with work assignments, effort will be made to keep the uniform neat throughout the day (for specific recommendations, see RM-43, Subpart A, section 3). 5.3.2 Personal Appearance and Grooming Standards. Personal appearance and grooming standards for all uniformed employees are necessary to achieve the desired image as articulated in section 2 above. The following further clarifies the Service-wide objectives that will be achieved: ·
Maintain a
neutral image that encourages approachability and interaction with the
broadest spectrum of the visiting public; ·
Ensure employee
safety; ·
Project a
positive appearance which the public has come to associate with the NPS while
embracing diversity; ·
Promote
relations with cooperating organizations with similar standards; and ·
Maintain good
order and discipline, which are integral to uniformity among all uniformed
employees. RM-43, Subpart A, section 3, articulates personal appearance and grooming standards based on job function. Grooming standards for commissioned law enforcement personnel are contained in Reference Manual 9. These standards include items of personal adornment. 5.3.3 Exemptions from Requirements 5.3.3.a Exemptions to the wear and appearance standards may be granted upon written request based on the following categories: (1) health and safety; (2) employee assigned to covert or undercover operations; (3) the employee is a costumed interpreter, or (4) accommodation for individuals pursuant to equal employment opportunity policy and regulations. It is the NPS’s policy that no individual will be discriminated against on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or status as a parent. The NPS may make reasonable accommodations to the religious needs of employees when those accommodations may be made without undue hardship on the business of the NPS. The NPS may make reasonable accommodations to the known physical and mental limitations of employees with disabilities unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation on the NPS (see also section 5.5). 5.3.3.b A regional director may grant individual exemptions from uniform wear and appearance standards in this Order on a case-by-case basis, only on determination of the superintendent, regional review and coordination with the Office of the Solicitor. Blanket exemptions are prohibited. 5.3.3.c A medical doctor having professional expertise in the field of the stated problem must sign medical and health exemption requests. The statement must correlate the condition with the uniform or appearance standard. Managers or supervisors may require the employee to obtain a second, independent occupational medical evaluation. If findings of the subsequent evaluation conflict with the justification provided in the original request, a park and/or regional employee relations specialist will review the case and submit a recommendation to the regional director for final decision. 5.3.3.d A regional-level, employee-relations specialist will review religious exemption requests. (See also Director’s Order #93: Conflict Resolution) 5.4 Program Administration 5.4.1 Uniform Ownership and Use 5.4.1.a Uniform items purchased with uniform allowances or personal funds become the property of the employee once they are received and accepted by the employee. From time of shipment until acceptance, uniform items are property of the government and are under the administrative control of the receiving area as accountable property. 5.4.1.b Employees may not acquire uniform components for any other person either with their uniform allowance or with personal funds. 5.4.1.c Special work apparel items that are purchased with government funds are government property and must be handled in accordance with the provisions of Director’s Order #44: Personal Property Management, and Director’s Order #50B: Occupational Health and Safety (for personal protective equipment). 5.4.1.d The NPS arrowhead and badge symbols are the property of the Federal government. The use of these symbols is restricted to official activities (including uses authorized through the Arrowhead Products line). Employees and former employees may wear retired uniform components off-duty, provided that the NPS arrowhead and badge have been removed (see also Director’s Order #44: Personal Property Management for disposition of insignia.). 5.4.1.e Disposition of retired uniform items. To insure the integrity of the NPS uniform and its components, and to safeguard against possible misuse of said items, employees should always remove arrowhead patches, badges, name bars/patches, hatbands and belts before donating unusable garments to charity or use as rags. Retired badges (due to broken pins, excessive wear, other), must be turned over to a property officer and disposed of in accordance with Director’s Order #44. 5.4.2 Accountability Regional directors and superintendents will set up and conduct annual evaluations of their uniform programs and compliance with this Director’s Order and the accompanying Reference Manual. 5.4.3 Uniform Allowances and Accounting 5.4.3.a Uniform Allowances and Replacement Allowances. Pursuant to 16 USC 1a-4 and 5 USC 5901 -- 5903, and absent any other specific provision of law, uniform and replacement allowances will be set as provided in RM-43, Subpart B, section 4. Such allowances are provided to help defray the cost of wearing a uniform. They are not intended to completely cover the cost of all uniform needs. See RM-43, Subpart B, for uniform allowance authorizations and administrative processes. 5.4.3.b Cost Account: All uniform allowance funds, as authorized by the uniform allowance authorization process, will be held in account # 2460-SZV. 5.5 Park Uniform Standards Written park uniform standards, in conformity with RM-43, Subpart A, section 4, are required for each area. Such standards will specify which of the uniform options authorized by this Director’s Order will apply in a particular park, office, or team. Where local options are authorized (including exceptions for costumed interpretation, covert operations, specialty tasks, health and safety), superintendents will ensure uniformity within their areas (see also section 5.3.3.a.) Where there is a question of which class of uniform or option to choose, the rule is to dress up, not down. Park uniform standards must be submitted to the regional director for approval. Park standards will be brief and follow the template provided in RM-43, Subpart A, Section 4. ----- End of
Director’s Order -----
Exhibit A Date Presented: _______________ [Must be signed prior to appointment date] CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT STATEMENT I, ___________________________, understand that correct wearing of the uniform, adherence to specified personal appearance standards, and proper conduct while in uniform are conditions of my employment with the National Park Service. I further understand I will be held to the current Service-wide (or more restrictive approved) uniform policy standards on conduct and bearing, and personal appearance. I understand that failure to conform to uniform, personal appearance, and conduct and bearing standards, may lead to disciplinary action. _____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________ Original: Employee Official Personnel File cc: Employee Supervisor |
