Your All-Weather Coat might bleed orange. Here's what's happening.

HQMC just published guidance on a manufacturing defect in the All-Weather Coat.

If you own one, this affects you.

Here is what you need to know right now.

Reference: MARADMIN 032/26, signed 2026. Governing document: MCO 1020.34H, Marine Corps Uniform Regulations.

The old problem

Someone noticed that a specific production lot of the All-Weather Coat was bleeding an orange substance when it got wet.

Not a subtle discoloration. A noticeable, staining orange.

The coat becomes unserviceable. It looks unprofessional. And until this MARADMIN, there was no official word on what to do about it.

The new rule (in one line)

All sales and issue of the All-Weather Coat are suspended immediately, and a replacement process is coming.

What the policy actually says

Here is where things stand right now, broken into what is already in effect and what is still coming.

What is already happening:

All AWC sales are suspended. Marine Corps Exchange, online, initial issue. All of it. Stopped.
Recruit Depots are being directed to de-issue AWCs from recruits who already received them.
Any Marine affected at a Recruit Depot will receive a "Due Member" entry. That means the Marine is documented as being owed a replacement item. It gets recorded in the Service Record Book as a Page 11 entry.

What is still coming:

The Defense Logistics Agency is working to identify exactly which contract lots are defective. Once they do, they will notify the Marine Corps.
HQMC I&L will then publish a separate message (a SEPCOR) to the entire Total Force. That message will cover how to survey your coat, how to get a replacement, command responsibilities, timelines, and reporting requirements.

(Translation: the full replacement process is not here yet. This MARADMIN is the "stop everything" order. The "here's how to swap it" order is coming separately.)

Why this is a big deal

The AWC is a required uniform item.

Marines are expected to own it and wear it. It shows up in uniform inspections. It gets worn in formations and official settings.

A coat that turns orange in the rain is not just cosmetic. It renders the uniform unserviceable. And if Marines were unknowingly issued defective coats, they had no way of knowing until it rained on them.

The suspension of all sales matters because it stops the problem from spreading further while the bad lots get identified.

The Page 11 documentation matters because it protects the Marine. It creates a paper trail that the Marine was issued a defective item and is owed a replacement.

No Marine should be on the hook financially for a manufacturing defect.

A smaller note for active-duty Marines

This applies to the Total Force, not just reserves. If you were recently issued an AWC at a Recruit Depot or purchased one recently, watch for the follow-on SEPCOR. It will tell you whether your coat is in the affected lot and what to do next.

The bottom line

The All-Weather Coat has a defect. It bleeds orange when wet. Sales are suspended. A replacement process is coming via a follow-on message. If you were issued one at a Recruit Depot, you should receive documentation that you are owed a replacement.

What to do with this

If you are a Reserve Marine who recently purchased or was issued an AWC:

✦ Do not return it or dispose of it yet. Wait for the follow-on SEPCOR before taking action. ✦ Check whether your coat shows any orange discoloration, especially around seams or after exposure to water. ✦ Contact your unit S-1 or supply section and ask if your coat's lot number has been identified as defective.

If you are a Reserve unit S-1 or admin clerk:

✦ Monitor official message traffic for the follow-on SEPCOR from HQMC I&L. ✦ Be ready to help affected Marines document their situation and navigate the replacement process when guidance drops. ✦ Do not process any new AWC initial issue orders until the suspension is lifted.

If you are a Reserve unit commander or staff:

✦ Do not penalize Marines for lacking a serviceable AWC if the item is suspended from sale. They cannot buy one right now even if they wanted to. ✦ Brief your Marines so they are not surprised at inspections or formations.

If you have questions not answered here:

✦ Point of contact at HQMC I&L: LtCol A.J. Glover, aaron.j.glover@usmc.mil, 571-256-7112. ✦ Point of contact at MARCORSYSCOM: Maj A. Viana, aaron.viana@usmc.mil, 703-716-3812.

This is written by a reservist, for reservists. It is not an official publication of HQMC or MARFORRES. Always verify guidance with your command or unit S-1 before acting on any article or summary.

Need a shorter version of this? The one-paragraph summary is: the AWC has a manufacturing defect, all sales are suspended, and a replacement process is coming via follow-on message. Need more detail on the Page 11 documentation process or the Due Member entry? Ask in the comments or send a note and I will dig into it.

DEFECT AND REPLACEMENT GUIDANCE FOR THE ALL-WEATHER COAT (AWC)