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FEDERAL DISTRICT

UNIFORM HANDBOOK

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INTRODUCTION

St. John Ambulance Community Services volunteers wear uniforms to readily identify

themselves as first aiders and medical first responders (MFRs) to the public. Our uniforms

represent a level of authority and must be worn with pride and respect at all times.

Members should ensure that they are properly attired for the event they are attending and any

possible weather conditions they may encounter. Uniforms should be neat and wrinkle free to

project a professional image when in the public eye and when working alongside healthcare

professionals. Members who are not properly attired may be sent home from duties.

The following manual outlines the different uniforms worn by Juniors, Cadets, Crusaders,

Medical First Responders and Therapy Dog volunteers. In addition, explanations of the rank

system and of various awards are detailed, including their placement on the uniform.

JUNIOR UNIFORMS

Juniors (aged 6-10) wear white shirts, a red scarf, black pants, black socks and black footwear.

The badges for completing the different Junior levels are white for level one, blue for level two,

yellow for level three, red for level four and green for level five.

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CADET UNIFORMS

Cadets (aged 11 to 15) wear white uniform shirts, black jackets, black pants, black socks, black

footwear and berets. On special occasions Cadets wear red sashes.

Grand Prior's Badge and Levels of Distinction

The Youth Proficiency Program is an integral part of the total St. John Ambulance Youth

Program. It encourages youth to broaden their interests and skills. Certificates, badges, and the

Grand Prior’s Badge, give recognition to St. John youth who have committed time and effort to

meet the required standards. The Grand Prior's Badge is awarded to Youth you have completed

12 proficiencies in categories including Knowledge of the Order (Mandatory), Hobbies, Outdoor

Activities, Sports and Physical Fitness, Health and Safety, Community Service and

Communications. A Bronze Level of Distinction is awarded for 18 proficiencies, a Silver Level

of Distinction is awarded for 24 proficiencies and a Gold Level of Distinction is awarded for 30

proficiencies. Members may wear the Grand Prior's Badge and the highest Level of Distinction

on their uniforms as MFRs.

Proficiency Badge

Youth wear the Proficiency Badge on the left sleeve until they achieve their Grand Prior’s

Badge. A numeral goes above this badge to denote the number of proficiencies achieved.

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The Duke of Edinburgh's Badge

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Program was started in Canada in 1963 with the purpose of

challenging young Canadians between the age of 14 and 25 to achieve personal goals designed to

advance their physical, mental, and spiritual welfare and thus to enhance good citizenship.

Although not a St. John Ambulance program, members who achieve this badge may wear the

highest level on the right sleeve of the uniforms (in the place depicted) and may wear it as

MFRs. It is awarded in Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.

Special Service Shields

Special Service Shields are awarded to Cadets for every 200 hours of volunteer service. They are

removed once members become crusaders.

Link Badges

Link badges were created to recognize members who have progressed through the various Youth

programs to the MFR program. Members who were Juniors (ages 6-10) and became Cadets (ages

11-16) receive the first link badge. Cadets who became Crusaders (ages 16-18) receive the

second link badge. Finally, Crusaders who became adult MFR members receive the third link

badge. Link badges are centered above the right breast pocket.

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Service Badges

Cadets are awarded one bar for each year of service. After three years of service, cadets replace

the bars with a star. Additional bars are added above the star until the Cadet becomes a Crusader.

Placement of Badges for Cadets

MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDER AND CRUSADER UNIFORMS

Work Dress: Worn for first aid duties and training

-White uniform shirt

-Black dress or cargo pants (or in summer, shorts not higher than 1" above the knee)

-Black socks

-Black shoes or boots

-Headdress

-Black, red and white jacket (In winter, members may sign out a parka or wear their own,

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preferably dark coloured, jacket)

-Medical First Responders must wear their green and yellow high visibility vest

-Black clip on tie (During the fall and winter months and for formal duties such as Remembrance

Day)

-Black uniform sweaters may be purchased and worn on duty to supplement the issued uniform

Ceremonial Dress: Worn for awards nights, investitures and special events

-White uniform shirt

-Black clip on tie

-Black dress pants (no stripes)

-Black socks

-Polished black shoes or boots

-Beret/Forage Cap

-Eisenhower jacket/Officers tunic

-Full size medals

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Eisenhower Dress Uniform

Dress Tunic

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Wearing the Beret

The metal cap badge is pinned in the centre of the semi-circle. Members can wet and mould their

beret to their head. When wearing the beret, the cap badge is centered over the left eye and the

beret is slanted over the right side.

Forage Cap

Officers have the option of paying for their own forage cap and wearing it in place of berets at

formal events.

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Service Badges

Members who perform at least 60 volunteer hours will receive one service bar badge for every

three years of service. A badge with one service bar is received after three years, a badge with

two bars is received after six years and a badge with three bars is received at nine years. Service

badges are worn on the left sleeve above the cuff. Following this, a long service medal is

awarded for twelve years (see below) and the nine year service badge is removed.

Instructor Badge

Volunteers who are instructors can wear the Instructor Badge on their left sleeve.

Placement of Badges

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THERAPY DOG UNIFORMS

Therapy dog volunteers wear a white golf shirt, black pants, black socks and black footwear.

Dogs receive a bandana to wear while visiting the public.

Therapy Dog volunteers receive service pins for three, six and nine years of service provided

they meet the minimum 60 volunteer hours per year. At twelve years of service, volunteers are

eligible for the St. John Service Medal (see below). The pins are worn on the left collar of shirts.

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Paramedic Registered Practical Nurse Registered Nurse Medical Doctor

Members holding professional health care qualifications are recognized with coloured bars or

piping on their epaulettes.

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OTHER MARKINGS

Retirement markings are worn once members retire. Retirment can be granted to those with 12 or

more years of Service.

A reversion cross is worn by officers who revert back to the ranks. This is normally only issued

and worn for dress occasions.

RANK STRUCTURE

St. John Ambulance is organized with a rank structure to recognize members holding leadership

positions. St. John Ambulance's rank system is based on the British rank system and is

comprised of chevrons, pips/stars (diamond shaped rank), crowns and crossed stretchers. Ranks

are worn on epaulettes that come in both cloth (for work) and metal (for ceremonial events)

form.

Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs)

Corporal Sergeant Youth Leader

Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) represent the first step towards leadership in St. John

Ambulance. NCOs generally take on roles that assist the Unit Superintendent with necessary

administrative tasks. For example, stores NCOs coordinate getting supplies and uniforms for

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Unit members from Provincial Stores. Youth Leaders also fall into this category and is a rank

that recognizes Youth with leadership potential.

Unit Officers

Unit Officers manage specific roles within Units. These include Training Officers, who train

members at weekly meetings and Duty Officers, who inform members of duties and inform the

Manager of Community Services when members wish to sign up for duties.

Unit Superintendents manage their Units. Their responsibilities include overseeing the officers

and NCOs under them and the administration of the Unit. Additionally, Superintendents recruit

new members, arrange social events and complete paperwork on their Unit's activities.

Provincial Staff Officers (PSO)

Federal District (FD) has its own Council that manages it affairs. Because of this, FD is seen as

its own "Province." Provincial Staff Officers (PSO) oversee the administration of the many

Youth and MFR Units in FD.

The Deputy Stores Officer is the lowest PSO and is responsible for ensuring Units have uniforms

and equipment. The Deputy Stores Officer also equips the vehicles and trailer, and prepares

supplies for large duties, such as Canada Day.

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The Stores Officer oversees the Deputy Stores Officer and also ensures that Units have supplies

and equipment. The Stores Officer performs administrative tasks to manage the supplies and

equipment that Federal District has.

Program Deputy Director for Training assists the Provincial Training Officer with delivering

training to Youth and MFD members.

Program Directors for Training, Youth and Operations oversee their Deputies and manage the

delivery of FD programs and events. The Training Officer manages the MFR and vehicle

training, and organizes FD's first aid competitions. The Youth Officer supervises the Youth Units

and Youth programming, and organizes the Youth summer camp. The Operations Officer

oversees the Stores Officers and is in charge of administrative preparation for large duties.

Additionally, the Operations Officer oversees the maintenance aspects of the vehicles and

trailers.

The Provincial Commission is the highest volunteer in FD and leads the entire volunteer

operation. The Commissioner sets directives, organizes leadership training, deals with

disciplinary issues and manages the volunteers and leaders.

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Gorget Patches

Provincial Staff Provincial Commissioner

Gorget (pronounced gore-jet) patches recognize officers at the Provincial level. The term gorget

refers to a piece of armor that was worn around the neck and similarly, gorget patches are worn

on the lapels of officer tunics.

THE ORDER OF ST. JOHN

Canadians who have performed good services to the Order of St. John, mainly through its two

foundations, St. John Ambulance and the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem, may be admitted to

the Order of St. John. Length of Service to the Order does not in itself warrant admission or

promotion, as there is a Service Medal to recognize this (see below). Rather, the quality and

quantity of work during such service are the important factors.

There are five main levels to the Order and one is usually admitted at the lowest grade and is

later promoted through the grades after some period of time. The grades (from lowest to highest)

are Member, Officer, Commander, Knight or Dame of Grace, Knight or Dame of Justice, Bailiff

or Dame Grand Cross.

To be admitted as a Member:

The nominee shall have performed good and devoted service to the Order, through sustained

voluntary commitment of time, skills and/or resources to St. John Ambulance.

Post-nominals: SBStJ (Men) and SBStJ (Women)

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To be promoted to:

Officer:

The nominee shall have demonstrated successfully, leadership at either a regional level in a

position carrying substantial responsibility, or at a local level carrying major local responsibility.

Post-nominals: OStJ

(Serving Member to Officer after a minimum of 3 years)

Commander:

The nominee shall have demonstrated successfully, leadership at a national or provincial/regional

level, in a position carrying substantial responsibility.

Post-nominals: CStJ

(Officer to Commander after a minimum of 3 years)

Knight or Dame Of Grace or Justice:

The nominee shall have demonstrated successfully, leadership at a national or provincial/regional

level, in a position carrying major responsibility.

Post-nominals: KStJ (Men) and DStJ (Women)

(Commander to Knight/Dame after a minimum of 5 years)

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Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross:

There are twenty one Grand Crosses in the world at any one time. The St. John Priory of Canada

currently has two.

Post-nominals: GCStJ

Service Medal of the Order of St. John

To recognize members who have contributed to St. John Ambulance over a long period of time,

the Service Medal is awarded for twelve years of service to St. John with a minimum of 60 hours

of volunteer work per year. A silver bar is awarded for 5 additional years of service (17, 22, 27).

After three silver bars have been awarded, a gilt (gold) bar replaces the silver ones. Additional

gilt bars are added for every additional five years of service up to fifty years. At fifty, the gilt

bars are replaced with gilt leaves.

For the proper wearing of medals, please see "Wearing Your Medals: A Guide" from St. John

Ambulance.

COMMENDATIONS

Chancellor's Commendation

This commendation is awarded by the Chancellor to recognize a particularly meritorious

contribution in the pursuit of the objectives of St. John that is worthy of national recognition. A

maximum of 10 may be awarded in any given year.

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Provincial Chair's Commendation

This commendation is awarded by the President of a Council to recognize a particularly

meritorious contribution in the pursuit of the objectives of St. John that is worth of provincial or

regional recognition. A maximum of 6 may be awarded in any given year in each

Provincial/Territorial Council.

Commendations are worn on the centre of the left breast pocket on the uniform shirt, Eisenhower

or tunic.

LEAVING ST. JOHN AMBULANCE

Should volunteers decide to leave St. John Ambulance, they must return their uniform to their

Unit, Provincial Stores or the St. John Ambulance office. If all of the items issued are returned in

good condition, a refund of the deposit will be issued.

If you have any questions, please ask your Unit Stores NCO

or the Provincial Staff Officers responsible for Stores.