The UDC is the primary source for all Coast Guard uniforms.

The primary mission of the Uniform Distribution Center is to supply sea bag uniform items to all recruits.  We also service the Coast Guard Academy, clothing lockers, reservists and Auxiliarists with standard sea bag and optional uniform items.  UDC also supplies all members of the Coast Guard based abroad.

UDC opened its doors at Cape May in 1988 as a central ordering facility for shipping and receiving of Coast Guard uniform items.  Prior to that time, Cape May was a clothing locker much like others currently in the Coast Guard.  As the need for uniform items continued to grow, Cape May's facility quickly became too small for such a large operation.  In 1997, the UDC moved the majority of its operations to Woodbine, 23 miles north of Cape May in South central New Jersey.

The UDC in Woodbine currently leases several warehouse spaces along with several office spaces.  All together, UDC Woodbine utilizes approximately 41,000 square feet.  Meanwhile, UDC Cape May uses approximately two-thirds of the Dempsey Hall building, which includes office spaces, a warehouse, and two issue rooms.  Although the UDC is physically located in both Woodbine and Cape May, it is considered one command.

The UDC employs approximately 30 members, including two Coast Guard officers:  Manager LT Mike Bowman, one chief warrant officer and 26 civilian employees ranging from WG-5 to GS-11.  Woodbine, being the larger facility, has 21 members while Cape May has 7 members.  "The UDC is more labor intensive than most would believe as all telephone orders for the Coast Guard including TRACEN Cape May, Coast Guard Academy, reservists, and Auxiliarists are placed through three customer service representatives," said CWO2 Dave McLoughlin, Assistant Manager of UDC.  "These three reps, who work out of the Woodbine site, take between 250 and 650 calls on any given day.  This number does not include fax orders that the three reps enter as well."

During an average month, UDC sells and/or issues approximately 60,000 uniform items valued at $700,000.  The UDC currently stocks approximately 2,900 items.