One of the most distinctive components of the Marine Corps’ Dress Blue and Blue-White enlisted uniforms is the white web coat belt and the brass waist plate that is its centerpiece. The waist plates comes in three styles:
plain for junior enlisted Marines, with the
USMC emblem for Noncommissioned Officers (NCOs), and with a wreathed Marine Corps emblem for
Staff Noncommissioned Officers (SNCOs). Only the wreathed emblem is worn on the Blue-White Dress “A/B” uniforms because they are the summer uniforms for SNCOs.
Prior to 2018, the only time enlisted female Marines wore the white web coat belt and waist plate was when they were carrying the NCO sword. But with the introduction of a new Blue Dress coat, they will now wear them over the coast just as often as their brothers in arms.
Similar belts are worn outside coats by Military Police and by members of the Marine Corps band. Band members usually wear the web coat belt with the Blue Dress “C/D,” but commanders may prescribe the wear of such belts with the Blue Dress or Blue-White Dress uniforms during Honor Guard ceremonies.