New Navy Uniforms Introduced
Frank just emailed me this: The new Navy service (for E1-E6)and work uniforms (for E1-O10) have been approved.
WASHINGTON (NNS) — Outfitting the Sailor of the future took another step forward last week when Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen approved plans for a single working uniform for all ranks and a year-round service uniform for E-6 and below Sailors.
Based on recommendations made during a comprehensive briefing by Task Force Uniform Feb. 24, Mullen agreed to production of both a BDU-style working uniform for all Sailors E-1 to O-10 and a more practical, year-round service uniform to withstand day-to-day classroom and office-like environments where the service uniform is typically worn.
The year-round service uniform will be the khaki top version of the image below:
The new working uniform is shown below:
Details on the uniforms are this:
The BDU-style working uniform, designed to replace seven different styles of current working uniforms, is made of a near maintenance-free permanent press 50/50 nylon and cotton blend. Worn with a blue cotton t-shirt, it will include an eight-point cover, a black web belt with closed buckle, and black smooth leather boots, with black suede no-shine boots for optional wear while assigned to non-shipboard commands.
To meet the all-weather requirement, the new working uniform will include several cold weather options, such as a unisex pullover sweater, a fleece jacket, and a parka. It will also be made in three variants, all in a multi-color digital print pattern: predominately blue, with some gray, for the majority of Sailors and shipboard use; and a woodland digital pattern and a desert digital pattern for Sailors serving in units requiring those types of uniforms.
The details on the service uniform for E1-E6:
The service uniform for E-6 and below is comprised of a short-sleeve khaki shirt for males and an over-blouse for females, made from a wash and wear 75/25 polyester and wool blend, with permanent military creases, black trousers for males with belt less slacks for females and optional belt less skirt, and a black unisex garrison cap. Silver anodized-metal rank insignia will be worn on shirt/blouse collars and cap. The service uniform will also include a black relaxed-fit Eisenhower-style jacket with a knit stand-up collar and epaulets, on which petty officers will wear large, silver anodized-metal rank insignia. Those entitled to wear gold chevrons will continue to wear gold chevrons on the large metal rank insignia on the jacket.
When, you ask? Fall 2007, starting at RTC Great Lakes and spreading to the fleet from there.
Also posted at Swanky Conservative.
March 2nd, 2006 at 4:35 pm
[…] Also posted at General Quarters. […]
May 1st, 2006 at 7:39 pm
Permanent military creases?!?!?!
Are today’s sailors getting lazy or just coddled?
I put my own creases in. I starched and pressed my dungarees. I hauled jumper blues, jumper whites, winter blue and summer white(Tropical White Long) around for 20 years with no problem. If I were in the Navy at this point in time, I would consider leaving active service. The BDU is a fairly good idea. In the early 80’s there was a proposal to issue Airedales gray 3 tone BDU’s to separate us from the surface guys
October 1st, 2006 at 2:47 pm
I still like the bell-bottom dungarees - why did they have to mess with it? Sailors should look like sailors - you want to look like a jarhead - join the corps!
October 16th, 2006 at 10:55 pm
Does anyone understand the meaning of the word uniform? It means same, alike, standard…having been in the Navy for 20 years I find it refreshing that someone finally gets the idea that having 7 varitions of a uniform is a waste of money.(Dress Blues, Dress Whites, Working Blues, Working Whites, Dungarees, Coveralls, BDU’s…etc, etc….)
I understand tradition - no one is taking the cracker jacks away - they are simply streamlining the amount the sailor has to care for and creating a truly single force - no distinction between E1-E6 & E7 and above… I applaud Task Force Uniform for doing that and am glad to see the Navy is starting to understand that rank has it’s responsibility first before it’s priveledge (khaki uniforms for all ranks)… and since we all belong to the Department of the Navy - I think we should all look alike - Sailors and Marines alike.
November 2nd, 2006 at 11:40 am
I have to agree with Tom on this one. It’s not that I mind hauling around so many different uniforms, it’s more a question of practicality than anything. Honestly, do I really need Utilities, Coveralls, summer whites, working blues, dress whites, and dress blues? I worked Security onboard USS Truman where I had to buy yet more different uniforms (Woodland Camo BDU) and yet there was no change in my clothing allowance. What about the aviation rates that are sometimes required to purchase their own flight deck uniforms because their supply department didn’t order enough or didn’t have money to provide them? That’s another extra uniform paid for out of pocket. Streamlining from a minimum of 6 types of uniforms (possibly more depending on type of duty) to 3 is not only beneficial to sailors and their wallets, but a very sensible move to impart more of a one team mentality to the armed forces. The Navy and Marine Corps both fall under the DON and work hand in hand in many things so why not look alike? Just because you didn’t mind doing something 20 years ago doesn’t mean that things can’t and shouldn’t be made better today. After all, 200 years ago people didn’t mind not bathing regularly either but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t.
I would honestly prefer not using the digital pattern for the BDU’s but I would also prefer not to look like inmate #019423 in my Utility uniform so I will take the good with the bad. I do not like utilities because they are not durable, stain easily, and as I mentioned before look like prison uniforms.