New working, service uniforms on the way

[CommunityEditor]

The long-anticipated new working and service uniforms will start to show up in Navy exchanges by June 2008.

It will take three-and-a-half years for all sailors to be sporting the new uniforms. (Read the whole story about the new uniforms. (http://www.navytimes.com/legacy/new/0-NAVYPAPER-2425429.php))

“The last thing I want are shabby-looking sailors in a new uniform,” Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (FMF/SW) Joe Campa said.

What do you think of them?

[perputual_MT1_guest]

what do i think?

i'm glad that my fleet reserve date is before the manadatory wear date -

i fail to believe that fellow Sailors actually approved of that uniform.


enjoy it!

[jeffersj]

The working uniform is an improvement over what the Navy has used during my career, but still needs work.

Not fond of the pattern on the working uniform. Would have preferred to see a monocolor or woodland pattern vice the digital one that was adopted. I can gripe as I did log in and complete the survey.

Service uniform? About time E-6 and below got a service uniform they could wear all year vice the current Summer Whites/Winter Blues. Hated both when I was a white hat.

Now, if they would just come up with a uniform that was required for wear during command PT instead of studying a return to Service Dress Khaki and possibly allowing Chiefs to have a cutlass ...

[ATStoSTA]

I had hoped it would be painfully obvious that a "working" uniform is supposed to be functionality-minded, hence woodland/desert camo for Marines (and anyone else deployed to wooded/sandy areas).
The same goes for Navy camo. It's blue because we work in the water (obvious, I know) and it's digital because (*gasp) it's more functional.
When the "enemy" looks down on a satellite image of the middle of the ocean, and tries to zoom in with any luck, the image will get pixelated the farther in the Bad Guy zooms. Therefore, a bunch of Sailors on the weatherdecks with pixelated camouflage on would further distort the image, making it more difficult for the Baddies.
So just because you might not think it looks as "cool," know that someone who is (supposedly) smarter than we thought this out first.

[Seidan]

My biggest problem with the new "Service" uniform is the lack of a rating badge. There is a rank badge, but not a rating badge. I spent nearly two years going to school and I am very proud of my rate and just as proud that I have made the rank that I have within that rate. I'm not thrilled to see that I will be wearing the exact same uniform as somebody in a rate that advances 75-100% of their people to 2nd and 1st class.

[TAherns_guest]

I like them for the most part.. But I also heard that there was another working uniform that was more of grey shirt. I think the Kakis should stay for the cheifs and officers. So you can see them and run away. jk. But The BDU's will be nicer for working on the planes because it well hide stains better then the Utilites we have now.

[WEEBLYPHD]

The new service uniform is a HUGE improvement and a step in the right direction. I understand the hertigae of that the whites/blues have, but this is the Navy of the 2st century. Having two sets of uniforms is inpracticle, expensive, and gets confusing to not only other service members, but members of the Navy as well. With the current seabag, an E-1 has a to maintain a larger inventory than an 0-1. That makes no sense. We are the only service that distinguishes rank by a uniform change; why? Is that a good thing or bad a thing? I really don't know, but it makes me wonder. We need to streamline the uniforms so we look more unifiorm.

[ty5486]

Help me out here WEEBLYPHD, which uniform does the E-1 have that the O-1 doesn't have a counterpart for? Both have working and dress whites, both have working and dress blues (thought not too many Os wear the working blues), the Es have utilities, the O's have TWO versions of khakis. Some of the Os (even some Ensigns) have dinner dress whites and blues. So I'll ask again, what uniform does the recruit have that the Ensign doesn't have a counterpart of?

[jeffersj]

WEEBLYPHD, I'll second the request from TY5486. What extra uniform does a junior enlisted have that Chiefs and Officers don't?

TY, just for your information there is no such animal as "Working White". There is Summer White, which is currently headed out the door, and Indoor Duty White, which is authorized only for specific situations, not for the fleet as a whole. Also, I don't recall seeing more than a handfull of Chiefs and Officers wearing the Winter Blue/Winter Working Blue uniform myself. I know I never owned that uniform after I got my anchors - saw no need for it.

[ty5486]

Jeffersj, I'll agree that not many wear the working blues, but it's still out there, I think. I guess it's going away for us too??? It's odd that the E-7s and above still have a summer white uniform, but the E-6 and below don't. Or am I missing something?

[jeffersj]

Jeffersj, I'll agree that not many wear the working blues, but it's still out there, I think. I guess it's going away for us too??? It's odd that the E-7s and above still have a summer white uniform, but the E-6 and below don't. Or am I missing something?

I may have misunderstood something as well.

I was under the impression (and I could be wrong) that the Summer Whites and Winter Blues were being done away with for everyone, not just E-6 and below. After all, we have a year-round service uniform already - Service Khakis.

[ty5486]

I hadn't heard that, but you may be right I suppose. Seems a shame to only have to buy hard shoulder boards for dinner dress whites and the pea coat.

[oldnavy6618]

The article at the beginning of the thread, actually discusses 2 sets of uniforms. The new working Cammie uniform, which the Navy is crazy to adopt, and the new khaki shirt, black pants uniform.

The digital blue cammie uniform is going to replace all the working uniforms, work khaki's, coveralls, BDU's everything. Coveralls will be available, but not an official uniform, and not for wear except for real dirty work. This uniform is wrong for the Navy on so many levels. First, if the woodland, or desert BDU is gone, What uniform is the CB's going to wear? Blue digi work uniforms? Thats going to serve no purpose in combat. Air crews, Amphib crews wore Greens, or BDU's for the purpose that they may be involved in combat as well. Blue again does not mimic nature. Blue stands out against gray hulls as well, We do not need No See Me's when we fall overboard, you want seen. There are very sound reasons behind the old dungaree work uniform, that were forgotten. let me remind you of them. Bell bottom pants, and loose fit while not looking sharp, had the advantage of being easy to remove while in the water. Cotton swells when wet, thus allowing the cloth to trap and hold air, aiding flotation. The Dixie cup hat, could be used for flotation. it was also able to be used to shade the sailor in an open life raft. The tee shirt could be used as well, for many purposes, and you still had a shirt to protect you from exposure. The web belt could be used as a sling, or a tourniquet, There was a reason the uniform the sailors wore in WW2 did not change for many years, It helped save lives, it gave the sailor that had his ship sank, a chance to survive. Now we have the new Blue here I am uniform, that has no redeeming quality of being easy to remove while in the water, it stands out in any combat environment, I am sure there are more detractors for this uniform.

The khaki shirt / black pants uniform will replace the tropical whites, and the winter working blues, you will still maintain and wear dress whites, and dress blues. Now I have a bit of a problem with this uniform, for the khaki shirt. You earn the right to wear khaki, its the uniform worn by the senior leadership of the Navy.
I do agree, it looks sharp. and I could come to tolerate it.

[jeffersj]

OldNavy -

As I understand it, coveralls were not being phased out with the advent of the new working uniform, although it is beyond me why the Navy shifted the burden for maintaining this garment from the command to the Sailor. The last thing any of us needed was another garment to take care of and pay for out of our pockets when the ones we had became unservicable. The woodland/desert BDU is still for the time being going to continue to be organizational attire that is controlled by the command authorized to wear it.

There may very well be new tactical uniforms in the works for Seabees, EOD, SPECWAR, and so forth. For now we're the only service left that uses the woodland pattern.

[oldnavy6618]

OldNavy -

As I understand it, coveralls were not being phased out with the advent of the new working uniform, although it is beyond me why the Navy shifted the burden for maintaining this garment from the command to the Sailor. The last thing any of us needed was another garment to take care of and pay for out of our pockets when the ones we had became unservicable. The woodland/desert BDU is still for the time being going to continue to be organizational attire that is controlled by the command authorized to wear it.

There may very well be new tactical uniforms in the works for Seabees, EOD, SPECWAR, and so forth. For now we're the only service left that uses the woodland pattern.

Coverall, are not being phased out, they are just going back to what they were, before every non-engineering, or deck ape decided they just had to wear it underway, while they worked in that air conditioned office.

The article, stated the current BDU will be replaced by the new uniform. I did not write the article, I just used the information in it, to point out if the Navy follows through as planned the Navy is being foolish.