NWU Blues!

[BMZ Rule]

On the eve of the NWU still no newguidance on where to wear this NWU? You can purchase the uniform in Norfolk but can;t wear it yet. Thanks MCPON!

[forcedj]

BMZ,
What would you be saying if an order was given to start wearing the uniform before it was available to you? My advice to you is: Be a smart sailor and go ahead and purchase a set or two. Then, when wearing them becomes mandatory…which is going to happen… and the rush is on to get them...and uniform shops are out of them...you'll be squared away.

Don't you have a chain of command? A Div Chief, Div Officer? Wear what they tell you to wear and you can't go wrong.

Dan

[HDANE]

Dan,
I believe BMZ is referring to a message sent out by CNRMA (DTG somewhere in the range of 22DEC) stating that although the uniform will be for sale on the 15th, wear will not be authorized in the Mid-Atlantic region until a policy message is released dictating guidelines as such. Personally, I think the 3+ weeks between the release of that message and the formal introduction of the NWUs would be enough time to draft one, but I can't say for certain.

If BMZ is not referring to that, then I'm not sure. NAVADMIN 343/08 dictates manner of wear of the NWU, and has been out for several weeks (months?) now.

HDane

[GUNMATE1]

If you look at the new plan you can see that you are now authorized to wear the uniform now. All regions are allowed to wear it, just dont have easy ways of getting it.

[HDANE]

If you look at the new plan you can see that you are now authorized to wear the uniform now. All regions are allowed to wear it, just dont have easy ways of getting it.

Which plan is this? Can you provide a link? Aside from the NAVADMIN, the only guidance I've seen has been the message from CNRMA (COMNAVREGMIDLANT) stating that the NWUs are NOT authorized until a policy message is released dictating the wear date, along with procedures for proper wear in CNRMA.

HDane

[MIKEYCHALUPA]

That message just came out this morning... here it is. In the TIDEWATER portion of COMNAVREGMIDLANT it's now up to your CO when you can start wearing it, following a command-specific "transition" period. All other portions of CNRMA will start on 6 July 2009.

Also in this message is direction that the entire region MUST be exclusively in the NWU by 1 OCT 2009.





From: CENNAVAVNTECHTRAU OCEANA VA(uc) [mailto:CNATTUVA@DMSLANT.NAVY.MIL]
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 7:35
To: OCEN_NAMTRAU_Daily Messages
Subject: 221056Z JAN 09 NAVY WORKING UNIFORM (NWU) - CNRMA ROLL OUT SCHEDULE AND REGION /GUIDANCE//
Importance: Low

UNCLASSIFIED//

TO AIG 106
AIG 7729
AIG 9987
AL 106(UC)
AL 7729(UC)
AL 9987(UC)
AL ALL NAVACTS NORTHEAST(UC)
ALL NAVACTS NORTHEAST
CC COMUSFLTFORCOM NORFOLK VA
NEXCOM NORFOLK VA(UC)

MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/COMNAVREG MIDLANT NORFOLK VA(UC)/N01/JAN// SUBJ/NAVY WORKING UNIFORM (NWU) - CNRMA ROLL OUT SCHEDULE AND REGION /GUIDANCE// REF/A/MSGID:MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC N1 /021922ZDEC2008// REF/B/MSGID:DOC/COMNAVREGMIDLANT/YMD:20070924/1020.1A//
NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 343/08. REF B IS CNRMA UNIFORM GUIDANCE.// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. REF A ANNOUNCED ROLLOUT OF THE NAVY WORKING UNIFORM (NWU) TO COMMENCE JAN 2009. COMMANDER NAVY REGION MID-ATLANTIC (CNRMA), AS SOPA ADMIN FOR THE REGION, HAS DEVELOPED THE ROLLOUT SCHEDULE AND THE REGION UNIFORM GUIDANCE FOR THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION.

2. REF A REMAINS THE PRIMARY GUIDANCE FOR THE NAVY WORKING UNIFORM.
THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED IN ADDITION TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL ROLLOUT AND PROPER WEAR OF THE UNIFORM. THE NWU IS NOW WIDELY AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT ALL HAMPTON ROADS AREA UNIFORM SHOPS AS WELL AS FOR ORDER VIA ONLINE OR TELEPHONE. ALL HANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO BEGIN IMMEDIATE PROCUREMENT OF THE NEW NWU. REF B WILL BE UPDATED AND DISTRIBUTED WITH THE INFORMATION WITHIN THIS MESSAGE.

3. THE CNRMA TRANSITION TO THE NWU WILL BE IN TWO PHASES BASED ON THE ROLLOUT SCHEDULE PUBLISHED IN REF A.

A. TIDEWATER (NORTH CAROLINA, WEST VIRGINIA, VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND, EXCEPT THOSE PORTIONS LOCATED INSIDE OF NAVAL DISTRICT WASHINGTON) BEGINS IMMEDIATELY.

B. ALL CNRMA, OUTSIDE OF TIDEWATER, BEGINS 6 JULY 2009.

C. COMPLETE TRANSITION TO NWU SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED WITHIN THE TIDEWATER AREA FOR ALL COMMANDS NO LATER THAN 1 OCTOBER 2009.

D. COMMANDING OFFICERS SHALL DESIGNATE THE SPECIFIC DATE TO BEGIN TRANSITION. THE INTENT IS TO ALLOW THE COMMANDING OFFICER TO CONSIDER CURRENT COMMAND EMPLOYMENT AND ALLOW A SMOOTH TRANSITION.

(1) COMMAND SPECIFIC EXECUTION PLANS SHOULD INCLUDE A TWO WEEK PERIOD WHERE THE CO, XO, AND CMC WEAR THE NWU FOLLOWED BY A TWO WEEK PERIOD THAT E-7 AND ABOVE WEAR THE NWU. THESE PERIODS ALLOW TIME TO CONDUCT TRAINING THROUGHOUT THE COMMAND USING REF A.

(2) SINCE THE TIDEWATER AREA IS THE FIRST REGION TO TRANSITION, IT IS OUR INTENT TO TRANSITION SMARTLY, TO LEARN FROM OUR EXPERIENCES, AND PASS THE LESSON'S LEARNED TO THE OTHER REGIONS.

E. CNRMA NWU TRANSITION SUMMARY:

(1) IMMEDIATELY - BEGIN NWU WEAR IN TIDEWATER.

(2) 6 JULY 2009 - BEGIN NWU WEAR FOR THE REMAINDER OF CNRMA.

(3) 1 OCTOBER 2009 - NWU IS THE PRIMARY WORKING UNIFORM FOR ALL TIDEWATER AREA COMMANDS AND ALL PREVIOUS WORKING UNIFORMS WILL ONLY BE WORN AS THE SECONDARY EXCEPTION UNTIL THE CLOSEOUT OF THE UNIFORM ON 31 DECEMBER 2010. SECONDARY EXCEPTIONS WILL BE AUTHORIZED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER TO ACCOUNT FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES (I.E., A SAILOR TRANSFERS FROM A COMMAND IN A REGION THAT HAS NOT YET TRANSITIONED TO NWU, AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PROCURE THE NEW UNIFORM.)

(4) 1 MAY 2010 - NWU IS THE PRIMARY AUTHORIZED WORKING UNIFORM THROUGHOUT CNRMA AND ALL PREVIOUS WORKING UNIFORMS WILL ONLY BE WORN AS THE SECONDARY EXCEPTION UNTIL THE CLOSEOUT OF THE UNIFORM TRANSITION PERIOD ON 31 DECEMBER 2010. SECONDARY EXCEPTIONS WILL BE AUTHORIZED ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS BY THE COMMANDING OFFICER.

(5) 31 DECEMBER 2010 - PER REF A, NWU IS THE ONLY WORKING UNIFORM E-1 TO 0-10 THROUGHOUT THE NAVY.

4. THE FOLLOWING GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED AND WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A FORTHCOMING UPDATE TO REF B:

A. ALL UNITS SHALL WEAR THE NWU AS THE PRIMARY WORKING UNIFORM. (NAVY COVERALLS WILL REMAIN AUTHORIZED FOR SHIPBOARD WEAR.) ONLY THOSE SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING DUE TO SAFETY OR EXCESSIVE WEAR SHALL BE AUTHORIZED FOR ORGANIZATION CLOTHING ISSUE AND WEAR, AND ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING WEAR RULES WILL APPLY.

B. THE NWU IS DESIGNED TO BE A PERMANENT PRESS, WASH AND WEAR UNIFORM. IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE SERVICE LIFE AND MAINTAIN OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE, FOLLOW THE WASH AND CARE INSTRUCTIONS INDICATED ON EACH NWU UNIFORM ARTICLE. A HAND IRON SET ON LOW HEAT MAY BE USED TO INDIVIDUALLY PRESS THE UNIFORM AS NECESSARY TO PROVIDE A NEAT APPEARANCE. CREATING CREASES IN THE NWU IS NOT AUTHORIZED. THE USE OF STARCH, SIZING AND ANY PROCESS THAT INVOLVES DRY-CLEANING OR A STEAM PRESS IS NOT AUTHORIZED AS IT WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PERMANENT PRESS TREATMENT AND DURABILITY OF THE UNIFORM.

C. ALL UNIFORM ARTICLES NOT CURRENTLY CONTAINING A NAME TAPE SHOULD BE STENCILED IN PERMANENT INK IN A LOCATION INSIDE THE ARTICLE AND NOT WITHIN SIGHT. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST SHOULD BE THE PARKA, PARKA LINER, AND COVER.

D. ROLLING UP OF THE SLEEVES IS AUTHORIZED YEAR AROUND FOR ALL NWU AND CUU. HOWEVER, IF IN FORMATION, ALL HANDS SHALL HAVE SLEEVES IN THE SAME POSITION FOR UNIFORMITY.

E. THE NWU HAS MANY POCKETS FOR VERSATILITY AND SHOULD BE USED PROPERLY WITHOUT ITEMS PROTRUDING FROM THE POCKET ENABLING THE POCKET FLAPS TO CLOSE PROPERLY. AT NO TIME SHOULD HANDS BE IN THE POCKETS EXTENDED BEYOND THE TIME REQUIRED TO PLACE ITEMS IN OR RETRIEVE ITEMS FROM THE POCKETS.

F. CO'S ARE DIRECTED TO LIMIT THE AUTHORIZATION OF UNBLOUSED TROUSERS AND THIS WILL NOT BE AUTHORIZED FOR GENERAL WEARING OF THE NWU.
CONSIDERATION SHOULD ONLY BE GIVEN IN THOSE SITUATIONS THAT ARE CONSIDERED SAFETY RELATED.

G. COMMAND UNIT PATCHES ARE AUTHORIZED ON THE RIGHT BREAST POCKET.
EACH COMMAND MAY AUTHORIZE ONLY ONE COMMAND SELECTED PATCH AND WILL REMAIN CONSISTENT AND UNIFORM FOR ALL ASSIGNED, AND WILL NOT EXCEED 3 TO 3 AND ONE HALF INCHES IN LENGTH/WIDTH/DIAMETER. THE PATCH SHOULD BE CONSERVATIVE IN NATURE TO NOT DETRACT FROM THE APPEARANCE OF THE UNIFORM. EACH COMMAND MUST REMAIN UNIFORM AND IF ASSIGNED BY THE COMMAND THE PATCH WILL BE WORN BY ALL HANDS WITHIN THE UNIT.

H. THE 9 INCH ROUGH SIDE OUT LEATHER SAFETY BOOT THAT IS AUTHORIZED ASHORE IS NOT A CARE FREE BOOT. THIS BOOT MUST BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED WITH AN APPROPRIATE BRUSH TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER APPEARANCE OF THE BOOT AND REDUCE THE MATTING OF THE LEATHER MATERIAL.

I. CNRMA SECURITY WEAR OF NWU:
(1) THE ISSUE OF ORGANIZATION CUU'S FOR CNRMA SECURITY PERSONNEL WILL STOP PRIOR TO THE END OF FISCAL YEAR 2009. CURRENTLY ISSUED CUU'S MAY BE WORN DURING THE TRANSITION PERIOD FOR CNRMA. FINAL TRANSITION OF SECURITY INTO THE NWU WILL REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH THE CNRMA TRANSITION DATES (CNIC HAS ALREADY PROMULGATED THIS GUIDANCE.)

(2) THE NWU AUTHORIZES THE REMOVAL OF THE SHIRT IN A WORK SPACE.
REMOVAL OF THIS SHIRT IS NOT AUTHORIZED AT ANY ACCESS POINTS TO A CNRMA INSTALLATION. SHIRTS WILL REMAIN DONNED ON ALL GATES.

5. TRAINING IS REQUIRED TO BE CONDUCTED BY SENIOR LEADERSHIP AND WILL DICTATE THE SUCCESS OF THE ROLLOUT AND WEAR OF THE NWU. LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN ENGAGED WITH OUR SAILORS THROUGHOUT THE REGION TO ENSURE THE PROPER WEAR AND OCCASION FOR WEAR. YOUR SUPPORT AND LEADERSHIP IN THIS EFFORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED.

6. RADM BOENSEL SENDS.
//

[HDANE]

Fantastic! It only took a week after rollout.

Unfortunately - I've already seen someone wearing their NWU improperly today. Cover pulled too low, pants bloused too high, and laces untucked.

Word to the wise - if you want looser restrictions on your NWU, wear it properly. Keep your uniform appearance tight and wear it with pride, and soon enough we'll be able to make routine stops (perhaps even McDs) in it.

[GUNMATE1]

Fantastic! It only took a week after rollout.

Unfortunately - I've already seen someone wearing their NWU improperly today. Cover pulled too low, pants bloused too high, and laces untucked.

Word to the wise - if you want looser restrictions on your NWU, wear it properly. Keep your uniform appearance tight and wear it with pride, and soon enough we'll be able to make routine stops (perhaps even McDs) in it.

I would have to agree with you there. If the LPO or LCPO or hell even the quarterdeck watch are not doing thier jobs and enforcing the proper wear then they make us all look bad. This is just another prime example of those who ruin it for the rest of us. Its time the 1st classes and CPO's in the fleet took charge of their people and started caring again.

*****Oh regarding the guidance for wearing the uniform now. I talked with a person at the NOB exchange. Then this morning i saw the regs from Norfolk. I stand corrected.****

[Snuggle Bunny]

I have two sets. Wish I could wear them. Sadly, my command has already gotten the word from higher headquarters that officers and chiefs will not wear it. We can only wear our service uniforms (khakis, whites) or dress uniforms.

[jeffersj]

I have two sets. Wish I could wear them. Sadly, my command has already gotten the word from higher headquarters that officers and chiefs will not wear it. We can only wear our service uniforms (khakis, whites) or dress uniforms.

That's nothing new. Even before the new working uniform was proposed there were places where the E-6 and below could wear working uniforms (and I'm going to include the woodland pattern BDU uniform in that group) but we were told not to wear anything but a service uniform. Only exception was if we were not going to be in the office on a regular basis that day, but off-site engaged in work or a training evolution that made wearing a service uniform unwise.

[dmcgill]

My command instituted wear by the guidelines set out in the message. For the first two weeks after rollout, the CO, XO and CMC wore the NWU and gave training (supposedly...I say that because you even see some Chiefs and Officers wearing the wrong boots, etc) to the rest of the Chief's and Officers who then wore the uniform for another three weeks before the E6 and below were allowed to wear it. Command ball caps were authorized only on the ship and not for watchstanding. I'm pretty sure other ships at Naval Station Norfolk are doing the same thing.

As long as everyone knows how to wear it properly and does so, it's only a matter of time before the MCPON lets us stop at McDonalds or 7 Eleven in the morning before work with it on. But it's SOLELY up to us to make that happen. It's up to everyone to square each other away so that we can have more relaxed standards of wear.

[jeffersj]

...

As long as everyone knows how to wear it properly and does so, it's only a matter of time before the MCPON lets us stop at McDonalds or 7 Eleven in the morning before work with it on. But it's SOLELY up to us to make that happen. It's up to everyone to square each other away so that we can have more relaxed standards of wear.


That was the idea from what I've been seeing in print lately - that eventually the Navy will allow folks to wear the NWU for commuting within the same guidlines that are in effect for Utilities, Working Khaki, and BDU's.

Like anything else, there will be growing pains.

[Snuggle Bunny]

All true. Still, the other services pretty much all wear the same uniform, regardless of rank, and any scenario where we continue to try to be "different" from them seems counterproductive to our efforts to align more closely with them. The Army is 100% ACu for all ranks except in the highest echelons of command, places like the Pentagon center offices. Same with the Marines. The Air Force, not as much, but still better than us. Making a distinction between ranks using uniforms, purely on the basis of tradition, is something only the Navy seems to do. In fact, the other services PRIDE themselves in wearing the same uniforms, E-1 to O-10.

[Snuggle Bunny]

COMNAVREGMIDLANT released their updated uniform instruction, dated 23 February 2009, last Friday. It is COMNAVREGMIDLANTINST 1020.1B and it is titled "Uniform Policy and Regulations". It has incorporated nearly all the verbiage that was sent out in their NWU implementation message on 22JAN. You can likely find it via Google somehow.