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Here's A Timeline Of The US Military's Camouflage Disaster
The military's uniform trouble started, as trouble so often does, with the Marines.
Until the turn of the millennium, every service wore the same exact camo — as David A. Fahrenthold of The Washington Post put it: "One was green, for the woods. The other was brown, for the desert."
Then the Marines designed a uniform in 2002 and promptly patented the design. The reason was that a unified outward identity within the service made for good team building, and also "enemies would see us coming a mile away," said Corps spokesman Capt. Pete Mitchell.
Wait a second ...
He also said, "We want to be instantly recognized as a force to be reckoned with."
That's it, the Marine Corps wanted to be recognized by enemies as Marines ... and by other services ... it was kind of like branding on the battlefield. The Marine Corps digital utility uniforms were largely a hit, both in combat and with the Marines.
They quickly became the envy of the sister services.
So set off an inter-service scramble to in some way, shape, or form, duplicate what the Corps had done ... except specialer.
Here's a breakdown:
Little did they know at the time how much the endeavor would cost.
Erik German of The (now defunct) Daily reported on what happened with the Army, the first to spearhead a new camo uniform:
Camouflage researchers testing patterns for the Army in the early 2000s were pressured to choose a design like the “trendy” new one being used by the Marine Corps.
The Marines' budget is significantly smaller than the other services though. Much more money to be made with the Army.
“It got into political hands before the soldiers ever got the uniforms,” Army textile technologist Cheryl Stewardson said to The Daily, noting that Army brass sped along a decision before testing was complete.
What came out the other end what a colossal mistake: a grey uniform that made folks stick out in the environment like a platoon of sore thumbs.
“Essentially, the Army designed a universal uniform that universally failed in every environment,” an Army specialist told The Daily. “The only time I have ever seen it work well was in a gravel pit.”
Planners in the other services weren't satisfied when they saw the Army's $3.2 million mistake, they plunged forward — eventually totaling out about $12 million to research and "develop" 10 different types of uniforms.
Once the Army decided to suspend the grey monstrosity and put more money into another solution, Brandon Webb, a former operator with special operations forces and editor of SOFREP, told the Blaze the universal-uniform-bungle was a “huge letdown to the U.S. tax payer.”
"It’s also proof that the antiquated Department of Defense acquisition system is broken and in desperate need of fixing,” concluded Webb.
Webb said he personally, with a group of operators, a graphic designers and a contract lab for infrared testing, could do the job for $70,000.
It cost the Army $3.4 million just to develop, another $5 billion to field.
It didn't finish fielding until 2010 — arguably nearing the end of the war.
Here's the kicker though: despite the resounding success of the Army's new uniform in the last 2.5 years of combat, they've decided to research, develop, and field another new uniform.
At a cost of $4 billion.
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Story by
Geoffrey Ingersoll graduated from Penn State with an English degree in 2004. He then quickly achieved becoming a Teach For America reject, and promptly enlisted in the Marines.
He served honorably from 2005 to 2009, and ended active service as an Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veteran.
He then graduated New York University with a Masters in Journalism.
Geoffrey has reported from Afghanistan, Iraq, the Korean DMZ, and New Jersey.
His totally unupdated personal blog and portfolio can be found at Forever Squared.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/author/geoffrey-ingersoll#ixzz2SzdniytJ
MARADMIN 207/13
CHANGES TO THE MARINE CORPS UNIFORM REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE WEARING OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL ITEMS AND GROOMING REGULATIONS
MARADMIN 207/13 published 17 April, identifies several changes to USMC uniform regulations.
Highlights of the MARADMIN are:
- SUBJECT TO TEMPORARY REVOCATION DUE TO MISSION REQUIREMENTS, MARINES MAY WEAR RELIGIOUS APPAREL ITEMS AS FOLLOWS:
*ARTICLES OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL WHICH ARE NOT VISIBLE OR APPARENT WHEN WORN WITH THE UNIFORM.
*VISIBLE ARTICLES OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL WITH THE UNIFORM WHILE ATTENDING OR CONDUCTING DIVINE SERVICES OR WHILE IN A CHAPEL OR OTHER HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
*WITH CMC APPROVAL, NEAT AND CONSERVATIVE VISIBLE ARTICLES OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL WITH THE UNIFORM WHICH DO NOT INTERFERE WITH OR REPLACE REQUIRED UNIFORM ARTICLES OR INTERFERE WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF A MEMBER'S MILITARY DUTIES.
-REQUESTS FOR EXCEPTIONS TO GROOMING REGULATIONS BASED UPON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS WILL BE FORWARDED VIA THE CHAIN OF COMMAND TO DC M&RA FOR DECISION, USING THE NAVMC 10274 ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION (AA) FORM.
- DC M&RA WILL CONVENE A STANDING BOARD TO REVIEW REQUESTS FOR WEAR OF RELIGIOUS APPAREL OR EXCEPTIONS TO GROOMING REGULATIONS BASED UPON RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
Marines, click MARADMIN 207/13 to review the entire MARADMIN.
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Decision Near on Army ACU replacement uniform
The Army Times is reporting that a replacement for the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is close. Four types of patterns are under consideration to replace the Universal Camouflage Pattern or UCP that is the current ACU pattern.
The Army Chief of Staff, Gen Ray Odierno, was briefed on 11 April and the Sergeant Major of the Army said the Army has reached the “90 percent solution.” The Sergeant Major believes a decision on the uniform replacement will be made within the next two months.
Tests showed that three uniforms out performed a single camouflage pattern. It is expected that the single ACU will be replaced by a family of uniforms that might include a woodland, desert and an in-between "bridge" variant.
Once a decision is reached the Army plans to begin production this year.
Navy Working Uniform (NWU) fire safety concerns
The Virginian-Pilot, ABC news and several other news organizations are reporting the U.S. Navy testing has determined fire safety concerns exist with the Navy Working Uniform or NWU.
Tests conducted by the Navy Clothing Textile Research Facility in Natick, Mass in October 2012 determined that the 50/50 cotton/nylon NWU worn by most sailors on ship will melt.
Army and Marine Corps combat uniforms are made of flame resistant rayon and are "self-extinguishing". Although the Navy removed the requirement for flame-resistant uniforms on ship in 1996, with the exception of certain billets such as engine room, fire fighters etc., this is a concern.
According to Commanders at Fleet Forces Command and U.S. Pacific Fleet a working group is reviewing this safety concern to determine the protection level sailors need in certain sea billets and work environments.
"The organizational clothing working group has been tasked with providing fact-based information and determining whether to limit flame resistant organizational clothing to sailors who work in engineering departments, flight decks, and other high risk areas; or to expand fire resistant organizational clothing to all sailors afloat," Gortney said in a statement. "Those findings are necessary before any recommendations can be made about at-sea working uniforms."
Sailors find more information below:
Navy Reviews Fire Safety of Working Uniforms
Navy details review of flammable uniforms
FY2013 Military Clothing Allowances
2013 STANDARD INITIAL CLOTHING ALLOWANCE (Enlisted Only)
ARMY Male: $1438.78 Female: $1662.46
NAVY Male: $1811.61 Female: $2031.69
USAF Male: $1464.04 Female: $1667.36
USMC Male: $1758.70 Female: $1803.50
ARMY
BASIC Male: $309.60 Female: $345.60
STANDARD Male: $440.86 Female: $493.76
SPECIAL Male: $0.00 Female: $0.00
NAVY
BASIC Male: $327.00 Female: $331.20
STANDARD Male: $468.00 Female: $471.60
SPECIAL Male: $640.80 Female: $630.00
USAF
BASIC Male: $237.60 Female: $241.20
STANDARD Male: $338.40 Female: $342.00
SPECIAL Male: $0.00 Female: $0.00
USMC
BASIC Male: $414.00 Female: $428.40
STANDARD Male: $594.00 Female: $612.00
SPECIAL Male: $0.00 Female: $0.00
CIVILIAN CLOTHING ALLOWANCE
PERMANENT Initial: $970.56 Replacement:$323.52
TEMPORARY Day In 30 Day Period:$323.52
TEMPORARY 30 Days in 36 Month Period:$647.04
(Effective 1 Oct. 2012)
Service members print a copy of the FY2013 Military Clothing Allowances
Female Marine Cover Survey Underway
Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC) is conducting a survey to find out what female Marines think about new dress and service covers or caps.
Photo by MCB Quantico photo
The new cover development was in response to a request by the female uniform symposium. A single frame and two covers were developed. There are four versions of each cap (service & dress): Enlisted, Company Grade, Field Grade and General Officer. According to MCSC’s Product Manager for Infantry Combat Equipment, the purpose of the survey to obtain user feedback, and the acquired data will be used to formulate recommended changes to the current caps.
For more information see the new female Marine Dress Cover infomation sheet from MCSC.
Female Marines can access the Improved Female Dress and Service Cap survey via the link below.
https://surveys.natick.army.mil/marines/cap.nsf
GAO Report on U.S. Military Camouflage Uniforms
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What GAO Found The military services have a degree of discretion regarding whether and how to apply Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition guidance for their uniform development and they varied in their usage of that guidance. As a result, the services had fragmented procedures for managing their uniform development programs, and did not consistently develop effective camouflage uniforms. GAO identified two key elements that are essential for producing successful outcomes in acquisitions: 1) using clear policies and procedures that are implemented consistently, and 2) obtaining effective information to make decisions, such as credible, reliable, and timely data. The Marine Corps followed these two key elements to produce a successful outcome, and developed a uniform that met its requirements. By contrast, two other services, the Army and Air Force, did not follow the two key elements; both services developed uniforms that did not meet mission requirements and had to replace them. Without additional guidance from DOD on the use of clear policies and procedures and a knowledge-based approach, the services may lack assurance that they have a disciplined approach to set requirements and develop new uniforms that meet operational needs. The military services’ fragmented approach for acquiring uniforms has not ensured the development of joint criteria for new uniforms or achieved cost efficiency. DOD has not met a statutory requirement to establish joint criteria for future uniforms or taken steps to ensure that uniforms provide equivalent levels of performance and protection for service members, and the services have not pursued opportunities to seek to reduce clothing costs, such as by collaborating on uniform inventory costs. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010 required the military departments to establish joint criteria for future ground combat uniforms. The departments asked the Joint Clothing and Textiles Governance Board to develop the joint criteria, but the task is incomplete. If the services do not use joint criteria to guide their activities, one or more service may develop uniforms without certainty that the uniforms include the newest technology, advanced materials or designs, and meet an acceptable level of performance. Further, DOD does not have a means to ensure that the services meet statutory policy permitting the development of service-unique uniforms as long as the uniforms, to the maximum extent practicable, provide service members the equivalent levels of performance and protection and minimize the risk to individuals operating in the joint battle space. Without a policy to ensure that services develop and field uniforms with equivalent performance and protection, the services could fall short of protecting all service members equally, potentially exposing a number to unnecessary risks. Finally, the services may have opportunities for partnerships to reduce inventory costs for new uniforms. The Army may be able to save about $82 million if it can partner with another service. Under DOD guidance, the services are encouraged to actively seek to reduce costs. The Air Force has shown interest in the Army’s current uniform development, but none of the services has agreed to partner with the Army on a new uniform. In the absence of a DOD requirement that the services collaborate to standardize the development and introduction of camouflage uniforms, the services may forego millions of dollars View GAO-12-707. in potential cost savings.
Read the full GAO Report DOD Should Improve Development of Camouflage Uniforms and Enhance Collaboration Among the Services
Army Testing New Female Body Armor
The female body armor lead designer, Lynn Hennessey said that "Women were having a real problem with the fit of the IOTV, the size extra-small was too large for 85 percent of the females, so they weren't getting a good fit. It was too loose and too long." Gaps and vulnerable points, especially under the arms, were created because the body armor didn't fit correctly and/or was too large.
Some women reporting bruising on their hip bones because the plates hung so low while others reported that while sitting down the plate would ride up to their necks and chins.
The formal feedback program began with soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team in January 2011. Natick developed eight different female body armor sizes, in two different lengths. The protect plates are the same, but the side plates have been scaled down to better fit the female torso. Initial tests of 120 female soldiers at Fort Campbell, West Point, Fort Benning and Milford Mass were positive.
19 of the 100 second generation female body armor prototypes were issued to Fort Campbell Soldiers in mid-August.
"Soldiers who participated in the test are assigned to a female engagement team that will interact closely with the Afghan population, particularly women, when they deploy later this year. The plan, Hennessey explained, was to let the Soldiers get accustomed to wearing the new body armor and then to train in it for about five weeks. This week, they are wrapping up a human factors evaluation that includes such things as weapons firing and climbing in and out of vehicles -- all of the things the Soldiers are likely to do in combat".
Soldiers can find more information on army.mil Deploying Soldiers test new female body armor prototype.
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Army Finally Replacing the ACU
Soldiers in Afghanistan have been issued MultiCam as a temporary solution based on numerous complaints to congress.
Multiple sources are reporting that the Army has finally made the decision to replace the Army Combat Uniform (ACU). What is interesting is that in doing so the Army is admitting that it made a $5 billion dollar mistake in fielding the Army Combat Uniform in the first place.
One unidentified Army Specialist that was interviewed by the Daily said “Essentially, the Army designed a universal uniform that universally failed in every environment,” said an Army specialist who served two tours in Iraq, wearing UCP in Baghdad and the deserts outside Basra. “The only time I have ever seen it work well was in a gravel pit.”
“As a cavalry scout, it is my job to stay hidden. Wearing a uniform that stands out this badly makes it hard to do our job effectively,” he said. “If we can see our own guys across a distance because of it, then so can our enemy.”
PHOTO:Bryan Bedder/The Daily
Apparently in an effort to catch up to the Marine Corps, who developed Marine Pattern (MARPAT) camouflage to Marines in 2002, the Army jumped the gun. The Marine Corps put lots of time and effort and received a lot of input from Marines into development of their new uniform.
Army researchers conducted testing and developed several patterns, but were ordered to pick a pattern before testing was complete.
In order to gain brand identity like the Marine Corps had with MARPAT, the Army chose the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) which was distinctively different, but not very effective in the field. Now they have to do it all over again. 
Soldiers - We'd like to hear from you - what is your opinion on the ACU?
NAVADMIN 164/12: New Navy Uniform Regulations for 2012
NAVADMIN 164/12 announces CNO approved Navy Uniform Policy changes proposed during the 24 January 2012 and 3 April 2012 Navy Uniform Boards.
A summary of approved Navy Uniform Policy changes are:
NAVY SECURITY FORCE IDENTIFICATION BADGES
U.S. NAVY SECURITY FORCE IDENTIFICATION BADGE/PATCH WILL BE STANDARDIZED IN DESIGN AND COLOR REFLECTING THREE CATEGORIES OF SECURITY DUTIES: U.S. NAVY SECURITY FORCES, U.S. NAVY CORRECTIONS SPECIALIST AND U.S. NAVY COMMAND MASTER-AT-ARMS.
SECURITY BADGES WILL BE METAL OR EMBROIDERED PATCHES, GOLD IN COLOR, BLACK LETTERING AND APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 INCH IN HEIGHT BY 1 3/4 INCH IN WIDTH. METAL BADGES WILL BE STAMPED WITH RAISED INSIGNIA. THE FACE OF THE BADGE/PATCH WILL HAVE A RIGHT FACING EAGLE PERCHED ATOP A WREATHED SHIELD.
NEW SECURITY FORCE IDENTIFICATION BADGES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COMMAND PURCHASE AS A CONTROLLED ITEM VIA THE DEFENSE LOGISTIC AGENCY (DLA) COMMENCING IN JUNE 2013. THE PROCEDURE FOR ORDERING THE NEW SECURITY BADGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED VIA FUTURE NAVADMIN.
STRATEGIC SEALIFT OFFICER WARFARE INSIGNIA (SSOWI)
THE STRATEGIC SEALIFT OFFICER WARFARE INSIGNIA IS APPROVED FOR WEAR BY OFFICERS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN OPNAVINST 1534.1D.
DESCRIPTION. GOLD, TWO AND THREE-QUARTER INCHES BY SEVEN EIGHTHS OF AN INCH IN DIMENSION, REFLECTING THE BACKGROUND OF AN EAGLE FROM THE USS CONSTITUTION'S STERN, CROSSED NAVAL OFFICER SWORDS AND A U.S. SHIELD WITH FOULED ANCHOR FROM THE US MERCHANT MARINE FLAG.
AVAILABILITY. THE SSOWI WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE VIA NAVY EXCHANGE UNIFORM CENTERS, ON-LINE, AND 1-800 CALL CENTERS APPROXIMATELY 12 MONTHS AFTER THE RELEASE OF THIS NAVADMIN.
UNITED STATES CYBER COMMAND (USCYBERCOM) IDENTIFICATION BADGE
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, SAILORS ASSIGNED TO THE STAFF OF U.S. CYBER FORCES ARE AUTHORIZED THE OPTIONAL WEAR OF THE USCYBERCOM IDENTIFICATION BADGE DURING THE DURATION OF THEIR ASSIGNMENT ONLY.
MARINE CORPS COMBATANT DIVER (MCD) BREAST INSIGNIA
EFFECTIVE 60 DAYS FROM THE RELEASE OF THIS NAVADMIN, THE MCD BREAST INSIGNIA IS AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR ON NAVY UNIFORMS BY PERSONNEL THAT SUCCESSFULLY MEET ALL QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS OUTLINED IN MILPERSMAN ARTICLE 1220-101.
DESCRIPTION. THE MARINE CORPS COMBATANT DIVER INSIGNIA IS A GOLD
PIN APPROXIMATELY 1-INCH HIGH AND 15/16 INCH WIDE, CONSISTING OF WET SUIT HEADGEAR AND LOW PROFILE FACEMASK WITH CHEST MOUNTED BREATHING APPARATUS. THE INSIGNIA IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN A MINIATURE SIZE (1/2" X 1/2") FOR WEAR WITH DINNER DRESS UNIFORMS. AN EMBROIDERED PATCH FOR WEAR WITH WORKING UNIFORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE AND WILL BE ANNOUNCED VIA FUTURE NAVADMIN.
THE MCD IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE VIA NAVY EXCHANGES UNIFORM CENTERS, ON-LINE AND 1-800 CALL CENTERS.
SERVICE DRESS KHAKI (SDK)
THE CNO HAS APPROVED THE CONTEMPORARY DESIGN SDK FOR OPTIONAL WEAR. DETAILED GUIDANCE ON THE OCCASION FOR WEAR, FLEET AVAILABILITY AND WEAR COMMENCEMENT DATE WILL BE PROMULGATED IN A FUTURE NAVADMIN.
UPON AVAILABILITY, THE SDK WILL BE SOLD VIA SPECIAL ORDER FROM NAVY EXCHANGE SERVICE COMMAND (NEXCOM) UNIFORM CENTERS. BECAUSE IT WILL BE AN OPTIONAL UNIFORM, THE COST TO OWN WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE SDK MUST ONLY BE PURCHASED FROM AN OFFICIAL NAVY-CERTIFIED SOURCE.
E1-E6 SERVICE DRESS BLUE (SD
AN IMPROVED DESIGN OF THE MALE E1-E6 SERVICE DRESS BLUE UNIFORM IS APPROVED. SPECIFIC DETAILS REGARDING FLEET AVAILABILITY WILL BE ANNOUNCED VIA A FUTURE NAVADMIN.
THE NEW DESIGN INCORPORATES A SIDE ACCESS ZIPPER ON THE JUMPER AND A HIDDEN CENTER ZIPPER ON THE TROUSERS. THE TRADITIONAL 13 BUTTONS ARE COSMETICALLY ATTACHED AND NON-FUNCTIONAL. OCCASION FOR WEAR. PRESCRIBED FOR WEAR YEAR-ROUND TO ALL OFFICIAL
FUNCTIONS WHEN DINNER DRESS OR FULL DRESS UNIFORMS ARE NOT PRESCRIBED AND
CIVILIAN EQUIVALENT DRESS IS COAT AND TIE.
INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW MALE E1-E6 SDB IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN 1 OCTOBER 2015 AT RTC GREAT LAKES. FLEET AVAILABILITY WILL COMMENCE 1 OCTOBER 2018.
E1-E6 SERVICE DRESS WHITE (SDW)
AN IMPROVED DESIGN JUMPER STYLE SERVICE DRESS WHITE JUMPER IS APPROVED. SPECIFIC DETAILS REGARDING FLEET AVAILABILITY WILL BE PROVIDED VIA A FUTURE NAVADMIN.
THE IMPROVED DESIGN JUMPER STYLE SERVICE DRESS WHITE JUMPER INCORPORATES A SIDE ACCESS ZIPPER, FRONT AND REAR YOKE, NAVY BLUE PIPING ON THE FLAP, SLEEVE CUFFS WITH NAVY BLUE PIPING AND BUTTON FASTENERS. OCCASION FOR WEAR. MAY BE PRESCRIBED FOR SUMMER WEAR AND WHEN DINNER DRESS OR FULL DRESS UNIFORMS ARE NOT PRESCRIBED AND CIVILIAN EQUIVALENT IS COAT AND TIE.
INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW E1-E6 SDW WILL BEGIN 1 OCTOBER 2015 AT RTC GREAT LAKES. FLEET AVAILABILITY WILL COMMENCE1 OCTOBER 2018.
KHAKI MATERNITY BLOUSE
A REDESIGNED KHAKI MATERNITY BLOUSE FOR ENLISTED AND OFFICER FEMALES HAS BEEN APPROVED.
THE NEW KHAKI MATERNITY TOP IS MADE OF 100 PERCENT POLYESTER FABRIC. DESIGN FEATURES INCLUDE: ADJUSTABLE WAIST SIDE TABS WITH THREE BUTTONS, HIDDEN VERTICAL SIDE POCKETS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE SEAMS AND AN OPENED NOTCHED COLLAR.
THE NEWLY DESIGNED MATERNITY TOP IS SHORTER IN LENGTH THAN THE CURRENT DESIGN
AND IS AVAILABLE IN REGULAR AND LONG LENGTHS.
OCCASION FOR WEAR. THE REDESIGNED KHAKI MATERNITY BLOUSE WILL BE
AN OPTIONAL SERVICE UNIFORM COMPONENT WORN WITH APPLICABLE SERVICE UNIFORMS
UNTIL 1 APRIL 2015 WHEN IT WILL THEN BECOME MANDATORY AS NEEDED.
AVAILABILITY. THE REDESIGNED KHAKI MATERNITY TOP WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR FLEET PURCHASE 1 JUNE 2013. UPON AVAILABILITY, THE NEW MATERNITY TOP MAY BE PURCHASED VIA NAVY EXCHANGE UNIFORM CENTERS, ON-LINE AND 1-800 CALL CENTERS.
NAVY FLIGHT SUIT REVISED OCCASION AND MANNER OF WEAR
EFFECTIVE 60 DAYS FROM THE RELEASE OF THIS MESSAGE, FLIGHT SUIT OCCASION FOR WEAR IS ALIGNED WITH THE NWU OCCASION FOR WEAR POLICIES AS OUTLINED IN REF C, PARAGRAPHS 3 AND 4. THIS POLICY APPLIES TO ONE-PIECE FLIGHT SUITS ONLY. THIS DECISION UPDATES THE MANNER AND OCCASION FOR WEAR POLICIES CONTAINED IN REFS A AND C.
OCCASION FOR WEAR: GREEN FLIGHT SUITS WILL BE THE PRIMARY FLIGHT SUIT WORN IN CONUS. TAN FLIGHT SUITS WILL ONLY BE WORN IN CONUS IN HOT WEATHER ENVIRONMENTS (FALLON, EL CENTRO, CHINA LAKE, LEMOORE, ETC.) AS AUTHORIZED BY THE TYCOM.
FLIGHT SUIT OUTER WEAR: BROWN LEATHER JACKET. GREEN NOMEX JACKETS ARE ONLY AUHTORIZED ON BASE AND AFLOAT. HEAD GEAR: KHAKI GARRISON CAP FOR OFFICERS AND CHIEFS, BLACK GARRISON CAP FOR E1-E6. BALLCAPS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR OFF-BASE WEAR.
NAVY WORKING UNIFORM TYPE I PARKA
EFFECTIVE 60 DAYS FROM THE RELEASE OF THIS NAVADMIN, OPTIONAL WEAR OF NAMETAPES ON THE LEFT SHOULDER POCKET FLAP OF THE NWU TYPE I PARKA IS AUTHORIZED. EFFECTIVE 1 OCTOBER 2013, NAME TAPES ON THE LEFT SHOULDER POCKET FLAP OF THE NWU TYPE I PARKA WILL BE MANDATORY.
THE WEARER'S LAST NAME WILL BE EMBROIDERED QQQQ ON THE MATCHING PATTERN NWU FABRIC STRIP. NAMETAPES WORN BY E1-E6 PERSONNEL WILL BE SILVER IN COLOR. NAMETAPES WORN BY E7 AND ABOVE PERSONNEL WILL BE GOLD.
NAMETAPES MAY BE PURCHASED VIA NAVY EXCHANGE UNIFORM CENTERS, ON-
LINE AND 1-800 CALL CENTERS. DURING THE OPTIONAL WEAR PERIOD, NAMETAPES WILL BE PURCHASED AT THE SAILOR'S EXPENSE. ONCE MANDATORY, ENLISTED SAILORS WILL RECEIVE A CLOTHING REPLACEMENT ALLOWANCE (CRA) ADJUSTMENT TO FACILITATE PURCHASE OF ONE ADDITIONAL NAMETAPE FOR THE NWU TYPE I PARKA.
NAVY WORKING UNIFORM TYPE I
EFFECTIVE 60 DAYS FROM THE RELEASE OF THIS NAVADMIN, THE OPTIONAL WEAR OF A RIGGERS BELT IS AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR WITH THE NWU TYPE I.
ONE AND THREE-FOURTH INCH WIDE, ONE PIECE ADJUSTABLE NYLON WEBBING, METAL OR PLASTIC BUCKLE WITH OR WITHOUT D RING.RIGGER BELTS WORN BY E1-E6 PERSONNEL WILL BE BLACK IN COLOR. RIGGER BELTS WORN BY E7 AND ABOVE PERSONNEL WILL BE TAN/KHAKI.
NWU TYPE I GORE-TEX TROUSER
EFFECTIVE 60 DAYS FROM THE RELEASE OF THIS NAVADMIN, PERSONAL PURCHASE OF NWU PATTERN FOUL WEATHER GORE-TEX TROUSERS IS AUTHORIZED.
THE GORE-TEX TROUSER IS MADE OF LAMINATE MATERIAL AND INCORPORATES LOWER LEG SIDE ZIPPERS TO FACILITATE EASY DONNING AND DUFFING, AN ELASTICIZED WAIST TO PROVIDE FOR MULTIPLE SIZE WAISTS AND BELT LOOPS FOR STANDARD NAVY BELTS OR RIGGERS BELTS. IT HAS A WATERPROOF ONE-WAY FRONT ZIPPER CONCEALED BY A WELT WITH AN ADJUSTABLE WAIST DRAW CORD CLOSURES WITH BARREL LOCKS. THE TROUSERS ALSO CONTAINS TWO ANGLED FRONT HIP OPENINGS TO ACCESS NWU TYPE I TROUSER POCKETS WITH CONCEALED WATER RESISTANT SNAP FASTENER OPENING AND TWO BELLOWED THIGH CARGO POCKETS WITH FLAPS AND ADJUSTABLE LEG TABS. A NAMETAPE OF MATCHING NWU PATTERN AND FABRIC (CLOTH OR
GORE-TEX) WILL BE SEWN ON THE RIGHT LEG CARGO POCKET FLAP TO INDICATE OWNERSHIP.
GORE-TEX TROUSERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AT SELECTED NAVY EXCHANGE UNIFORM CENTERS AND THE NAVY EXCHANGE UNIFORM SUPPORT CENTER VIA TELEPHONE AND ON-LINE COMMENCING 1 OCTOBER 2012.OPTIONALLY PURCHASED GORE-TEX TROUSERS WILL BE PURCHASED AT THE SAILOR'S EXPENSE.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE NEWLY APPROVED NAVY UNIFORM COMPONENTS AND INSIGNIAS WILL
BE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW ON THE NAVY UNIFORM MATTERS OFFICE WEBSITE AT
HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.NAVY.MIL/BUPERS-NPC/SUPPORT/UNIFORMS/PAGES/DEFAULT2.ASPX
Sailors for more detailed information see NAVADMIN 164/12