BTW - every Chief, Senior Chief, and Master Chief should feel as if someone wiped their nose on your best set of khakis ... because that is exactly the amount of respect for your professionalism that comes from this message to my ears. Take it personally; I would.
I guess it must be true - the MCPON let this message go. Wait ... did someone just email me to say I can't expect the MCPON to be in the loop on this message? Really? Really? If so, the problem is much worse.
BEHOLD!
UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 270135Z AUG 10
BT
UNCLAS
PASS TO ALL OFFICE CODES:
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
TO NAVADMIN
INFO CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 287/10
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N1/AUG//
SUBJ/NAVY UNIFORM UPDATE - NAVY WORKING UNIFORM (NWU)//
REF/A/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/021922Z DEC 08//
REF/B/MSG/CNO WASHINGTON DC/262243Z JUN 09//
REF/C/DOC/NAVPERS 15665I/01JAN03//
NARR/REF A IS NAVADMIN 343/08, UNIFORM UPDATE. REF B IS NAVY UNIFORM UPDATE. REF C IS US NAVY UNIFORM REGULATIONS.
RMKS/1. THE NAVY WORKING UNIFORM (NWU) FACILITATES NAVY LEADERSHIP'S INTENT TO STANDARDIZE THE PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE OF SAILORS WHEN WEARING A WORKING UNIFORM ASHORE. THIS NAVADMIN PROVIDES UPDATED GUIDANCE ON THE MANDATORY WEAR DATES OF THE NWU, AS ANNOUNCED IN REF A. FLEET-WIDE AVAILABILITY OF THE NWU HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVED SIX MONTHS IN ADVANCE OF THE ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED MANDATORY WEAR DATE, AND THE NWU WILL NOW BE WORN AS THE WORKING UNIFORM ASHORE BY 31 DECEMBER 2010.
2. CURRENT NWU COMPONENT INVENTORY INDICATES THAT SAILORS HAVE PURCHASED AN AVERAGE OF 1.3 UNIFORMS, WELL BELOW THE FOUR UNIFORMS PER SEA BAG WHICH MOST SAILORS HAVE BEEN PAID TO PROCURE. SEABAG CONTENT AND QUANTITY REQUIREMENTS ARE ESTABLISHED TO ENSURE DEPLOYMENT AND MISSION READINESS.
3. THOSE SAILORS THAT COMPLETED RECRUIT TRAINING DURING FISCAL YEAR 2008, AND PRIOR TO 27 APRIL 2009, RECEIVED A REDUCED CLOTHING REPLACEMENT ALLOWANCE (CRA) AMOUNT DUE TO DOD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REGULATION (DODFMR) GUIDELINES THAT LIMIT THE PERCENTAGE OF CRA ENTITLEMENT BASED ON TIME OF ACTIVE SERVICE. THESE SAILORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET THE FOUR UNIFORM STANDARD BY 31 DECEMBER 2012.
4. OTHER THAN THIS GROUP, ALL OTHER SAILORS HAVE RECEIVED ALLOWANCES FOR THE FOUR SETS OF UNIFORMS. SAILORS WHO COMPLETED RECRUIT TRAINING ON AND AFTER 27 APRIL 2009 WERE ISSUED A COMPLETE COMPLEMENT OF REQUIRED NWU COMPONENTS, AND ARE REQUIRED TO MEET THE FOUR UNIFORM STANDARD BY 31 DECEMBER 2010.
5. PREVIOUSLY, WE PROVIDED GUIDANCE TO OUR SAILORS TO SAVE THESE ANNUAL UNIFORM ALLOWANCE INCREASES FOR THE PURCHASE OF NWU SEABAG REQUIREMENTS, IN ORDER TO AVOID ADVERSE IMPACT ON PERSONAL FINANCES AS THE MANDATORY WEAR DATE APPROACHES. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT LEADERSHIP CONTINUE TO EDUCATE OUR SAILORS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF PROCURING NWU ITEMS WITH THE FUNDS THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED.
6. BY 31 DECEMBER 2010, COMMANDERS AND COMMANDING OFFICERS SHOULD HAVE VERIFIED THAT ALL SAILORS UNDER THEIR COMMAND HAVE THE REQUIRED UNIFORM COMPONENTS IN THEIR SEA BAG, APPROPRIATE TO THE LEVEL OF UNIFORM ALLOWANCE THAT EACH SAILOR HAS RECEIVED. ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED THAT ENTERED AND COMPLETED RECRUIT TRAINING DURING FISCAL YEAR 2008, AND PRIOR TO 27 APRIL 2009, SHOULD HAVE TWO COMPLETE SETS OF THE NWU. ANNUAL CRA FOR THESE SAILORS WILL PROVIDE FOR REPLACEMENT OF ONE SET OF NWUS PER YEAR AND PROCUREMENT OF NWU FOOTWEAR AND OUTERWEAR BASED ON THEIR APPLICABLE WEAR LIFE, ALLOWING THEM TO HAVE FOUR COMPLETE SETS BY 31 DECEMBER 2012. FOR ALL OTHER SAILORS, FULL NWU COMPONENT REQUIREMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A. FOUR NWU BLOUSES AND TROUSERS
B. ONE PAIR OF NWU BOOTS
C. TWO-EIGHT POINT UTILITY CAPS
D. FIVE 100% BLUE COTTON T-SHIRTS
E. FIVE PAIRS OF BOOT SOCKS
F. ONE MOCK TURTLE NECK SWEATER
G. ONE FLEECE LINER
H. ONE GORTEX PARKA
7. NWU COMPONENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE VIA NAVY EXCHANGE UNIFORM CENTERS. NAVY EXCHANGE UNIFORM SALES ASSOCIATES ARE AVAILABLE TO ENSURE PROPER FIT AND SIZING OF NWU COMPONENTS.
8. REF C ESTABLISHES UNIFORM QUANTITY REQUIREMENTS FOR SAILORS IN PAYGRADE E1-E9. E7-E9 HAVE RECEIVED THE 2008/2009 UNIFORM ALLOWANCE INCREASE TO SUPPORT PURCHASING OF THE ITEMS LISTED IN PARA 5 ABOVE. PER ARTICLE 3101.1 OFFICERS AND CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUYING AND MAINTAINING UNIFORMS APPROPRIATE TO THEIR ASSIGNED DUTIES AND AS REQUIRED BY THEIR PRESCRIBING AUTHORITY. THERE IS NO MINIMUM NUMBER OF UNIFORMS REQUIRED TO BE IN THEIR POSSESSION. SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES OF UNIFORM ITEMS SHALL BE PROCURED AND MAINTAINED TO ENSURE HIGH STANDARDS OF PERSONAL HYGIENE AND APPEARANCE.
9. THE NWU OCCASION FOR WEAR, AS DETAILED IN REF B, REMAINS IN EFFECT.
10. YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT IN THIS EFFORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED TO ENSURE UNIFORM STANDARDIZATION, MISSION READINESS, AND REDUCTION OF EXCESS INVENTORY WHICH COULD IMPEDE FUTURE UNIFORM INITIATIVES.
11. POINTS OF CONTACT:
- MR. ROBERT B. [redacted], HEAD, NAVY UNIFORM MATTERS OFFICE, AT ROBERT.B.[redacted](AT)NAVY.MIL.
- CMDCM(AW) JERRY [redacted], DEPUTY HEAD, NAVY UNIFORM MATTERS, AT JERRY.[redacted](AT)NAVY.MIL.
- NEXCOM UNIFORM CENTER: MR. GENE [redacted], (757) 631-[redacted] OR EMAIL AT [redacted](AT)NEXWEB.ORG.
12. RELEASED BY VADM MARK FERGUSON, N1.//
BT
#0001
NNNN
Wait, it gets better. Did you ever think we would reach the point where we have to issue talking points about a uniform issue? Well - we have. Here it is. No, I don't make this stuff up.
Talking PointsNavy Working Uniform Requirement Reminder
Top line messages:What is the requirement?
- The fleet-wide availability of the Navy Working Uniform (NWU) has been successfully completed six months in advance of the originally established mandatory wear date.
- All Sailors should be properly outfitted with the correct number of NWU components by the Dec. 31 mandatory wear date.
- Active duty enlisted that entered and completed recruit training 1 Oct 2007 to 27 April 2009 did not receive the full complement of NWUs. These Sailors should have two complete sets of the NWU by the mandatory wear date and will be required to meet the four uniform standard by 31 Dec 2012.
- It is important that leadership engage with their Sailors to ensure they comply with the requirements and obtain all NWU items needed for their sea bag.
- Commanding officers should verify all Sailors under their command have the required uniform components in their sea bag prior to the mandatory wear date.
Each Sailor must own the following:
- The majority of Sailors are required to own four sets of the NWU by Dec. 31, 2010.
- Sailors that entered and completed recruit training 1 Oct 2007 to 27 April 2009 did not receive the full complement of NWUs. These Sailors should have two complete sets of the NWU by the mandatory wear date and meet the four uniform standard by December 31, 2012.
How is the sale of NWUs going so far?
- Four NWU blouses and trousers
- One pair of NWU boots
- Two eight-point utility caps
- Five pairs of blue, 100 percent cotton T-shirts
- Five pairs of boot socks
- One mock turtleneck sweater
- One fleece liner
- One Gore-Tex parka
How much will each Sailor have to spend to meet this requirement?
- Based on Navy Exchange sales and inventory on hand, the Navy calculates that on average, each Sailor currently owns 1.3 sets of the NWU.
Will this cause a hardship for Sailors? What if a Sailor can’t afford to fill out his sea bag now?
- Most Sailors who joined the Navy after the NWU was introduced were issued sufficient uniform items at boot camp to meet the requirement, plus an annual uniform maintenance allowance. Those who joined the Navy before the NWU was introduced received a special allowance to offset the cost of buying new uniforms.
- Sailors who are buying the NWU now can expect to spend about $90 for each set, including the blouse, trousers, name and U.S. Navy tapes, and rank and warfare devices, but not including boots, caps, T-shirts, the fleece and parka, or alterations.
- Standard NWU boots cost $73 per pair. Optional suede boots, approved for wear ashore, cost $125 per pair.
- The NWU cap costs $6.50, plus $1.45 for the rank device. T-shirts for the NWU cost $3.35 each.
- The NWU fleece costs $57.45 and the NWU parka costs $173, including rank devices but not including alterations.
What if a local Navy Exchange doesn’t have NWUs available or if a Sailor is not stationed near an exchange?
- No. The vast majority of the fleet has received initial and maintenance clothing allowances for the NWU. With the exception of those Sailors who completed recruit training between 1 October 2007 and 27 April 2009, all new Sailors enter the fleet with a full complement.
- With the NWU rollout complete six months early, exchanges should have ample supplies of the NWU to meet the demand.
- If a local exchange does not have a particular item, or a Sailor is not stationed near an exchange, a Sailor can order it by calling the Uniform Support Center’s toll-free number, 1-800-368-4088, or going to https://www.navy-nex.com/command/about_us/p-uniformsupport.html.
... and of course - for a Navy at War, we have good people spending an exorbitant amount of time cleaning up the mess made by others.
-----Original Message-----
From: [redacted], Kelvin ITCM (C[redacted]F)
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 4:41 PM
To: #C[redacted]F Officers Less COS & Admiral
Cc: [redacted], Wayne A. ITCM (L[redacted])
Subject: FW: Revised Navy Working Uniform Update NAVADMIN
ALCON,
VR,
ITCM(SW/AW) Kelvin [redacted]
Senior Enlisted Advisor
N[redacted] LCPO
Fleet [redacted] Manager
Fleet [redacted] Inspector
DSN: 315.243.[redacted]
U/W: 315.453.[redacted]
BlackBerry: 080.[redacted]
Admirals, MCPON,
This week, I provided an advanced copy of the Draft Navy Working Uniform Update NAVADMIN encouraging the purchase of Navy Working Uniforms (NWUs). Since that transmission, an additional issue warranting a revision to the original document has been brought to our attention. The issue regards differences in Clothing Replacement Allowances (CRAs), depending on date of Sailors' entry into the Navy, specifically for a group of Sailors that entered the Navy beginning in FY 2008 until 27 April 2009. Accordingly, we have modified their date to achieve full NWU compliance to match our projected uniform replacement funding.
In addition, I wanted you to have the relevant talking points and the newly revised NAVADMIN to support NWU discussions with your Sailors. Appreciate your support and continued feedback.
Don't blame the Master Chief - he didn't order this dog's breakfast. ... and don't blame the Sailors either.
We fire CDR and CAPT in seagoing commands like it is a monthly requirement - but we refuse to hold our senior leadership responsible for basic, sound, personnel administration nightmares.
52 comments:
"...<span>AND THE NWU WILL NOW BE WORN AS THE WORKING UNIFORM ASHORE BY 31 DECEMBER 2010." Well, except in the NCR. Because we will write the policy in DC, but effing hell! We won't wear that POS Smurf-like $h!t-rag. The D-baggery (D-nozzlery for MTH) has reached epic levels. When DC wants to do something that actually helps us train, equip and maneuver to put steel on target I would like to know so that I may feel I am back in the Navy. Business enterprise, transformational, diversity driven, global farse for good drivel is what is coming out of DC. Pathetic leadership. To quote BB King, "The Thrill is Gone." </span>
A fleet wide seabag inspection because the Navy Exchange is complaining that the stimulous checks didn't all get immediately spent at the NEX??? You give squids money. They have various bills. They buy half the uniforms they need and use the rest on their bills (or it becomes beer money). And the clowns in DC, Millington or whereever we keep clowns now a days are actually surprised? Really? They had no idea that sailors might not run to the NEX and spend every penny on uniforms? Wow, just one more example of how out of touch and clueless our permanent shore duty overlords are about the Navy.
My favorite part..."<span>YOUR LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT IN THIS EFFORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED TO ENSURE...REDUCTION OF EXCESS INVENTORY WHICH COULD IMPEDE FUTURE UNIFORM INITIATIVES."</span>
That's incentive to ignore this nonsense in my mind.
Ahhh, the exchange system. The Federal Government's version of free enterprise.
"That is our most popular item! So we don't have any."
Four bins full of size Small, a bin and a half of size Medium, a handful of size Large, and sizes XL and XXL on two-week backorder.
"Because that's the way we order from the factory!"
And they open conveniently at 0900 on workdays for you the customer.
I am making the summer to winter conversion where I am at in the next couple of weeks. We have been mandated to do the seabag inspections on the day prior to the mando-seasonal uniform shift. I love the line in message traffic that stated previously we had mentioned that sailors needed to save the money being given to them ahead of time. Oh wait, some of us did and you posers still fubared the roll out of the new mando-pt uniform, still snafu'd the rollout of the Service Uniform since no one made the new pants, and finally snafu'd the rollout of the new NWU's cause it wasn't noticed until a full year afterwards that the NEX had a contract for the WRONG STYLE FRIGGING T-SHIRT! That now they are only selling in single packs at around $3 a unit. So every time some of us would go out and spend portions of our "saved" bumped uniform allowance it would get eaten up cause TFU wasn't following up to verify that Supply Corps and NEXCOM were buying the right stuff. OH and the fact that you pin heads started to pay us about two years ahead of the proposed rollout of the NWU's, I mean even if I had done the smart thing and invested the uniform allowance I might have ended up with less cause the economy tanked in the same time period.
TFU and leadership with inside the five sided wind tunnel has executed epic fail that goes beyond having to use a facepalm to answer anymore questions about this.
Sorry Phib I have to disagree - it is this Master Chief's fault, as well as any previous E7,8, or 9 who kept quiet and supported this type of tom foolery. These guys hadn't stepped foot on the f'csle in years to understand what the sailors should wear when they work, or what type of work a sailor does. Glad I only saw one transition - salt and pepper and utilities transitioned back to working blues (not really a working uniform) and real dungarees back in '81. I feel for the guys who have toi live this mess now, but senior enlisted leadership is to blame on this one, their lack of spine did senior Navy leadership a disservice.
I missed that gem. I think the vein in my head throbbing was giving me tunnel vision. Knuckleheads!
Maybe these pinheads will learn from this. Next time there is a uniform change, just issues the damn things to the sailors in lieu of the uniform allowance.
Nah, will never happen. Makes too much sense...
I think that was his point. Leadership fail all over including the Goat Locker.
<span><span>"NAVY EXCHANGE UNIFORM SALES ASSOCIATES ARE AVAILABLE TO ENSURE PROPER FIT AND SIZING OF NWU COMPONENTS."</span></span>
Really?!? When did THAT happen???
^what he said -- +1
w/r, SJS
True quote:
"I need this size of uniform blouse."
"We don't stock that size."
"Why not, it's possibly the most common size?"
"Becuase we can't keep them in stock. It made our inventory numbers look bad."
Face, meet palm. Palm, meet face.
One more reason I spend my days wrestling with the fact that I am retirement eligible...
Nothing new here folks. Senior leaders screw up uniform rollout, Sailors are blamed. Repeat forever. The fact that Sailors purchased so few uniforms is a direct result of the confusion, incorrect wear items, and administrative a$$clownery associated with a failed rollout. I just bought the name tapes but no uniform items just in case the Navy cancelled the whole failed thing.
The uniform board was supposed to reduce uniform requirements. Nice job. Here are my admittedly heretical thoughts on uniforms. Pick one for dress and one for work. No summer/winter shift. All uniform items required must actually fit in one standard seabag. That includes boots and coats. For officers pick SDB or Khaki and make all uniform wear options derivative of those. Get rid of all whites. Minimize shoe requirements. One set of dress shoes, one set of working boots.
Recently I've had the plesure of wearing: full dress blue with black shoes, khaki with brown shoes, service dress white with white shoes, and a flight suit with brown boots. That's about half my uniform complement. Of the services we have the least space, richest history, and most unique character. Unfortunately we also have the greatest volume of silliest uniforms.
I'd be happy with a set of long sleeved khakis with boots for a work uniform, add a tie and coat and change boots to shoes and it's a dress uniform. Brown shoes and boots for aviation, black for non-aviation. One full dress uniform and whatever organizational clothing is required and you're done. There, officer uniforms solved in 2 minutes. How hard can it be?
And no polyester or shiny plastic shoes in any shape or form.
You have single handedly wiped out someone's FITREP bullet and as such have reduced the need for some staff in DC. Heretical, indeed! Get back in your swim lane and try to figure out how to reduce Sailors at sea and increase morale through lack of sleep and silly, diversity training. Shame on you!
Translation: That sailors have not rushed out to complete their seabag is calling attention to just how ugly this uniform is and how hosed up the process was that got us here. Call this a "leadership issue" and step on the junior khaki to make it happen ASAP.
(sigh).
The surest indicator that the Admirals have run amok and the Fleet's training, maintenence, ammo inventories, and new construction are in free fall or worse, is when the new uniform efforts get spastic and hyperactive. True in the 70's, true now.
The MCPO's were supposed to add common sense to uniform board. Didn't work. Send back to sea.
Quick and easy answer...just stop. Then simplify.
Working uniform...Dickies. Khaki for all hands, Blue belt, dixie cup for hat, and rank on sleeve for Blue jackets. Khaki belt and garrison cap for O/CPO. Frame cover only on dress uniforms. Ball cap OK.
Dirty work, blue coveralls. Not auth to or from ship or station. Paint, stains...don't care.
Windbreaker, Blue for all hands, international orange reversible lining.
Winter coat, P-coat for all, brass buttons on O/CPO (reefer). Watch cap auth for all with working uniform, keep foul weather jacket. Raincoat, blue, zip out liner, (london fog), for all uniforms other than dirty work or working, in which case rate a rain suit, intl orange.
Camo... only as tactically required on shore, buy from/with Army for other than FMF duty, Wear Marines' whatever when with FMF. MAA's clean working uniform; pistol belt, with cuffs and billy club, badge, and blue frame cover with badge on it, if on duty.
Undress: none.
Office: Clean dickies. Add ribbons. No ball cap.
Dress: as is. Mess Dress: as is.
Steel toed chukka boot or black combat boot except office uniforms and dress.
Issue all to all except dress uniforms, insignia, and Frame covers. Note: basic uniform pants and shirt available from WalMart, Penny's, Sears.
Any uniform except coveralls authorized for gas station, 7-11, and drive thru food on way home. Keep it mended.
Office uniform or better OK in bars and restaurants for lunch.
Issue theological services (TS) cards to non rates who want to look the same as Chiefs, so they can take them to the Chaplain and get them punched... because they can't, until they earn advancement. TS.
Abolish uniform board. They just put out new uniforms every 5 years and waste the government's and the sailors' money.
Props to you, Sal, for the funniest darn blog title of the year! hahahahaahah. :-D
Umm, kind of, but not exactly. Despite all the admonitions we could throw towards our Sailors about "be careful what you wish for you just might get it", when TFU conducted a survey of the fleet asking Sailors what they wanted to wear and the options were the blue coveralls that you can't wear anywhere except on the ship/base, utilities that you can't wear anywhere but on the ship/base, or "cammies" that all the other services can wear anywhere they want (it wasn't known then that we wouldn't be able to wear them anywhere but on ship/base) the outcome of the survey was a foregone conclusion. All the prostestations in the mess and/or wardroom were not going to deny what THE leadership wanted and what the survey (I'll bet) showed the "fleet" wanted.
Like many other initiatives in the last 10-15 years, this one was settled before it ever started.
And on a personal note. That is a HUGE wide swath you paint with that broad brush about the failure of the senior enlisted.
R/
Senior
Meanwhile...
Back At The Ranch
Stuff that really SHOULD matter keeps on getting grimmer and grimmer.
I thought it was to clear out the existing inventory to make room for a new uniform roll-out. Given the dates in this message, expect that to occur about 6/1/2011.
Shipyard uniform regulations:
Levi/Wrangler jeans : check
Cool looking T shirt (summer) Check
Cool looking denim shirt (pearl buttons optional): check
Great boots (mine are Timberlands): check
ALL materials, 100% cotton: damnbetcha check
Since I'm paying for it, all it has to do is meet the minimum standards of decency and safety
Have you Navy folks ever noticed that every time the broom sweeps clean up in the Puzzle Palace that you see a bunch of new directives? I noticed it here with base security. Every time a new Security Officer takes his berth, he starts "improving" security" and generally causes chaos. One even was getting the sailors in the Security billet to start harrassing and intimidating us yardbirds, especially where we try to get our access badges. When enough evidence piled up, he went to do security at McMurdo Sound or some place.
I have to wonder if all this uniform BS is just CNO trying to make his "mark".
Hey, what about celebrating some diversity and allowing for individual display of pride in one's ethnic, racial, religous, sexual orientation via encouraging different uniforms. All this "making everybody look the same" stuff really is disrespectful to diversity....
I liked the part "<span><span>OFFICERS AND CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUYING AND MAINTAINING UNIFORMS APPROPRIATE TO THEIR ASSIGNED DUTIES AND AS REQUIRED BY THEIR PRESCRIBING AUTHORITY. THERE IS NO MINIMUM NUMBER OF UNIFORMS REQUIRED TO BE IN THEIR POSSESSION."</span></span>
Translation is: No one up in the higher echelons would waste their money buying four sets of this crap and a $173 parka, so don't expect to see us wearing this clown suit.
When someone with some ball$ actually starts doing sensible stuff in the CNO office (yeah, a dream...) besides eliminating the Diversity Bullies, they can also save a lot by firing this bunch of prima donna fashionistas in the uniform shop and abolishing that office too. Just go dig out a copy of Unifrom Regs from the 1960s and change the date and we are good to go.
I am gald I am retired, I don't think I could play well with others if subjected to this sort of cr@p as frequently as it happens now.
Byron, and I"m sure you look in it. :) Cotton is my favorite too. It's the most comfortable, and here in SoCal it's pretty much a year-round fabric.
Whoops. Meant to write that I'm sure you look good in it. I need a proofreader.
Timberlands?!?! Really. Why not go with some good boots like Redwings? Since I have been in and until the instruction switched, Redwing Boots are what I use to buy. They were much better then the Bates and Addisions at times, easier to break in and much more comfortable after a while. On top of that they could last a six month deployment with out falling apart and still have some tread left. I could then drop my boots off on my leave period and for about 45 to 60 dollars pay for them to resole the suckers. In the end I only went through three pairs in 12 years, versus some folks I know who went through a pair of boots a year.
A working uniform that you can war in public - like all the other services - seems like so little to ask for. When sailors change into civvies to go home, it destroys pride.
Former,
The NEX folks where usually there on the first month of the roll out up in the PacNW. What made it hard at least at my base at Whidbey was there was only two people trained on how to help sailors and as per NEXCOM instructions they were supposed to be the only ones helping with the new uniform fits. One of these folks worked days and the other worked nights. Even more difficult was they would literaly be swamped by folks trying to get thier uniforms cause someone in thier command mandated everyone should have one by a certain day. So if you can imagine two or three commands massing a small NEX asking for help from just one person they would be swamped and it was hard from others to get thier uniforms.
I owe my soul to the company store!
I asked a USCG Captain when they started wearing USAF uniforms w/ USCG insignia. He said he thought it was the early '70's w/ a survey that went out and was promptly ignored in favor of what HQ wanted. I think I had seen an old picture of them in khakis like the Navy had. The merchies will put on khakis from time to time w/ the eagle if they are an unlimited master. Usually when pulling in and out of a military port from what I've seen.
The $110 Timberlands I have on have lasted me 3 years. Redwing quality has dropped off. On top of that, Timberland uses composite toes that weigh nothing compared to steel toes and still meet the ANSI spec's. I'll stick with the Timberland.
Back in my day, they changed the rules for wearing the points of your shirt inside the SWO Sweater to pulling them out...because on E-3 complained to the MCPON that they scratched his neck...rumor? Nope, it was stated that way in the directive to change the regs in an ALLNAV. One "happy" sailor can affect the lives of all the rest....especially when the Khaki woun't tell him to shut and take the pain....
When "simple" became an uncommon virtue....
The new COS or CNO changes the uniform because it is the only thing that he can accomplish in a single tour of duty.
Don't forget thier other answer is "You could try and order it online or through our direct order phone over there."
I tried that once for the now replaced utilities and some how NEXCOM swapped 34x32 pants for 32x34 pants and miss-spelled my name yet my receipt showed it was all spelled right with the right sizes inputted. The uniform website is a pain in the ass as well to access while underway or someplace where there limited internet connectivity
Makes me love the fact that since '05, I spent 3.5 yrs in NSW and the last two (one more to go) with the USMC. Never ever will I waste $$ on this idiotic uniform.
UGGGH. Just when you think things can't get any worse, the hits just keep on coming. Count me as one of the people who this message is directed at. NWU in my seabag=0 and d@mn proud of it (still got my wash khaki's though). Here's to hoping this nightmare is over soon.
Pirate, Not only that but I remember Undress Blues and Whites too (they were still around when I was a midshipman). Only tried to grow a beard once and that lasted for about three weeks.
Or how the black pants for the black and tans are different in some way from the black pants in the working blues...
Byron: Merchant marine uni - Gramps' Mk 1:
Khaki trow (choice of nomenclature in deference to URR's tender sensibilities...be subject one to another out of reverence etc.) or blue jeans, steel toed boondockers or black nike sneaks (depending) non-slip soles, oil resistant. Khaki or blue chambray long sleeve dickies shirt. Ball cap, watch cap or hard hat, depending. Pocket t shirt, jockey briefs, black boot sox.
Arctic: Flannel lined jeans Nylon parka with built in life vest; or USN windbreaker; or reefer, depending. JC Penny rain parka and pants. Submarine sweater (wool, brown, button up neck), USN wool scarf, day glo hoodie, polyester, Walmart (for rhibing). Thermal long johns. Sailing wet work gloves, wool glove liners. Optional, plaid flannel shirt, JC Penny.
Tropics, khaki or jean shorts, blue or white polo shirt with pocket. Narrow all round brim hat brim white or tan. Crop top white athletic sox.
Wheel book, skilcraft ball point and mech pencil. Waterproof, luminescent dial watch. Camelbak. Suspenders and belt for holstered flashlight, radio, leatherman and damn sharp riggers knife. Sunglasses, prescription, with neck string. Bandana. Whistle if boating. Set of coveralls or bibs. Work gloves. SPF 90 sun block, deep woods Off. Lumbar support belt, black, walmart. nex sewing kit. Shoe polish, esquire and brush.
One to wash and one to wear, max.
Done. Arctic to tropic. 50 lb wt limit, one roller bag. Everything needed including PPE. And Bob's your Uncle.
Everything else is just costumes for theatrical stuff, err...ahem, traditional attire for military and ceremonial duties.
Khaki for deck officers is helpful, so every body can ID man in charge visually when working with suspended loads or ground tackle, etc...esp. anything involving hand signals in high noise environment. So is an intl orange vest, shirt or jacket. Or white hardhats for mates and blue for deckhands, same reason.
Call me an old fuddy duddy, but I want pants I can blow up and a day glow bandana in case fate makes me play Oscar.
My father was a MM radio officer from 1946 till the 90's. He was sorta fond of the khaki's too.
Phib,
Are the NECC forces wearing NWU?
Guest,
My comment was mostly in jest, and I will assume your comment was sarcasm. Because proper Naval nomenclature is a large part of the tradition of both the Navy and the Marine Corps. Instilling and upholding that tradition is one of the responsibilities of leadership. If you don't think so, you need to go stand on the yellow footprints.
Most are not....Divers, EOD, SeaBees wearing cammies...riverine forces wear cammies in theater.
Sounds like we need a new uniform.
Issuing shoulder-mounted parrots sounds good. :)
I guess the Navy wants a diverse seabag also !! We want all the uniforms to feel good about themselves.
It could be worse. If you see two British Army Officers in the same place in exactly the same uniform, one of them is a spy. Regimental system, what.
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