Dude, sir - I drank my uniform

Oh, good googly moogly. Just count the manhours this seabag inspection will take. Make sure and check for skid marks too.

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 Points

Navy Working Uniform Requirement Reminder

Top line messages:

• 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.

What is the requirement?

• 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.

Each Sailor must own the following:

• 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 is the sale of NWUs going so far?

• 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.

How much will each Sailor have to spend to meet this requirement?

• 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.

Will this cause a hardship for Sailors? What if a Sailor can’t afford to fill out his sea bag now?

• 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.

What if a local Navy Exchange doesn’t have NWUs available or if a Sailor is not stationed near an exchange?

• 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.

TFU FAIL; leadership facepalm. Our Sailors deserve so much more. The fact that a message this long, this hard to map, on a subject so simple need an additional set of talking points and amplifying email should tell you volumes.