Your new look?
Task Force Uniform makes its final pitch to the CNOBy Mark D. Faram
Times staff writer
Task Force Uniform officials showed Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen their recommendations for two proposed new uniforms Feb. 24. Now it’s up to Mullen to decide if those recommendations — based on extensive fleetwide surveys and wear-test results — are good for the Navy.
According to sources familiar with the briefing, Mullen was shown a working uniform for all sailors consisting of a predominantly blue, digital camouflage pattern that included pointed collars, high-top boots and an eight-pointed cover.
The service uniform for sailors E-1 to E-6 featured a khaki-colored shirt with collar rank insignia and black pants, topped by a black garrison cap instead of a white hat.
These designs, sources said, were based on online surveys, wear tests and on-site focus groups conducted by Task Force Uniform last fall. Over the past 14 months, multiple variations of both proposed new uniforms were being considered.
Hours after the Friday morning briefing, Mullen remained mum. His spokesman, Cmdr. John Kirby, did offer this insight to Navy Times: “The CNO is very pleased with the hard work and effort the men and women of Task Force Uniform have expended thus far, as he is of the sailors who participated in wear tests and surveys. He is committed to getting this right. I have no decisions to announce today regarding any specific recommendations made to him.”
What Mullen will decide, and when he’ll do so, is anyone’s guess. But one thing is clear to him, he told Navy Times on Feb. 13: “Clearly, in the polls that I’ve taken and all the audiences that I’ve stood in front of, there’s a desire to change the uniform.”
He will keep those desires in mind as he makes his final decisions, he said.
The prototype uniforms were part of a broader briefing that also included a “business case” for making the changes, including how much it would cost the service to make a switch and what other benefits would be achieved by doing so.
Preparing options
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SS/AW) Terry Scott told Navy Times on Feb. 1 that — based on sailor feedback — Task Force Uniform would present CNO with one version of each proposed uniform. Those versions were “necked down” from the eight proposed variants sailors have seen over the past year.
“All along, it was never supposed to be [options] A, B, C or D,” Scott said.
The sailor feedback “helped direct us on … [the final] recommendations,” he added.
Scott said TFU also consulted an organizational psychologist and conducted laboratory analysis at the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility in Natick, Mass.
Still, officials stress these “prototypes” aren’t official designs, adding that Mullen can approve or disapprove any recommendation. He could also suggest different combinations based on everything he’s seen.
All along, Mullen has said he also reserves the right to keep things just the way they are.
The initial 2003 TFU survey proved sailors preferred BDU-style working uniforms over what they currently wear.
What was proposed to CNO is a digital camouflage-patterned uniform that features a predominately blue color with shades of gray. It includes the blouse from the “Alpha” wear test option that features breast pockets and “tactical pockets” on the sleeves. The absence of lower pockets makes it easier to tuck the top into the pants.
Name tapes will still honor Navy tradition: silver for E-6 and below, gold for chiefs and officers. Rank and warfare insignia will be sewn-on patches as well.
Embroidered onto the left pocket of the uniform is what officials now call the “ACE,” the anchor, Constitution and eagle insignia.
The pants are the traditional BDU-style cargo pant, which will require sailors to “blouse” their pant legs over the tops of the boots, as the other services do.
Topping off the uniform is a digital blue, eight-pointed cover, similar to the Marine Corps BDU cover, with an embroidered, sew-on rank insignia for everyone.
Issue undershirts are expected to be blue cotton. Sailors are also expected to get a turtleneck version for cold-weather wear.
The high-top, steel-toed boot already approved for sailors and available in uniform stores would be adopted as the issue item. The soft leather “no shine” boot that was tested could be adopted for optional wear in certain environments.
In addition, the uniform would come with its own Gore-Tex all-weather jacket that includes a removable lining.
Khaki for all
While blue cammies for everyone is big news, the new service uniform proposed for sailors E-1 to E-6 is sure to cause a stir.
Gone will be the current all-white or all-blue service uniforms. In their place will be a Marine Corps-like “nonlinear” design that features khaki shirts and black plants.
Rank insignia will be located on a sailor’s collar, allowing them to easily swap insignia once they are advanced. Under this proposal, unit identifications would be nixed.
For women, the changes are even bigger. They’ll get an “over blouse” look for the first time — a feature long used by other services and coveted by female sailors.
If adopted in the junior enlisted ranks, that blouse is expected to be adopted for all ranks.
That blouse will require an entirely new pant. Wear-testers claim the pant is more comfortable and form-fitting that the current-issue pant.
For men, the black pants will be similar in design to what is already used in the fleet, updated slightly in cut and material to make it more comfortable year-round.
The belt would remain black and include the traditional Navy close-faced buckle, allowing sailors to still display their command or rank or qualification insignia.
Headgear for this uniform will be a black garrison cap that includes a pin-on rank insignia. The traditional white hat would be limited to dress uniforms.
As for a windbreaker, all ranks would now wear the “Ike jacket” currently worn by chiefs and officers with epaulets.
Approval pending
Even if Mullen quickly approves the recommendations, it could be as long as two years before sailors would wear the new uniforms.
Current stocks would need to be depleted and uniform allowances would need to be adjusted before new uniforms would be phased in, officials said.
What happens next is up to CNO. He’s adamant, however, that the changes make sense for sailors and the Navy.
“It’s got to look good,” he told Navy Times. “It’s got to be reasonable cost. It’s got to clean up well. It needs to collapse the numbers of uniforms, if you will, that are in the seabag.”
Mullen’s bottom line: “Criteria number one is you need to look like a sailor in the United States Navy.”
When asked if he felt a sailor wearing digital blue cammies fits that bill, he said: “Yes; it’s 2006.”
Still, he makes no guarantees.
“It’s very obvious to me that they want a change. That said, any commander would tell you, I reserve the right [not to change uniforms],” he said.
“All I’m saying is all options are on the table, including the status quo. I’m not a status quo guy.”