The following is the Aug. 4, 2016 NAVADMIN message outlining several changes to Navy uniform policy — including phasing out of the Navy Working Uniform Type I, popularly known as, “blueberries.”
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SUBJ/UNIFORM POLICY UPDATE//
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AMPN/NAVPERS 15665I, UNITED STATES NAVY UNIFORM REGULATIONS.//
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the Chief of Naval Operations approval of
several major uniform policy changes encompassing the Navy Working Uniform
Type I and III (NWU Type I and III), Navy outerwear (All Weather Coat,
Peacoat, Reefer, and the black Cold Weather Parka (CWP)) revised manner of
wear of the NWU Type II and III, new Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman
(SWCC) insignias, delayed introduction of the new male E1 E6 Service Dress
Blue (SDB) uniform, logo change for the Navy Sweat Shirt and Pants, Service
Khaki uniform option for female officers and chief petty officers (CPOs) and
update on the Improved Flame Resistant Variant (IFRV) Coverall initiative.
2. NWU Type III. The NWU Type III will replace the NWU Type I as a uniform
sea bag requirement for all Sailors. Transitioning of the NWU Type III into
the sea bag and phasing out of the NWU Type I will occur in three phases.
a. First Phase. Effective 1 October 2016, Sailors are authorized
optional wear of the NWU Type III at commanding officer discretion. Navy
Exchange (NEX) Uniform and Call Centers will commence NWU Type III sales for
personal purchase and wear when sufficient component inventory is available.
Details on NWU Type III personal purchase availability will be promulgated in
a future NAVADMIN.
b. Second Phase. Commencing 1 October 2017, recruits and new accessions
will be issued the NWU Type III uniform as the replacement of the NWU Type I
uniform. Additionally, the execution of a 24-month incremental regional
fielding plan will commence with selected fleet concentration areas. The
enlisted Clothing Replacement Allowance will be adjusted to facilitate
procurement or reimbursement of funds required to obtain new sea bag
requirements over a 24-month period. In accordance with statute, officers
must procure new uniform requirements at personal cost. Initial fielding and
outfitting will conclude 30 September 2019.
c. Third Phase. Commencing 1 October 2019, the NWU Type III is a
mandatory sea bag item for wear ashore per current NWU Type I and III
occasion for wear policies. Clothing Replacement Allowances for the NWU Type
III and required components will revert to sustainment rates based on
determined replacement cycles or wear life. The NWU Type I uniform and
matching pattern components will no longer be authorized for wear as a Navy
uniform.
d. NWU Type III components issued as organizational clothing are the
property of the Navy. Sailors issued the NWU Type III components as
organizational clothing are required to return issued items prior to the
mandatory wear date of 1 October 2019. Commands shall continue to provide
NWU Type III components as organizational clothing for wear in environments
that result in premature wear or damage of sea bag issued uniform clothing.
e. Until further policy guidance is promulgated, the manner of wear of
the NWU Type III is expanded as follows: Black boots will be the standard
boot worn with the NWU Type III in the United States and its territories.
Desert Tan or Coyote Brown rough-side out/brushless boots are authorized for
wear by expeditionary forces at the discretion of the unit commanding
officer. Any forward deployed force may wear Desert Tan or Coyote Brown
boots at the discretion of the unit commanding officer. The following items
are optional wear items: NWU Type I black fleece liner, all currently
authorized black safety footwear and socks worn with the NWU Type I, desert
tan or coyote brown rough-side out boots at the discretion of the unit
commanding officer, black one and one-fourth inch wide cotton belt with
silver clip and buckle for E1-E6 and khaki one and one-fourth inch wide
cotton belt with gold clip and buckle for officers and chiefs. Detailed
information regarding sea bag required quantities of NWU Type III components,
revised manner of wear and the 24-month fielding plan will be announced via
future NAVADMIN.
3. Navy Outerwear. Commencing 1 October 2018, the black CWP will commence
its transition as the standard Navy outer wear worn with Service and Service
Dress Uniforms and issued as a sea bag item for recruits and new accessions.
The Navy All Weather Coat, Peacoat and Reefer will be optional outerwear
garments worn with uniforms as authorized per reference (a). Enlisted fleet
Sailors will receive an adjustment in their Clothing Monetary Allowances to
procure the CWP from NEX Uniform and Call Centers by 30 September 2020.
Officers are authorized to procure at any time prior to the mandatory
possession date. The CWP will become a mandatory sea bag requirement for all
Sailors on 1 October 2020.
4. NWU Type II/III. Effective immediately, Navy certified subdued matching
NWU Type II/III pattern Dont Tread On Me (DTOM) and Reverse U.S. Flag
(Reverse Flag) patches are authorized for wear on the NWU Type II/III.
a. Occasion for Wear. During garrison and non-tactical exercises or
operations the non-tactical DTOM and Reverse Flag patches may be optionally
worn at the discretion of the unit commanding officer and at the expense of
the Sailor. During tactical deployment exercises and operations a tactical
DTOM and Reverse Flag patch may be worn at the discretion of the unit
commander and approval from the Task Force or Joint Task Force Commander.
Tactical patches will be issued by the command as organizational clothing.
b. Manner of Wear. The non-tactical and tactical DTOM patch shall be
worn on the left shoulder pocket flap of the NWU Type II/III centered on the
Velcro pile pad. The non-tactical and tactical Reverse Flag patch shall be
worn on the right shoulder pocket flap centered on the Velcro pile pad.
5. SWCC Insignia. The current SWCC qualification insignia is being replaced
with three separate insignias to denote the level of qualification achieved
individually by SWCC Sailors. The new insignias are SWCC Basic, SWCC Senior,
and SWCC Master. Effective 19 August 2016, SWCC Sailors are authorized to
wear the new insignia commensurate with their level of qualification. The
new insignias will be available via the NEX Uniform Center for individual
purchase no later than early August 2016. Force-wide implementation of new
SWCC insignias will occur on 19 August 2016. The mandatory wear date of the
large metal and embroidered insignia for all active and reserve SWCC is 1
October 2016. Mandatory wear of the new miniature insignia will be upon
availability after October 2016.
a. Description. SWCC Basic Insignia: A two and one-half by one and
one-fourth inch silver matte metal pin showing a background of a cocked
flintlock pistol, a crossed naval enlisted cutlass, and a MK V Special
Operations Craft atop a bow wave. SWCC Senior Insignia: A two and one-half
by one and three-eighth inch silver matte metal pin showing a background of
an anchor, cocked flintlock pistol, a crossed naval enlisted cutlass and a MK
V Special Operations Craft atop a bow wave. SWCC Master Insignia: A two and
one-half by one and three-eighth inch silver matte metal pin showing a
background of an anchor with a banner and three gold stars, cocked flintlock
pistol, a crossed naval enlisted cutlass and a MK V Special Operations Craft
atop a bow wave.
b. Manner of Wear. The manner of wear of the new insignia is in
accordance with reference (a).
6. Male E1- E6 SDB. The introduction of the re-designed male E1-E6 SDB with
jumper side zipper and center front trouser zipper is delayed until 1 October
2017. Unforeseen construction and inventory challenges have resulted in a
temporary setback of component availability. Revising the date to 1 October
2017 will provide sufficient time to facilitate component availability at
Recruit Training Command Great Lakes and the fleet throughout fiscal year
2017.
7. Navy Sweat Shirt and Pant Logo. The logo on the Navy sweat shirt and
pant is being replaced with silver reflective lettering NAVY to align with
the logo on the Physical Training Uniform shirt and shorts. The new logo
sweat shirts and pants will be available for purchase September 2016 at NEX
Uniform Centers located in fleet concentration areas and NEX Uniform and Call
Centers. The current designed sweat pants and shirts are authorized for wear
as long as they are serviceable.
8. Effective immediately, female officers and CPOs are authorized to
optionally wear male Service Khaki trousers and female Service Khaki slacks
without belt and buckle with the khaki overblouse only. The intent of this
policy change is to provide an option for female officers and CPOs to address
some of the fit concerns expressed with the current female Service Khaki
slacks. Wear of male trousers with the female tuck-in Service Khaki shirt is
not authorized due to the significant visible difference in the gig-line.
Redesigned officer/CPO Service Uniform slacks are being developed for wear
testing. Wear testing of redesigned slacks is expected to commence during
FY-17 to be followed by design approval and introduction during FY-18.
9. IFRV Update. U.S. Fleet Forces continues its multi-phase wear test of
flame retardant working uniform components, and recently conducted in-depth
focus groups with fleet Sailors aimed at refining the design of the IFRV
coverall. Additional feedback from the focus groups, subsequently validated
by a senior level working group, resulted in the preliminary design of a more
professional looking two-piece utility uniform that may be worn both at sea
and operational support commands ashore. Wear tests of the prototype two-
piece variants are expected to occur in 2017.
10. The Navy Uniform Matters Office (UMO) is in the process of redesigning
the Navy Uniform Matters website to enhance rapid dissemination and
information on uniform policy changes as they occur, and post updated uniform
regulation features and illustrations. Updates are planned for FY-17. Fleet
input and recommendations are welcomed and encouraged. Provide
recommendations to Ask The Master Chief via:
HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.NAVY.MIL/BUPERS-NPC/SUPPORT/UNIFORMS/ or
umo_cmc(at)navy.mil.
11. Direct questions regarding uniform policy and the uniform policy changes
reflected in this NAVADMIN to the Navy UMO (OPNAV N131U) via e-mail to Mr.
Robert B. Carroll, Head of Navy Uniform Matters at
robert.b.carroll(at)navy.mil; LSCS(AW/EXW/SW) Judith P. Nelson-Williams,
Deputy Head at judith.nelson(at)navy.mil; PS1(SW/AW) Manuel A. Guiracocha at
manuel.guiracocha(at)navy.mil.
12. Direct questions regarding the DTOM and Reverse Flag patch
specifications and authorized procurement sources to the NWU Type II/III
Program Office, NEX Service Command, Mr. Mark Stephens, Director at
mark.stephens(at)nexweb.org.
13. Direct questions regarding SWCC insignia to Naval Special Warfare Group
Four Public Affairs Officer MCC(SW/AW) Robert Keilman at
robert.keilman(at)navsoc.socom.mil.
14. This NAVADMIN will remain in effect until superseded or cancelled,
whichever occurs first. File until reference (a) has been updated to reflect
the new policy changes.
15. Released by Vice Admiral R. P. Burke, N1.//
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