Few Sailors Are Blue About Navy's New Uniforms

[David]

Kitsap Sun


BANGOR — Who are those guys in the blue cammies? They’re sailors, and you’ll be seeing a lot more of them as the Navy continues to phase in its new working uniform.

The rollout of the new uniforms started a year ago in the mid-Atlantic region, but only reached Northwest bases in mid-November. Naval Base Kitsap’s Bangor and Bremerton naval exchange uniform stores have been outfitting about 300 sailors a week, Bangor store manager Sandy Mitchell said.

The working uniform looks like those worn by Marines and Army soldiers, except it features a blue-and-gray digital pattern instead of tan-and-green. It is the result of fleetwide polls that found that sailors want fewer uniform types and lower-maintenance clothes.

The new camouflaged working uniforms will replace utility (light blue shirt and navy blue trousers), working khaki and lesser-worn types of uniforms. Blue coveralls will remain the standard working attire for sailors at sea.

The new uniforms, made in the United States of a 50-50 blend of nylon and cotton, don’t need ironing. Mitchell said her store has sold about 1,300 of them and received few complaints.

“There’s three (sailors) that I know who don’t like it,” she said.

Petty Officer 1st Class Ryan Schaffran, a sonar tech aboard the Trident ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, wore his new working uniform into the Bangor store on Monday.

“I love it,” he said.

Schaffran no longer has to worry about cold wind blowing up his pant legs or his seat splitting, like with the thin utility uniforms, he said. Dirt, stains and wet paint are hidden in the blue camouflage, a main reason for it, and the uniform holds up well, he said.

“Universally, the sailors do not like the old utility uniform,” said Navy Region Northwest Command Master Chief Ron Johnson, who along with Naval Base Kitsap Command Master Chief Joe Fahrney is overseeing the rollout.

Most people who responded to a Kitsap Sun online query liked the new uniforms. Commenters said they “look great,” “are much sharper” and “they’re hot.” Others, however, called them “ugly,” look like “Marine wannabes” or “pajamas,” and are “absolutely hideous.”

Several questioned the price and need for new uniforms. A complete outfit costs nearly $400. That includes pants, shirt, blue T-shirt, cap, boots, parka and parka liner. Sailors are supposed to work their way up to four sets, though they only need one parka and one pair of boots. They’ve received a clothing allowance over the past two years to pay for it, Johnson said.

Many people, including Navy spouses, commented that the new uniforms are easy to maintain. Some, especially retirees, lamented a loss of tradition and identity. Some Navy uniforms might be odd, they said, but at least you can tell a sailor when you see one.

Schaffran, the sonarman, disagrees, claiming that the new uniforms help sailors fit in with soldiers and Marines, beside whom they often serve in the war on terror.

“Being camouflaged makes me feel more like a warfighter,” he said. “People before thought I was a mechanic. It’s a good morale boost.”

Some sailors wanted to be able to wear the new uniforms anywhere, which the Army allows. They were disappointed to find restrictions even tighter than on the utility uniforms, which could be worn only at work and quick stops to and from work. It turned out that the Navy wanted to keep the uniforms on base until it became convinced sailors knew how to wear them, Johnson said. Now the rules are about the same as for utility uniforms.

Everybody here will be outfitted by June, Mitchell said. The entire Navy must be changed over by the end of the year.

Uniform Prices

Cap: $6.60

Trouser: $37.35

Blouse: $35.10

Blue T-shirt: $3.35

Parka: $171.10

Parka Liner: $57.45

Boots: $73.10

Blousing Straps: $1.30

Total: $385.35

Source: Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor Exchange













Ben Selph tries on the new uniform jacket at the Naval Exchange Uniform Shop at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor on Monday. All sailors in Navy Region Northwest are expected to be outfitted with the new blue-and-gray camouflage uniforms by June.

[revwardoc]

Should be great for hiding in a kelp bed. You don't want to scare the sea otters.

[BLUEHAWK]

Interesting.

The AF floated a blue cammo set a couple of years ago too. It flopped.