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New Navy Work Uniforms (NWU)
The Navy introduced a set of concept working uniforms for Sailors E-1 through O-10 Oct. 18, in response to the fleet’s feedback on current uniforms. The new uniforms, which will begin wear-testing this winter, were unveiled aboard USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) at an All Hands call with Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) (SS/AW) Terry D. Scott.



The Navy Working Uniform (NWU) concepts offer four variations to be tested in the fleet. Each variation offers a combination of different patterns, dominant colors, fabric finishes and designs. Two of the new patterns are woodland design (one predominantly gray and one predominantly blue), and the other two are digitized patterns (again, one predominantly gray and the other predominantly blue). Scott said these concepts are only the initial version of what the working uniform may ultimately look like. To assist in deciding exactly what uniforms Sailors will be wearing, Task Force Uniform (TFU) developed a set of concept uniforms.

"The concept uniforms are much like a concept car at an auto show," Scott said. "It’s only a preliminary design of the final model, and judging from the fleet’s response, we can make modifications to the final design." The Task Force Uniform initiative began after Sailors in the fleet expressed their concerns about the current status of Navy uniforms. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Vern Clark determined there should be an evaluation of the uniform requirements.

Upon completion of a Navy wide survey last year, TFU went to work on interpreting more than 40,000 surveys with the help of an organizational psychologist to determine what changes Sailors desired. Some of the concerns expressed were that there are too many uniforms, they wear out quickly and are difficult to maintain. They also commented on the need for a working uniform that would be practical in different working environments and climates. The majority of respondents said they preferred a Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) style working uniform. The Navy Working Uniform is being designed to take the place of utilities, wash khaki, coveralls, woodland green, aviation green, winter working blue and tropical working uniforms. The normal wear life is designed to last up to 18 months, compared to the current wear life of six months for the working uniform.

The working uniform design is not intended to camouflage Sailors against the background of a ship. Instead, the multiple colors on the uniform - navy blue, deck gray, haze gray and black - are common in the maritime working environment, making them a more practical choice.

"What we have heard from Sailors aboard ship is if they get a small spot of paint or grease on a pair of solid-color utilities or coveralls, it’s easily visible and detracts from the uniform’s appearance," Scott said. "With the Navy Working Uniform’s multicolor pattern, a small spot or stain may be almost entirely unnoticeable." Another positive aspect of a multicolor pattern is that wrinkles caused by daily wear would be less visible, and the new uniforms will be wash and wear with no ironing required.

"Why should we need to iron a working uniform? The NWU fabric treatment will be a considerable improvement over the previous working uniforms," said Scott. The proposed plan is for the NWU to be the primary working uniform used in all Navy communities and duties, including watch standing. The NWU is also being designed for wear outside the gate. Sailors will be able to go off base without having to change from the working uniform into their service uniform or civilian clothes.

With the CNO’s approval for a wear test, the Navy is working to provide as many possible options for Sailors to choose from during the wear-test period. Among the options will be: · Woodland versus digital pattern · Blue versus gray as the uniform’s predominant color · Tapered blouse versus standard-style blouse · Rounded versus pointed collar · Performance T-shirt versus cotton undershirt · Pleated versus non-pleated trousers · Elastic versus adjustable waistband · Button versus zipper trousers · No-polish suede versus polished leather boots · 8-point versus round top cover · Pocket locations and design

The Navy also plans to wear test a blue parka that will ultimately match the design pattern of the final working uniform. The parka will be designed for wear in various weather conditions, including sub-freezing temperatures, wind, and heavy rain.

Although the NWU was designed to address the concerns of the fleet, Scott said a test of how the uniforms will truly respond to the needs of Sailors can only be determined by a fleetwide wear test and evaluation before being mass produced.

The fleetwide wear test scheduled to begin this winter, will be conducted at commands around the world, and across the spectrum of different platforms. Approximately 60 participants, both male and female, officer and enlisted, will wear-test these concept uniforms at each of the following commands/locations: · USS Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (CVN 71), Norfolk, Va. · USS Tarawa, (LHA 1), San Diego · USS Germantown, (LSD 42), San Diego · USS Chung-Hoon, (DDG 93), Pearl Harbor, Hawaii · USS Iwo Jima, (LHD 7), Norfolk, Va. · USS McFaul, (DDG 74), Norfolk, Va. · USS Philippine Sea, (CG 58), Mayport, Fla. · USS San Francisco (SSN 711), Guam · Patrol Squadron (VP) 1, Whidbey Island, Wash. · Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (VAQ 137), Whidbey Island, Wash. · Patrol Squadron (VP) 26, Brunswick, Maine/Aviation Intermediate Maintenance Dept., Brunswick, Maine · Afloat Training Group, Norfolk, Va. · Afloat Training Group, San Diego · Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. · Master-at-Arms "A" School, San Antonio · Special Warfare Logistic Support Group, San Diego · Naval Mobile Construction Battalion, Port Hueneme, Calif. · Amphibious Construction Battalion 2, Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. · Naval Station Rota, Spain · Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan · Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron 25, Norfolk, Va.

"We realize that there are Sailors out there who are eager to receive the NWUs, but we are determined to do this the right way and come up with a uniform that our Sailors will appreciate," Scott said. Shore Sailor of the Year (SSOY) Chief Dental Technician Michele Villagran had a chance to see preliminary designs of the concept uniforms during the SSOY selection process. She said she liked the look and feel of the lightweight, yet sturdy, material.

"Overall, I think they look more professional, and I think the majority of the fleet will be happy with them," Villagran said. "It will definitely be a new and very much needed look for the Navy." The vision of Task Force Uniform is to give Sailors a cost-effective set of uniforms presenting a professional appearance, recognizing naval heritage, and offering versatility, safety, ease of maintenance and storage, utility and comfort.

Task Force Uniform also plans to announce the year-round service uniform concepts for E-1 through E-6 in the coming weeks and an announcement about specifics of those wear testing dates and areas to follow. Based on recommendations made during a comprehensive briefing by Task Force Uniform Feb. 24, Mullen agreed to production of both a BDU-style working uniform for all Sailors E-1 to O-10 and a more practical, year-round service uniform to withstand day-to-day classroom and office-like environments where the service uniform is typically worn.

"These are good uniforms, designed to support the modern Sailor," said Mullen. "Durability, safety, ease of wear and cleaning were all factors that weighed heavily on my mind, as did, quite frankly, the survey data and the opinions of wear testers. This wasn’t a popularity contest by any stretch, but we would have been foolish not to consider the opinions of the men and women who will wear these uniforms."

The BDU-style working uniform, designed to replace seven different styles of current working uniforms, is made of a near maintenance-free permanent press 50/50 nylon and cotton blend. Worn with a blue cotton t-shirt, it will include an eight-point cover, a black web belt with closed buckle, and black smooth leather boots, with black suede no-shine boots for optional wear while assigned to non-shipboard commands.

"When I walk down the piers, I see a Sailors standing watch as a pier sentry in January and it's 30 degrees and freezing rain," Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (SS/AW) Terry Scott said. "You have to ask yourself, does the uniform that we currently issue protect us, and the answer is no."

To meet the all-weather requirement, the new working uniform will include several cold weather options, such as a unisex pullover sweater, a fleece jacket, and a parka. It will also be made in three variants, all in a multi-color digital print pattern: predominately blue, with some gray, for the majority of Sailors and shipboard use; and a woodland digital pattern and a desert digital pattern for Sailors serving in units requiring those types of uniforms.

"The intent of TFU always has been to give our Sailors a uniform in which they can work comfortably everyday and is more appropriate for the joint environment in which we operate," Scott said. "Even better, we’ve created a uniform that’s also easier to maintain, is longer lasting, helps reduce the size of the sea bag, while at the same time recognizing the tradition and heritage of serving in the Navy."

The service uniform for E-6 and below is comprised of a short-sleeve khaki shirt for males and an over-blouse for females, made from a wash and wear 75/25 polyester and wool blend, with permanent military creases, black trousers for males with belt less slacks for females and optional belt less skirt, and a black unisex garrison cap. Silver anodized-metal rank insignia will be worn on shirt/blouse collars and cap. The service uniform will also include a black relaxed-fit Eisenhower-style jacket with a knit stand-up collar and epaulets, on which petty officers will wear large, silver anodized-metal rank insignia. Those entitled to wear gold chevrons will continue to wear gold chevrons on the large metal rank insignia on the jacket.

"In our research, we found the group most dissatisfied with their present uniforms were E-6 and below," Scott said.

The manner of wear for both of these new uniforms remains under development by TFU and will not be effective until guidelines on prescribed wear are incorporated in the Navy Uniform Regulations.

"There are a lot of concerns about the manner of wear for the working and service uniforms that we need to address, so we have a smooth transition when the time comes," TFU Director CNO-Directed Command Master Chief Robert Carroll said.

The working uniform and service uniform are not expected to be available for purchase and wear until late fall of 2007, after which they will be introduced to Recruit Training Command and eventually distributed to the rest of the fleet. Details on when the uniforms will be available for purchase and wear at specific geographic locations will be released at a future date.

Until the new uniforms are available for wear, all existing uniform regulations will apply. During the expected two-year transition period, Sailors will be required to maintain a complete inventory of sea bag items with each reflecting a professional appearance.

"We want our Sailors to keep a professional appearance," Carroll said. "We don’t want people wearing worn-out uniforms because they’re waiting for the new ones to hit the shelves."

Once the working and service uniforms are adopted, Sailors will receive a uniform maintenance allowance appropriate to support purchase and wear.

The announcement of the new uniforms, Carroll said, is the culmination of a three-year project that began with the charter of Task Force Uniform to deliver a proposal to reflect the requirements of a 21st century Navy. An analysis of a fleet-wide survey conducted during the summer of 2003 led to the creation of concepts for working and service uniforms for a wear test and another fleet-wide survey last summer.

"I just can’t say enough about how meticulous and thorough TFU Director Master Chief Rob Carroll and his team approached their work," stressed Mullen. "The process they established and maintained was rock solid -- measured and analytical. They looked at hundreds of options, studied countless pattern and color designs, and fretted over every minor detail, from button style to stitching. I am enormously proud of their effort, and every Sailor can be, too."

The work of TFU will not stop. Next on the agenda is to evaluate additional uniform options, such as reviving the traditional Service Dress Khaki uniform for chiefs and officers, conducting research on the feasibility, cost and distribution of a service-wide physical training uniform, consider adoption of a ceremonial cutlass for chiefs, and investigate adopting a more practical service-wide, all-weather coat that would provide a better military appearance.

"The bottom line for me in making these decisions," said the CNO, "is culture. Uniforms reflect our culture -- who we are -- what we stand for. I've said all along that no matter which way we go, I want Sailors to look like Sailors. I really believe these uniforms pass that test."