U.S. Navy sailors take part in a uniform inspection at Naval Health Clinic Quantico, Va., April 5, 2024. (Hana Lathrop/U.S. Marine Corps)
The U.S. Navy is kicking off a five-year, multiphase uniform improvement program intended to deliver “a modernized and consistent uniform fit and sizing system,” according to an updated policy memo.
The Size Modernization Program’s first phase focuses on female officer and chief petty officer uniforms, with an emphasis on service and dress slacks, skirts, shirts and blouses, according to the Wednesday memo signed by Vice Adm. Richard Cheeseman, deputy chief of naval operations for personnel, manpower and training.
A short-sleeve summer white overblouse will be introduced this month through fit clinics in Pensacola, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Bangor, Wash.; and San Diego. The rest of the fleet will have access in October.
Sailors stand in a formation during a command dress whites inspection at the Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital, Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 19, 2024. (Enge You/U.S. Marine Corps)
A long-sleeve dress overblouse to be worn with sailors’ service dress blue uniform and service slacks with back pockets will be available at some uniform centers in April and May, respectively.
Redesigned service skirts are also on the way, with availability starting December 2025, according to the memo. The new duds will feature an A-frame design, back-center zipper fastener and a kick pleat.
The memo also announced new occasions for sailors to wear Recruiting Command, Recruit Division Commander, Career Counselor and Naval War College Alumni identification badges.
For the last category, alumni can wear badges on service dress and full-dress uniforms at formal and informal alumni events or other events that include U.S. or international alumni. The badge cannot be worn for dinner dress uniforms.
For the remaining three badges, sailors assigned to shore duties can wear metal badges on working uniforms until cloth badges are available. Embroidered badges can be worn on the Navy Working Uniform Type 3 for shore and sea assignments.
The modernization program’s second phase will focus on the modernization of E1 to E6 uniform components, according to a MyNavy HR fact sheet released this month. It did not indicate when the second phase will begin.
A spokesperson for the Navy’s Uniform Matters Office did not immediately respond to an email request for details on additional phases of the program.
“Uniform policy updates are the result of received Sailor feedback, command sponsored requests, and direction from Navy Leadership,” said Wednesday’s memo.
