Look out for seven big uniform changes in 2016, as the Navy updates crackerjacks and overhauls women's uniforms so that they match styles worn by men. What you need to know:
Coveralls
Testing continues in 2016 of improved versions of the flame-resistant coveralls. Sailors on the destroyer Carney, amphibious assault ship Kearsarge and attack submarine Newport News are wear testing what's supposed to be a more comfortable and durable version of the FRV coveralls — which sailors repeatedly griped wore out from wear and washing.
They're also testing coveralls that look more like a Navy blue flight suit, with the zippers and pockets for sailors to stash their gear.
Sailors are testing a flightsuit to replace the uncomfortable flame-resistant coveralls now worn at sea.
Photo Credit: Mike Morones/Staff
Wearer's feedback and recommendations are expected to be pushed up the chain of command by October 2016.
More wear tests are likely with final prototypes based on the selected design, which means it could be another three or four years before the fleet gets new pairs of coveralls. The eventual goal is to replace the rapidly fielded FRVs, which replaced the blue-and-gray cammies at sea after they were found to risk melting on sailors in a fire.
Headgear
Female chiefs will begin getting paid this year for the new combination cover, here modeled by Chief Yeoman Brianne Dentson.
Photo Credit: MC1 Elliott Fabrizio/Navy
The "Dixie cup" is no longer a men-only item. Women sailors can now wear the white hat with their service dress whites and the Navy is set to start issuing them out at boot camp in April. The hats will be mandatory with white crackerjacks by Already, the traditional enlisted "dixie cup" white hat has been authorized for all enlisted sailors, but the biggest changes are for women. Those women already in the fleet can now where the white hat their current jumper whites. Issue is slated to begin in April 2016 to women in boot camp and wear of the white hat will be mandatory with dress whites by Oct. 31. But don't dump your "bucket hat" yet, ladies. That won't be phased out for E-6 and below women until 2020. Final phase out of the female "bucket" combination for E-6 and below won’t happen until 2020, when all junior enlisted females will be required to be wearing blue crackerjacks.
For Female chiefs and officers must ditch their "bucket hats" in 2016. Instead, they're going to wear new combination covers designed to match those worn by male peers. see the final phase out of the female bucket dress cover for them on Oct. 21.
Better NWUs
This coming year, sailors in four locations will be authorized to purchase sets of lightweight, blue-and-gray cammies. First to get the tropical weight Navy working uniform Type I. First to get them in April will be Guam, Hawaii, Diego Garcia and Singapore. Recruits will start getting issued the lightweights on Oct. 1. Availability to the rest of the fleet has yet to be announced.
Crackerjacks
2016 will be the year of new blues. Yes, the long-awaited blue crackerjacks are on the way.
The redesigned service dress blues feature improvements suggested by sailors, like a zipper and a pocket.
Photo Credit: Alan Lessig/Staff
Men and women will start receiving the redesigned service dress blues in October at boot camp. These upgraded uniforms have gotten a makeover to be more useful, responding to sailors' concerns. The trousers feature pockets and a zipper, rendering the 13 buttons purely decorative. And the blouse has side zippers to help you in and out of them. New blue crackerjacks are officially on the way this coming year. Women will see service dress blues for the first time at boot camp in Oct. 2016 while men will get their newly designed issues at RTC, too on the same date. The new SDB’s for everyone will sport a faux 13-button flap with a zipper hidden in it. Also size zippers will be incorporated into the jumpers, too. Only boots will get them in 2016 as they’re not expected in uniform stores until January 2017, officials say. Women must have the new blues by 2020; these must be worn with "Dixie cups."
The white crackerjacks, which have also been overhauled to feature piping, will arrive in 2017, officials say.New whites for both men and women will begin phase in during 2017.
Fitness suit
The new fitness suit is expected to be in production in early 2016 as officials build up to beginning issuing them at boot camp in October. The new suit won’t be available for the rest of the service until January 2017, when it is expected to be in exchanges. Mandatory possession of the uniform is also slated for 2020. The suit is designed to protect sailors on outdoor work-outs and will be allowed t
Recruits will start being issued the new fitness suit in late 2016, with the rest of the fleet to receive them in 2017.
Photo Credit: Mike Morones/Staff
All weather coat
You're likely to start seeing the double-breasted all weather coat more in 2017. Recruits began to get issued it in fiscal 2016. It will phase out the current, single-breasted raincoat by 2020. Officials have announced the old single-breasted coat can be worn until Oct. 1, 2020, when the new coat becomes mandatory. Sailors could begin to see slight plus-ups in their uniform allowance in fiscal 2017 to meet that mandatory wear date.
Parka
This is the first winter that sailors in chilly regions can purchase the new cold weather parka. Exchanges are being to stock up on the 3-in-1 jackets that cost $330. optional black cold weather parka became authorized on Oct. 1, 2016 and was expected to start being stocked in the exchange by November. Sailors can expect to see more of the coats being worn in the fleet throughout 2016, but the hefty price tag might keep numbers of takers low.
Mark D. Faram is a former reporter for Navy Times. He was a senior writer covering personnel, cultural and historical issues. A nine-year active duty Navy veteran, Faram served from 1978 to 1987 as a Navy Diver and photographer.
