Where are the long awaited crackerjacks?
A decade ago, the Navy set out to improve the Navy's enlisted dress uniforms by making the blue's more comfortable,user friendly with "year round" fabrics and multiple hidden zippers to allow sailors to easily get into the jumper and the pants. Whites, too, weare to get an overhaul to look more like a the blues — and not gunny sacks and were to be dressed up with blue piping to make them look essentially as reverse version of the blues.
But the issuing of these redesigned uniforms keeps getting delayed. at can keeps getting kicked down the road for multiple reasons. The latest reason: was to first finish the testing and design of crackerjack-style blues for women. evaluation of making crackerjacks work for both men and women.
Enlisted dress whites are also being overhauled to look more like the blues.
Photo Credit: MC2 Jared King/Navy
In the meantime, some Navy leaders question whether there are those in the Navy's leadership who question of the service really needs two dress uniforms for E-6 and below, a move that would simplify the seabag. it's rank and file -- E-6 and below -- sailors.
With the long-stated desire to reduce the numbers of uniforms in a sailor's seabag, the move is a logical one.
The service has already collapsed the "working" dress uniforms -- the old "ice cream man suit" white pants and shirt uniform known as summer whites as well as the "Johnny Cash" winter blue of black on black in to the new "peanut butter" combination of Khaki and black.
So why, then, many ask, does the service still have two dress uniforms for a workforce that spends most of it's time in either coveralls, camouflage or peanut butter?
That's the question we're asking you: Does the Navy need two dress uniforms?
How often do you wear a service dress whites or blues? dress uniform?
How many sets of Do you take dress uniforms do you take with you on deployment? If you were to get rid of one, would you keep the whites or blues — and why?
What changes would you like to see to other wear rules or uniforms, like the Navy working uniform, the new coveralls or the service uniform, aka "peanut butters?"
Send your thoughts to staff writer Mark D. Faram. And be specific. Your comments may be featured in an upcoming article.
