By the time the calendar year closes out, sailors in boot camp will start being issued the green Type III cammies, which officially became the Navy's working uniform in October 2016.
The boot camp switch, which signals the start of the official rollout, is slated to begin Oct. 1 and by calendar year 2017's end. The Navy Exchange expects to begin to stock the uniforms in stores in some fleet concentration areas on a yet-to-be-determined rollout schedule.
In addition, the Navy will begin paying enlisted sailors for purchasing the new working uniform when the fiscal year switches over in October. Sailors will get the plus-up in the paycheck during their anniversary month of entering active service in both FYs 2018 and 2019.
The service expects to also test and make decisions on the new "at-sea" uniform that could be a fire retardant coverall or possibly a two-piece fire retardant clone of the NWU Type III's, though it could be another year or two before the FR uniform starts being issued.
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.
