Educating the Fleet on New Uniform

MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Sailors transitioning to the new service uniform (SU) can get smart about its proper wear at Navy Personnel Command's (NPC) homepage. NPC added a training video to its homepage Aug. 4 to help educate the fleet about the Navy's newest uniform.

"We are in the initial process of the new E1-E6 service uniform rollout. These videos are designed to ensure Sailors and leadership know the standards associated with the service uniform. This is great for training and getting Sailors ready to wear the new uniform," said Force Master Chief (AW/SW) Daryl Charles, assigned to NPC.

Additional guidance on wear of the service uniform can be found in NAVADMIN 190/08, also available on the NPC website.

Service uniform sales began July 31 at Navy Exchange uniform shops in Great Lakes and California. Sailors stationed in these regions may also order the new service uniform by calling the toll-free uniform support line at 1-800-368-4088.

"I like it a lot. People tell me it looks sharp. It feels cooler than the whites," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Heather Smith, assigned to Naval Base Coronado.

Smith purchased her service uniform the first day it was available and guessed on the placement of her ribbons and name tag based on the placement from her summer whites.

"My master chief and I reviewed the video and my guess was pretty close. I just needed to adjust my ribbons a little bit," said Smith, who has been getting a lot of comments about her new threads.

Sailors have up to 24 months to purchase the new uniform, depending on their duty station location. The mandatory wear date for all E1-E6 personnel is July 2010. Clothing replacement allowances for fiscal years 2008 and 2009 were increased to cover the purchasing of two sets of new uniforms by July 2010.

The service uniform will be available for purchase via Navy Exchange uniform centers as follows:

July 2008, Great Lakes and California
Oct 2008, Northwest and Hawaii
Jan 2009, Gulf region and Millington, Tenn.
April 2009, Naval District Washington
July 2009, Tidewater
Oct 2009, Southeast
Jan 2010, Northeast
April 2010, Europe/Japan/Guam