Navy Tests New Khaki Dress Uniform

WASHINGTON -- Wear testing for the proposed Service Dress Khaki uniform has commenced in six major Navy communities.

The wear test encompasses commands in Washington, D.C.; Norfolk; Millington, Tenn.; Newport, R.I.; Yokosuka, Japan; and Pearl Harbor.

Then-Chief of Naval Operations, (CNO), Adm. Mike Mullen, authorized the wear testing of the new uniforms for chiefs and officers in March 2006, shortly before turning over his position to current CNO, Adm. Gary Roughead.

The style of the Service Dress Khaki is reminiscent of the uniform worn during World War II and Vietnam eras, according to Robert Carroll, Head of Navy's Uniform Matters Office.

One of the key points stressed was the versatility of the proposed uniform.

"With the service dress khaki, the wearer could easily go from service to dress just by donning a jacket," said Carroll. "Right now, we're evaluating fabric, appearance, durability, comfort, fit and maintenance requirements. We're also out to gauge the desire of the fleet to wear the uniform."

Carroll is optimistic that the proposed uniform could lighten the load of chiefs and officers' seabags.

"Right now, chiefs and officers have to bring two sets of dress uniforms on board ship to accommodate the potential and likely seasonal shifts associated with deployments," he explained. "With the Service Dress Khaki, they would only need one dress uniform."

The wear test is tentatively scheduled to end in August. Participants are required to compete a on-line survey and attend focus groups to express their experience, satisfaction with components and most importantly should the Navy adopt the uniform as a requirement. A decision will be pending after the survey and a Business Case Analysis is completed and briefed.