Hi everyone, I am in the application process for EDO. I just turned in the packet, and while playing the waiting game I'm trying to plan out all of the possibilities. Does anyone know what uniforms reservists are required to own and how much they all cost?

Thank you,

Cory

Unlike enlisted personnel, an officer isn't required to maintain a seabag with specific items. The only uniforms you are required to have are the uniforms of the day at your command. Of course, if something crops up that requires you to wear the Service Dress Blue (SDB) or choker white (Dress whites) or whatever, you will need it.

Uniforms get expensive in a hurry, the uniforms themselves, the insignia, name stripes, covers, alterations, all add up in a damn quick hurry! So most folks buy the uniforms they will predominately need; NWU, khakis and leave it at that. Then over time acquire the remaining items as needed. You just need to be careful because if you wear hard to fit sizes like me, 46 extra long, you may not have time to purchase and alter uniforms on short notice.

I'm currently enlisted but was selected for commissioning through the IP DCO and should be an Ensign any day now. I purchased two sets of khakis and updated my NWU for officer status. I also purchased the SDB and Choker whites as I hope to have a commissioning ceremony if BUPERS ever sends the paperwork. If its before the uniform shift it will be in dress whites, if not then SDB.

For those few uniforms, after all the little things noted above I've spent over $1000. Another "thing" different about officers is that they don't get a periodic uniform allowance...its all out of pocket. In my situation, I get a whopping $400 subsidy; barely enough to cover the SDB jacket.

Sorry to be so long winded.

Good Luck!

If you have access to a base Thrift Shop you can check there for uniforms that are crazy cheap! The problem is most of them look like they've been worn out. You might get lucky though and find something decent that actually fits.

A buddy of mine found a new relaxed fit jacket on Craigslist for $15, they cost $85 new from the NEX. So that's an option...if you're lucky.

Wow, thanks that's really eye opening and fairly scary. Thank you for the candor. I am currently a civilian in the application process and still very new to it all. What do most people wear for their commissioning ceremony?

Like 17871108 said, you don't have a set number of uniforms. However, you are required to have a sufficient amount to perform your assigned duties at your command and maintain high standards of appearance and personal hygiene.

That said, after you get your commission I would recommend:

One complete set of Service Dress Blues and Whites. Ensure you get the white gloves in case you have to wear Full Dress Blues or Whites.

Two (maybe three) sets of Service Khaki.

All-weather coat and peacoat, and a pair of black gloves.

The only optional items I would get are the black v-neck sweater and black jacket.

I would hold off on the Navy Working Uniform and Coveralls until you get assigned to a unit and see what you will be doing. Also, after you report ask around a little at your NOSC and see if any Chiefs/Officers are retiring that may want to sell some things they'll no longer need.

As to the ceremony, it would probably be Service Dress Blue, although I don't have a lot of experience in this area and can't say for sure. Hopefully someone else like undexLT will chime in and have a better answer.

Good luck.

R/
Chief

Numbers--first things first--if you are going to post on these boards (and seeing that you are enroute to commissioning, I think you are) please register with a name that makes you more distinct.

Now, to substance: yes, purchasing uniforms is daunting. The $400 allotment given six months or so after drilling begins only covers about 1.5 uniforms. The rest is on you. I started with the bare minimum--two sets of khakhis and a black jacket. Over time I've added service and dress whites, SDBs, wash khakhis, and now ACUs. I was commissioned in my khakhis. The nice thing about that was that my ensign bars could be attached after the oath by my father and the commissioning officer. You can't do that with stripes on your SDBs. Khakhis don't look as sharp as SDBs, but I liked the symbolism of having insignia pinned on.

I don't know how true this is but I heard that you don't have to pay for your uniform all at once. I heard that you can make monthly payments. Is that true? I am recently divorced and I have been working on being debt free and I do not have a credit card. However, I might have to get a credit card to pay for my uniform.

Travia:
There is a program offered by the Navy Exchange for newly commissioned officers where you can get all of your uniforms and pay 12 monthly payments. I just called the Navy Exchange to confirm this. The gentleman I spoke with said the program should be available through a local exchange or through the toll free number. I did not ask if they charge interest for the program.

I did not know about this program when I bought my uniforms. I bought two sets of khakis, SDBs, SDW, and summer whites. Black leather shoes, black tie, all-weather jacket and the peacoat are the only items that I could wear from my enlisted seabag (peacoat changes to gold buttons and adds shoulder loops to become a reefer). I bought a premium SDB uniform from another company that makes military uniforms, it's close to the quality of the Brooks Brothers Premier Uniform at a lower price. I've spent $1200 or so. I have to buy the new NWU so that is around $400 right there if you get the gore-tex jacket, another $100 if you have to buy boots.

The $400 uniform reimbursement doesn't come until after DCOIC and a certain number of drills, don't remember specifics but I have the instruction somewhere.

Like I told my wife when she said this Navy gig isn't making us money, "That's why they call it service, baby!"

It is a sacrifice to purchase out of pocket, but the payoff of proudly serving in the United States Navy is priceless.

Thank you so very much for the information. I feel much better now because I was concerned about being able to afford the uniforms.

quote:

Originally posted by dugmn:
Travia:
There is a program offered by the Navy Exchange for newly commissioned officers where you can get all of your uniforms and pay 12 monthly payments. I just called the Navy Exchange to confirm this. The gentleman I spoke with said the program should be available through a local exchange or through the toll free number. I did not ask if they charge interest for the program.

I did not know about this program when I bought my uniforms. I bought two sets of khakis, SDBs, SDW, and summer whites. Black leather shoes, black tie, all-weather jacket and the peacoat are the only items that I could wear from my enlisted seabag (peacoat changes to gold buttons and adds shoulder loops to become a reefer). I bought a premium SDB uniform from another company that makes military uniforms, it's close to the quality of the Brooks Brothers Premier Uniform at a lower price. I've spent $1200 or so. I have to buy the new NWU so that is around $400 right there if you get the gore-tex jacket, another $100 if you have to buy boots.

The $400 uniform reimbursement doesn't come until after DCOIC and a certain number of drills, don't remember specifics but I have the instruction somewhere.

Like I told my wife when she said this Navy gig isn't making us money, "That's why they call it service, baby!"

It is a sacrifice to purchase out of pocket, but the payoff of proudly serving in the United States Navy is priceless.

I'm glad to hear about this program too. I don't need it now, but it will be a good thing to share with new people coming in.

Hi all,

I am formerly 21435824, I had chosen a username but it didn't go through the system until after my opening post. That said...

Thank you for the feedback, these are the kinds of things I just want to be prepared for. I'm not concerned with paying out of pocket, I just want to know how much to set aside between now and (hopefully) commissioning. I will probably take the 12 month option and buy a few more uniforms to be fully prepared.

Are there any current / future EDOs on this thread that might be able to shed some light into what they wear during their AT?

Thank you,

Cory

I'm not an officer, but I have been around the block a few times.

What you wear on AT will depend on the policies of the command you will be attached to as well as what you are doing.

If you are in an office environment, you would probably wear Service Khaki.

If you are in an industrial environment, you would probably wear the Navy Working Uniform or coveralls. I would not be concerned with getting the Working Khaki uniform as it will be phased out in about 14 months.

If you are assigned to an EOD or logistics unit (I worked for a Mustang EDO who was a former nuke Machinist Mate in an EOD reserve unit) you would probably wear the Camouflage Utility Uniform.

With regard to what you would wear during an AT period at your supported command your unit could tell you. If you do an AT period at a location other than your supported command I would locate a phone number and make some inquiries. For that matter, I would even call the supported command if I was doing an AT there and ask if they have anything special coming up they can tell you over the phone, such as a change of command ceremony. If so, then you would want to make sure you had the uniform needed for the ceremony along as well.

Good luck.

V/R
Chief

Just some input to add from my experience:

I am a new EDO and I commissioned following 17 years of Air Force (4 years active) enlisted time. I have attended 5 DWEs so far and the uniform of the day has been kahkis.

However, we had a blues inspection this month and I found out about it last month. So, I ran over to the thrift store, spent $15 on the suit coat and pants with LCDR rank included. I spent $40 at an off-base alterations shop to get adjustements to the suit and fix the rank. So, the total may have been $55, but that is much better than $350! I ended up inspecting the sailors since my CO was not there.

I wore whites at my commission ceremony because I think it would look sharp and it would easier for my kids to put my rank on without stabbing themselves. Of course, it was "in season" for the whites at the time.

I hear word that the new NWUs will be worn by EDOs in the future, but there is no guidance yet. Although, our sailors are receiving their clothing issue for NWUs right now. The NWUs will not be cheap!

Also, you really want to check out a thrift store if you can. If you ever want to take your spouse to a military ball or other event, you will want "mess dress". By the way, the military balls make excellent dates. The last one I went to had Gary Sinise (the CSI actor) there and we saw an airshow just for the military folks. It was a fundraiser for disabled vets. I have to give it up for Gary who personally named all the fallen military from Texas.

http://www.ocs.navy.mil/dcoic_uniform.asp tells you what uniforms are required for DCOIC. If you go to a unit that wears cammies they should be issued to you, they are organizational clothing and the only thing you don't have to pay for as an officer.

I just noticed that they now have a price list available on the DCOIC website, $1432 for males and $1632 for females. They also have the Brooks Bros uniform prices on page 2. I don't think dress whites are required until you are O-4 if I recall correctly. There are also dinner dress uniforms, I think those are required at O-4 as well.

quote:

Originally posted by dugmn:
I just noticed that they now have a price list available on the DCOIC website, $1432 for males and $1632 for females. They also have the Brooks Bros uniform prices on page 2. I don't think dress whites are required until you are O-4 if I recall correctly. There are also dinner dress uniforms, I think those are required at O-4 as well.

Sir -

I would recommend you go ahead and get the Service Dress Whites when you shift to summer uniforms. You would need them for participation in some ceremonies such as change of command and retirement.

The dinner dress uniforms you would not need to worry about until you made LCDR.

I've got my kit in for EDO and I'm waiting on the boards. I'm also an Ex-Nuke MM2(SS).

As to the comments about Dinner Dress Uniform, I bought one when I was enlisted for going to the Sub Balls, and I got married in it. It is a darn fine looking uniform, and beats the heck out of wearing SDB or SDWs to formal events. I definitely plan on updating my Dinner Dress uniform when I get my butter bars.

Boats:
I bought the whites, I thought I needed them for my first dining out in the summer and they had us wear blues. Go figure. But you are right, I wouldn't recommend waiting until O-4 to buy them.

So here's a weird question. I'm a DCO select hoping to commission in the next month or two (knocks on wood and keeps fingers crossed). I know the unit I'm going to is a 'green' unit so they drill in camo. From my previous life, I have a pair of nice corcoran jump boots that are oh so comfy but I'm not jump qualified. (The boots are from my time in Army military school). Anyway, wearing them in the Army is a big unwritten no-no since I haven't graduated jump school. But is the same true for the Navy? Just trying to save myself a few hundred bucks on boots and get to wear my nice broken in old trusties.

If you are in a green unit you will be issued all of your BDU uniforms including boots. It may take a few months but you will not have to pay for BDU's. In regards to boots the Navy is moving from black to desert tan boots, I was just issued mine so your jump boots won't work.

Just a comment you will still need to purchase all of the uniforms even if you are in a green unit and you probably won't wear them often.