How about those Service Dress Khakis?!

I can't wait for those to hit the streets and if they ask me to be one of the wear-test people, I'm definitely onboard with that.

Have to say I feel the opposite of you. While I do think they look sharp, I get commissioned in the spring and if they do add them it will be yet another uniform I will have to buy that I will probably never wear, which is especially annoying in light of the TFU program which was supposed to reduce the number of uniforms. Now they're adding more to the officer's/chief's seabag. Yay more money to lose from my first paycheck.

From what I've seen I like them.

Only thing I would do is not authorize the garrison cap to be worn with them. Just doesn't look right.

Wannagousna, I direct you to Navy Uniform Regulations. In there you will find a statement that Chiefs and Officers do not have a minimum number of uniform items we are required to have - rather, we are required to have sufficient quantities to perform our assigned duties and maintain the high levels of appearance the Navy requires from us.

In short, if you're in an assignment where you don't wear a particular uniform, don't worry about buying it.

Service Dress Khaki disappeared 31 years ago in the C.G. I kick myself that I didn't hold on to them in the attic. A practical 3 season service dress when needed.

If they get approved, and after the rush to outfit settles down, as a retired old fart, it is good to have a source now to purchase the uniform I'd prefer to be planted in, when the time comes.

Before the C.G. transitioned to the same uniform for all, the shift to khaki was the highpoint of every flat hat wearing Coast Guardsmans career. After that it seemed to be just an expense for new insignia.

quote:

Originally posted by Boats22151:
In there you will find a statement that Chiefs and Officers do not have a minimum number of uniform items we are required to have - rather, we are required to have sufficient quantities to perform our assigned duties and maintain the high levels of appearance the Navy requires from us.

In short, if you're in an assignment where you don't wear a particular uniform, don't worry about buying it.

(Knocks, uncovers, enters)

Not sure how it was before '73, but honestly, I could see this uniform becoming the one that CPO selectees get frocked in - making it a "required" uniform.

As a gal who loves a man in uniform, I'm loving them! Very sharp, but I agree about the garrison cap. Makes me wish hubby hadn't retired.

Wannagousna,

Congratulations on the Commissioning.

I agree that they should have eliminated the amount of uniforms, and created a veratile dress uniform and year-round uniforms instead of shifting twice a year. I also wish we weren't shifting to an E-1 through O-10 working uniform that makes us look more like the Army or Marine Corps. But if we can wear it off base, maybe that won't be so bad.

quote:

Originally posted by Yggdrasil:

quote:

Originally posted by Boats22151:
In there you will find a statement that Chiefs and Officers do not have a minimum number of uniform items we are required to have - rather, we are required to have sufficient quantities to perform our assigned duties and maintain the high levels of appearance the Navy requires from us.

In short, if you're in an assignment where you don't wear a particular uniform, don't worry about buying it.

(Knocks, uncovers, enters)

Not sure how it was before '73, but honestly, I could see this uniform becoming the one that CPO selectees get frocked in - making it a "required" uniform.

Could very well happen somewhere down the road, just like it is possible the new Navy Service Uniform could become the standard for all hands regardless of rank/rate.

Makes no real difference to me at this point. As a retiree I'm allowed to wear the uniforms I was authorized to wear at when I retired so long as I meet all current grooming standards.

quote:

Originally posted by Boats22151:
Wannagousna, I direct you to Navy Uniform Regulations. In there you will find a statement that Chiefs and Officers do not have a minimum number of uniform items we are required to have - rather, we are required to have sufficient quantities to perform our assigned duties and maintain the high levels of appearance the Navy requires from us.

In short, if you're in an assignment where you don't wear a particular uniform, don't worry about buying it.

I see... So when officers attend an event that says the uniform for the event is Service Dress Khaki's, all we have to do is say "In my considerably experienced opinion, I have found I do not need such a uniform to maintain the dignity required of an officer" as I show up in SDB's???

There is no such thing as a dress uniform that an officer will not need, except maybe mess dress. There may not be a list out there saying I'm required to have 2 sets of Summer Whites, 1 SDW Jacket, 1 SDB Jacket, two ties, a pair of boots, and 8 pairs of socks (black), but that's a long way off from saying that I don't need to have at least 1 set of every uniform in the event it is required for wear.

I'd be happy to let SDK's replace SDB's. I'm just not looking forward to having one more uniform that I might wear twice a year taking up limited storage space just in case the CO decides he wants to have a party on the pier in Australia in his favorite uniform, which happens to be SDK's.

In short, I think SDK's either needs to replace something, or find it's way out of the Navy.

AoiSonlee, you also have to use a little common sense here.

For example (and this is one of those things where I was told but could not find anything in writing on) where I reside Chiefs and Officers are not authorized to wear Winter Blue/Winter Working Blue. Consequently, I was not going to be overly concerned about having that hanging in my closet. Now, if I was going to an area where I knew that uniform was required, that is a different matter.

I was in a unit authorized to wear the Camouflage Utility Uniform. As a result, I was not going to get concerned about having Working Khaki available.

I agree that the Navy needs to be careful about adding things to the seabag. I did find it rather irritating to have to use two seabags to carry what I was required to have.

quote:

Now they're adding more to the officer's/chief's seabag. Yay more money to lose from my first paycheck

Actually it will likely replace the SDW and SDBs (pray, pray, pray).

quote:

Originally posted by william969:
Actually it will likely replace the SDW and SDBs (pray, pray, pray).

Nope. Sorry William. It's a straight up add. SDBs and chokers are here to stay.

Though they DO need to remove the Johnny Cashes from the E-7 and up requirements since I haven't seen a base that so much as authorizes them for E-7 and up since the mid 90's anyway.

quote:

I haven't seen a base that so much as authorizes them for E-7 and up since the mid 90's anyway.

Yeah. They used to be listed as an optional uniform. I wore mine from time to time just so I would get the use out of them. They weren't too bad either, just pull the tie and ribbons off, and you were in a comfortable winter working blue.

I don't know about these days but we wore winter dress blues averyday all winter long in Great Lakes. I can not imagine being there now and having to wear SDB's every day. Not even the base CO did that. With very rare exception of a few guys who wore working khakis over in the hot plants khakis WERE NOT AUTHORIZED in the winter they were strictly a summer uniform.

I know I saw as late as 2000 a Navy recruiter wearing WWB's

I never wore Johnnie Cash's in my entire career, including as enlisted. When Cash was in, I wore blues. Just did not like them. there always is a choice.

If the SDK is like the Poly-wools where we can wear them as an alternative year round, I'll need no other uniforms. I would wear that one year round along with the PW's and would keep the chokers and SDB's for inspections, ceremonies and other times I may need them.

Glad I retired when I did.. the new uniform trends don't make a lot of sense to me..

Khakis were the CPO/Officer dungarees of old.. SDK was a practical replacement for chokers.. chokers was the only "liberty" uniform that did not have a tie before Viet Nam..

Never liked the "Cashs".. like 22151 never had much occasion to wear them, only had one shirt that lasted from PO1 to CWO4.. could not wear khaki in winter so would wear blues with a white shirt & wolly pully (white shirts are cheap, one does not need shoulder boards if the sweater is not removed)..

Retired in 1999 in Aviation Greens.. best winter uniform ever..

Johnny,
When I talked with MCPO Carroll about it I recommended he replace both dress uniforms with the khakis. Guess we will have to wait for the final approval