NWU-1 – Current working uniform of the US Navy.
The Navy has announced  yet another working uniform (Navy Working Uniform 3, or NWU-3). Before I get to that, let’s review the Navy’s current working uniform for those of you who may not be up to speed. The navy transitioned from its traditional working uniforms, wash khakis for officers, warrants and chiefs and dungarees for other enlisted, to a blue camouflage scheme. Cynics suggested that the only value in camouflage blue was in the event you were washed off the ship at sea and there were claims that they couldn’t find you when they looked because you were effectively camouflaged.
WHY DOES A NAVY NEED a camouflaged working uniform for on ship in port? What possible value is ‘blue camouflage’?  My sense was that somebody really high up was smoking something that the navy prohibited, but who am I to judge – an old salt who harkens back to the simpler days.
Are the Americans trying to keep up with Chinese fashions? In the photo (right), you will see members of the People’s Liberation Army’s Navy in their blue camo, standing next to an American naval officer.
Since the US Navy is now adopting a green woodland camouflage working uniform for service aboard ships (yeah, crazy, right?), for the sake of economy shouldn’t they adopt the same camouflage uniform used by the United States Marine Corps (MARPAT, or Marine Pattern)? Uh, no, it will be a DIFFERENT green (NWU-3) woodland camouflage uniform or brown/tan camouflage uniform (NWU-2) than the one worn by Marines (Naval light infantry).
These are cloth swaths: 
UCP/ACU is the Army’s working uniform pattern
If you’re asking yourself whether or not the Navy has gone insane, the question is well founded. I suspect that in four or five years, when another admiral is in charge of uniforms, you’ll see yet another change. For now, when you see somebody wearing one of the two uniforms (right), they’re not soldiers, marines or airmen, they are the US Navy. Does the Navy feel that the camo will hide the sailors on ships from enemy detection?

Somebody mentioned the SEALs, and their need for new Navy uniforms. Just a word of practical advice. 
(Warning! If you’re an admiral, stop reading here)
The SEALs wear any sort of uniform that they want to. During Gulf War 1 (Desert Storm), we wore Marine Corps uniforms without the name and service strips over the pockets because they were available and the issue of the old desert popcorn style uniforms was slow in coming to the theater. It mystified the Marines particularly because nobody wore rank or saluted, said “hi” and used first names — but the Navy didn’t care. SEALs decide what works best for the circumstances and wear that. Will they wear the new uniforms? Sure, sometimes. The uniform of the day on base is swimmer shorts, a blue an gold swimmer shirt and sandals, and nobody salutes, but they do say “hi” and use your first name.

16 COMMENTS

  1. I've seen SEALs in black dyed blue jeans before… 🙂 Of course that was a 'few' years ago…

  2. It all makes perfect sense if you think of the US becoming part of the UN's "global force for peace". That IS Obullshit's plan ,after all. The goal of ALL of what is going on. The "banking crisis", the "warnings" about a "coming global war" , a "nationalized" or "federalized" domestic police force. Is ONE global governance under ONE "leader". Communist, and hard left communist at that. A global Stalin or Mao, and Obama REALLY wants the job. The "global government" plan has been a long time coming, both "partys" support it, and now……..Ray

  3. Every time you turn around there's a new camo uniform. I liked the digital, great concealment in an, er, computer game.

    Someone's on the make.

  4. Possible benefit. While they are screwing around with uniforms, they don't have time for serious mischief. Looking at pictures of my cousins from the late 50's – mid 60's their shipboard work uniforms seemed practical.

  5. I figure that, since the current administration is all about gender equality, the new Navy uniforms would be spring yellow or a lovely burgundy. Oh, here's a thought, maybe the new NWU-2 hides gender identity better. You know, camouflage to hide your assets. That may be what the progressivized Pentagon poofs had in mind.

  6. If you need to conceal yourself in a jungle, they work. I have no problem with camo uniforms, but they don't work for the Navy with the odd exception of personnel seconded to ground combat, the Sea Bees or the SEALs.

  7. They also don't show dirt, stains, etc. Thus the care and treatment of the uniform itself is far more forgiving.

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