April 10, 2014, WASHINGTON (NNS) – The Navy’s Uniform Matters Office issued new prototype female combination covers for a months-long trial period to approximately 30 D.C. and Annapolis based Sailors, April 8 and 9.
The covers were redesigned to more closely resemble the male cover while properly fitting women’s heads. The covers will be worn by this group of Sailors until the fall, and then the covers will be issued to a larger test group of approximately 100 Sailors.
Navy leaders said one of the driving factors for changing female uniforms is to improve uniformity across the force.
“As you look out across a group of Sailors, you ought to see, not female and male Sailors, but Sailors,” said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in the December announcement discussing the change.
The Sailors participating in the test will wear the covers on a daily basis, enabling them to evaluate fit and function. They will record their own observations and comments provided by observers to be shared at a later date via an online survey and during focus groups at the end of the evaluation period.
Observers who see the covers and wish to share comments are invited to email usnpeople@gmail.com.
Feedback from both wear tests will be incorporated into the final design expected in FY15, with fleet introduction in FY16.
For more information on Navy uniforms, visit http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/support/uniforms/Pages/default2.aspx.