US Navy to Test New Uniforms

[lesofprimus]

Hehe...

[DOUGRD]

Originally Posted by lesofprimus

Below E-7, dungarees are allowed off base, a trend that was restarted around 95-96 at certain commands.... Think its all-Navy policy now to allow them to and from base duty

Well time for another story. During the early '70's Admiral Zumwalt who was the CNO, started to slack up on some uniform regulations in his famous "Z-Grams" At the time we E-6 and below types hated the "issue" dungaree pants and so bought the "Seafarer" brand from the Navy Exchange which were tapered down to the knees and looked much cooler than the issue dungs. There was a big flap Navy wide about if we could wear "Seafarers" off base since they weren't "Navy Issue" and bell bottoms were in style at the time. Word came down that we could IF they weren't stencilled with our name above the rear right pocket as was policy. Our shop chief, who was a really decent type, always checked to see if our dungs were stencilled when we reported to work and that they weren't if we were in "civies". Soooo one day I come into the shop to get my paycheck. I had on a "T" shirt and bell bottoms (Seafarers). The chief noticed there was a white stencil above the rear pocket. He blows a gasket and calls me over to where he's sitting and asks me why I'm wearing a pair of stencilled dungs with civilian clothes? I laughed and asked him to read the stencil. It said "For Civilian Use Only"

[mkloby]

Good story. Sounds like a really awesome chief you had.

[ccheese]

Zumwalt was the reason I retired. He took the Navy away from the chiefs
and gave it to the junior officers. Him and his Z-grams.....

Charles

[DOUGRD]

Originally Posted by mkloby

Good story. Sounds like a really awesome chief you had.

You're right, he was a good chief. Luckily his twisted sense of humor matched mine. Fortunately he transferred in at the right moment. Our previous shop chief had just committed suicide two weeks prior. Morale was in the sewer and no one wanted to be there. A tough spot for a new shop supervisor to walk into. I wouldn't want to have done it. He was one of several chiefs and officers I learned my leadership skills from over the years. I think I was a better Senior Chief because of the lessons I learned from them.

[DOUGRD]

Originally Posted by ccheese

Zumwalt was the reason I retired. He took the Navy away from the chiefs and gave it to the junior officers. Him and his Z-grams.....Charles

You're right to a large degree but I think what he really did was put the whole Navy in a turmoil. You know what they say..."The human animal resists change." It took the Navy a long time to get back on an even keel and for the chiefs to reclaim their rightful domain.