The Royal Navy shows of its new uniforms to the public and it's all blouses, Velcro, zip boots and baseball caps.Baseball caps! My Dad was in the RN for over thirty years and I only saw him in uniform once on duty or off, but this sort of Friday casual approach to naval attire would have killed him in a fit of pure apoplexy. Updating uniforms and making them more practical does not mean turning them into something more suitable to the Girl Guides.
The U.S. Army tried berets (previously reserved for elite units like Special Forces) as standard cover for all personnel a few years ago- and then quietly dropped the idea. While the beret is more practical for shipboard use, I suspect most personnel in the RN prefer the traditional covers.
ReplyDeleteI notice that on the new blouse, the rank insignia is on the front closure. Does this mean there is another one in the center of the back?
In a CQB situation, what marvelous aiming points they would make. Also, determining whom you should be saluting will now require a downflick of the eyes to the, err, chest area, even on female officers, as opposed to just a subtle glance at the shoulders or collar tabs.
The baseball cap is a USN tradition going back to WWII or a bit before. (IIRC, it was Adm. Mitscher who started it.) While I personally think it's all right, I can understand why it wouldn't necessarily be to the taste of RN officers. Some folkways do not necessarily "travel well".
cheers
eon
Baseball cap is practical. But it is a USN tradition and part of the USN attire. Will it work with RN?
ReplyDeleteI can't stand the rank in the center of the chest. US Army uniforms are currently like that and if someone is holding a box it is just about impossible to know how to address them.
ReplyDeleteAside from that I don't have an issue with more casual uniforms. As long as there is a dress uniform that is worn at appropriate times and with appropriate respect. I always look my best in my USAF blues but I am happy to only wear them once a week.
The new US Navy uniform is a blue version of the USMC cammies and really begs the question "What are you supposed to blend into?" The ship is grey.
I'm sure they do a great job of camouflaging sailors when they fall off the grey ship and into the blue water.
At the end of the day I would say that these new uniforms look professional, comfortable, and serviceable. Everything a daily wear work uniform needs.