Publication:Sea Talk Autumn 2005/Uniform advice
By John Gill Manager - Navy Uniforms
Looking at my last article, I notice some things are still on track and others have slid a bit due to changes of priority. We did manage to kick off the first of a series of 'open forums' (regarding nil-cost change proposals to uniforms) at Navy Headquarters/Campbell Park Offices and HMAS Harman in December, and now look to visiting other parts of the country in the coming months.
Two-piece operational rig At the time of writing no updated information was available on replacement for combat coveralls.
Specialist badges One of my priority tasks this quarter - requested by the Deputy Chief of Navy - is to draw up new business rules for the award of badges These will ultimately reflected in Chapter 9 of ABR 81.
RAN clothing price list The next RAN Clothing Price List was finalised in December and was due to be approved by DCN and released as this edition goes to press.
Scales of entitlement The review of scales of entitlement is ongoing and we were hoping to have the results of this costing exercise to the Deputy Chief of Navy with the revised manual for approval by mid March, expecting release by the end of the month.
Medical indicated footwear/non-service inventory footwear The 'Fleet Manager' for Footwear has asked that the specifications relating to medical and non-service inventory footwear be promulgated.
ABR 81 says that no other designs or materials are to be used without the approval of Manager, Navy Uniforms.
The Fleet Manager is concerned that requests for medical indicated/non-service stocked safety boots have not met in-service clothing specifications. For example, quotes have been submitted for brown boots rather than black boots. In another instance, an individual who could not be fitted with 'off-the-shelf' safety boots submitted quotes for a 'GP' style boot where the entitlement is for an alternative sized elastic sided safety boots.
This highlights the need to ensure footwear provided from external sources still complies, in so far a practicable, with the normal entitlement. Any deviation from the service-specified item (in terms of design and materials) should be cleared with the Navy Uniforms Section. The exception is where the Medical Officer, in support of a medically indicated footwear requirement, has approved 'lace-up' boots, but these should still comply with normal parameters of design and materials.
Safety boots, with the exception of the submarine casing party boots should have rubber nitrile soles to comply with heat resistance requirements. Polyurethane soles are not suitable in the ordinary course.
Points of contact:
Manager - Navy Uniforms:
John Gill Navy Uniforms Section
R1-4-C039
Russell Offices
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Ph: (02) 6265 7316
Fax: (02) 6265 5050
email: John.Gill@defence.gov.au
Staff Officer - Navy Uniforms: Debbie Locke Navy Uniforms Section R1-4-C040 Russell Offices CANBERRA ACT 2600
