Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2004/Uniform trials and answers
What's new and what's allowed
By Mr John Gill, Manager - Navy Uniforms
First and foremost I would like to offer words of welcome to the new SO-NU, Mrs Debbie Locke, who started in the section in July. Debbie brings some unique skills that can only be found in an ex-victualler. Her prior employment in clothing stores, as well as her previous Reserve employment in the Navy Uniforms Section is paying dividends already. Readers will be aware that in previous editions of SeaTalk Debbie was identified as the Assistant Staff Officer, working two days a week.
Previous Edition Looking back on the Winter edition, little change has occurred in the status of many of the items. ABR 81 has now been distributed, and final prototypes for the long and short sleeve maternity shirts have now been received. A Navy News article is being generated to flag major changes in the Dress Manual. A limited trial of court shoes has been conducted in the last couple of months, which will result in some changes to the proposed shoe - these changes are yet to be advised by the Technical Development Section at the time of writing.
FAQs There have been a number of frequently asked questions in the last couple of months (obviously some triggered by the colder weather), which I think worthy of a wider airing through SeaTalk:
Q. Am I allowed to wear the woolly pulley with W7? A. Yes, at the discretion of the Commanding Officer. NHQ AUSTRALIA WAN 230814Z APR 03 promulgated changes as part of the mandating of the Utility Jacket to Dress W7, advising "The rib knit sweater (aka woolly pulley) which was previously integral to W7 is now deemed integral to Dress W9 but may also be worn optionally with W7, S7 and S8 at the Commanding Officers discretion". Personnel need to confirm what is permitted by individual commands, particularly if undertaking courses etc away from your normal place of duty.
Q. Am I allowed to wear the cold weather jacket with W7 or W6? A. No. The jacket (aka 'Stanley' or ' Doona') is not permitted to be worn with W7. NHQ AUSTRALIA WAN 262350Z NOV 02 promulgated that the jacket may only be worn with Dress S/W9, S/W13, S/W14, S/W16, S/W18 onboard ships, within establishments and within Fleet bases.
Q. Am I allowed to wear the utility jacket with W6? A. No. DEFNAV CANBERRA WAN 150424Z JAN 98 promulgated the introduction of the Utility Jacket and advised that it was to be integral to W7 and may also be worn with S7 and S8 only.
The Utility Jacket was introduced into service before W6 was permitted - when CN signed off on the utility jacket at that time, he indicated that it couldn't be worn with S6 (Summer Evening - aka schooner rig/red sea rig), but could be worn with S7 and S8. When W6 (Winter Day Schooner Rig) was introduced, CN determined that he did not want the utility jacket to be worn with W6, in the same manner that it could not be worn with S6.
The initial determination was that the woolly pulley could not be worn either, on the basis that, if personnel thought it was warm enough in winter to wear a short sleeve shirt, then that is all they should be permitted to wear, but this was subsequently relaxed on the basis that the woolly pulley was permitted with Summer Rigs in the ordinary course.
Q. Am I allowed to wear a flying jacket with W7? A. No. ABR 81 paragraph 4.88 outlines the instructions for wearing wet/foul/ cold weather gear and provides that flying jackets (leather or lightweight) are only to be worn with flying clothing, with Sea Training Group also being permitted to wear the lightweight flying jacket with STG 'Green' coveralls.
Q. Am I required to buy new items of kit, when I'm about to go on discharge? A. Yes. Personnel are required to maintain all the items listed in Compulsory Kit Lists (Supplements 1 and 2 of NAVSUPMAN 18), up to the day they discharge from the Navy.
Those personnel who transfer to the Reserves are required to subsequently maintain the items that reflect in the Reserve Scales for a further two year period after transfer, before being entitled to exchange items due to fair wear and tear.
The premise behind this is that you receive Uniform Maintenance Allowance, from the day you join the PN until the day you discharge/transfer, and it is paid to assist members to maintain a compulsory level of kit in good order.
Q. Am I entitled to any rigs as a Reserve sailor changing over to officer? A. Yes. Reservists are normally required to maintain items of kit as per their relevant scale of entitlement, with exchanges being conducted where the unserviceable items are surrendered.
A Reserve sailor changing over to officer should therefore only receive items that are unique to an officer, for example white short sleeve shirts/summer ceremonial coats that are manufactured to accept shoulder boards; NR sailors would also receive the Winter Ceremonial Uniform; conversely, it would be expected that an NR senior sailor would use their existing cap/hat, but would receive the officer's badge.
Q. Am I entitled to any rigs as a Reservist about to undertake CFTS in excess of 12 months? A. Yes. Reservists about to undertake more than 12 months continuous full-time service are entitled to a gratuitous issue of the difference between their Reserve Scale and the relevant Compulsory Kit List at Supplement 1 or 2 of NAVSUPMAN 18.
They should also ensure that they have carried out any entitled exchanges (due to fair wear and tear) of items in the Reserve Scale, which also takes into account the ' life expectancy' of items.
Points of contact: Manager - Navy Uniforms: Mr John Gill Navy Uniforms Section R1-4-C039 Russell Offices CANBERRA ACT 2600 Ph: (02) 6265 7316 Fax: (02) 6265 5050 e-mail: John.Gill@defence.gov.au
Staff Officer - Navy Uniforms: Mrs Debbie Locke, Navy Uniforms Section R1-4-C040 Russell Offices CANBERRA ACT 2600 Ph: (02) 6265 5197 Fax: (02) 6265 5050 e-mail: Debra.Locke@defence.gov.au
