Publication:Sea Talk Summer 2003/Navy uniforms
By Mr John Gill,
Manager - Navy Uniforms
The Navy Uniforms Section has a myriad of tasks underway at the moment, and looking back at the last SeaTalk edition, happily, advances can be reported in some of those areas.
Before looking at the work though, I would like to welcome Harriet Moutsopoulos to the team. Harriet has stepped into the Staff Officer Uniforms position, which is still listed as a temporary vacancy for another five months or so.
The Navy Uniforms Section has also moved since the last edition, so be sure to note our new address and facsimile number at the bottom of this article (the phone numbers remain the same).
In terms of previously reported activities, the following situation report (SITREP) is provided.
Shoe Trial
Data from the 'cemented sole' shoe trial has now been analysed, and outcomes will be reported to the Deputy Chief of Navy shortly.
NAVSUPMAN 18
The Scales of Entitlement are now being rewritten to incorporate FEG/Category Sponsor initiated proposals. It is hoped that the final document will be provided to Deputy Chief of Navy before the Christmas Leave Break, so that funding implications associated with the proposed changes can be considered early in the New Year.
Service Level Agreement
An initial draft Service Level Agreement between Navy and the Joint Material Agency (JMA) has now been drawn up, and a second meeting has been sought to ratify the document and work further on the sections dealing with collaborative identification of requirements, funding, key expected results and key performance indicators. Inherent in the Service Level Agreement will be the requirement to develop a Navy Uniforms Strategic Plan.
Boarding Party Uniforms
The Operational Concept Document (OCD) for Boarding Party Uniforms has now been considered by Deputy Chief of Navy. The Navy Uniforms Section has been directed to progress the requirement under the auspice of a replacement for Action Working Dress (AWD), but that we should also consider replacing Combat Coveralls if we can.
To that end, investigations are underway to determine if mixed blended fabrics, such as is proposed for the AWD replacement, can be made fire retardant to meet the requirement for protection against fireball and flash associated with missile attack.
The consideration for a cotton/polyester fabric is driven by the Operational Concept Document requirement for the Boarding Party Uniform which identifies the need to have a durable, 'wash and wear' garment that can withstand repeated washing without shrinking.
Early discussions with the Combat Section within Joint Material Agency indicate that the current mixed blend used for Army' CAMMs' (75 per cent cotton/25 per cent polyester) displays the same characteristics as 100 per cent cotton, and that' meltability' is not an issue.
Separately, the Joint Material Agency's Technical Support Section have some preliminary information that suggests a fabric comprising 75 per cent cotton/25 per cent polyester can be given fire retardant properties.
Over the Horizon
It is hoped that revised Scales of Entitlement will also provide us with the ability to introduce a redeveloped Loan Clothing Booklet. As anyone who has ever had to use the book can attest, it is outdated and not very user friendly.
The Navy Uniforms Section is looking at amalgamating a number of clothing related forms (ie, non-availability chits, bedding cards, loan booklet, strict care certificates) and combining them with individual scales of entitlement, so that a 'one-stop' document can be realised.
This will then also afford us the opportunity to assess how we account for uniforms/clothing/accoutrements with a view to reassessing how items reflect on the computerised stores system.
Points of Contact
Navy Uniforms Section points of contact are as follows:
Manager – Navy Uniforms, Mr John Gill, R1-4-C039, telephone (02) 6265 7316, Fax (02) 6265 5050, or John.Gill@defence.gov.au
Staff Officer Uniforms Ms Harriet Moutsopoulos, telephone (02) 6265 5197, Fax (02) 6265 5050, or Harriet.Moutsopoulos@defence.gov.au
Find us on the Defence Restricted Network under Defence Site - Navy (click on organisations and then the folder next to' Navy Headquarters' to get to the Uniforms Home Page).
