The naval enlisted men’s uniform today is substantially the same as that worn during the Civil War. True, there have been some changes in detail. For example, the “flat cap” has been altered several times and the jumper has been cut narrower throughout. But everyone would have to admit that our Army would look odd if it were fighting today’s war in a garb essentially that of 1861!
“Tradition” is of course a considerable factor in the pros and cons of changing our uniform. But it should not be the prime consideration, especially as the origin of certain “traditional” features of the naval costume has never been traced. It may be pointed out that it would be unduly expensive to discard vast stocks of existing clothing. The expense of such a change has never kept our Army from supplying itself with a complete change of uniform whenever modernization has been desirable.
The “traditional” naval uniform is in the main highly practical. It is washable, and it can be readily ironed on board ship or at the naval station. These advantages are the envy of soldiers, whose uniforms require the services of professional cleaners and pressers. Our uniform requires only a few minor changes in order to bring it into line with present-day requirements without sacrificing the traditional cut.
The pockets should be increased in number and capacity. “Tailor mades” feature extra pockets in all sorts of places. The issue uniform provides no satisfactory means of stowing tobacco, pipe, cigarettes, fountain pens, etc., and the result is that the majority of men carry such items protruding above the breast pocket—a most unsightly and unmilitary display. It would be quite simple to furnish the jumper with a number of inside pockets in which such objects could be carried securely and inconspicuously. It would help merely to deepen the existing outside breast pocket.
The modern uniform being of narrow cut, the bloused lower part serves no purpose and is only a waste of material and a nuisance to the wearer. “Tailor mades” are invariably bobtailed, and many men cut off the bottoms of issue dress and undress jumpers. This certainly does not detract from the smart appearance of the wearer—in fact it increases it.
Of all the prescribed uniforms, undress blues are the most generally satisfactory. They are sailorly, comfortable, and practical. As regards the trousers and jumper, addition of extra pocket space and elimination of the bloused effect would make undress blues an ideal general service uniform. Dress blues today are for such limited uses that there is little reason for retaining them in the war-time service. Whatever may be the alleged value of the white tapes, etc., on the dress jumper, these soil so readily that a man is put to much unnecessary trouble in keeping them clean (as when traveling, etc.,) or else he presents a slovenly appearance which is discreditable to the naval service. The watch mark of the seaman branch seems to have an especial affinity for dirt, and as it serves no purpose (a man without rating badge or “black gang” watch mark would be recognized as belonging to the seaman branch), it could well be suppressed altogether. The other tapes could be replaced with black braid, stars, etc., or the dress jumper could be sent the way of the old dress white jumper and undress blues be made regulation for the purposes for which the dress jumper is prescribed. This would result in much saving of material and would give the men a lighter, simpler bag.
A feature of the jumper—dress, undress, and white—to which all men object very strenuously is the revelation of an expanse of “skivvie” shirt at the throat. This complicates the laundry situation, and as the shirts must be scrubbed so frequently and strenuously they wear out in short order. Furthermore, many are self-conscious over the display of underwear and try to conceal it by knotting the neckerchiefs close under the chin. It would not be difficult to arrange some means whereby the deep neck opening of the jumper would be fastened close to the throat; this would bring cheers from the men and probably also from officers of the medical corps.
Incidentally, the “skivvie” shirts of the British Navy are provided with a blue edge around the neck opening, which effectively conceals the grime which appears on these garments first at this place.
Whites as currently prescribed for warm weather are quite satisfactory except as to color. Because they are so quickly dirtied, men who are concerned for their appearance usually prefer the torture of dress blues in the heat when a choice of uniform is allowed them. Why must white be retained at all? It is most evident that naval officers, now that a khaki uniform is provided, have practically discarded the old undress white. This fact disposes of the objection to khaki as “un-naval.” All whites now in the possession of the men or awaiting issue could easily be dyed. Thus the enlisted men of the Navy would be provided with a summer uniform at once comfortable, presentable, and distinctly nautical in cut.
Today the only difference between dress and undress whites is that the neckerchief is worn with the former. Of all items in the bag, the neckerchief is the most open to criticism. It serves no useful purpose whatever (aside from partially masking undershirt and pectoral topiary), and the decorative effect is doubtful. It is extravagant of material. It must be handled and cared for with the utmost caution lest it rumple. If lost or damaged it is costly to replace. The flopping ends manifest an annoying tendency to fall into soup, and they may have been the cause of a number of fatal accidents. In brief, the neckerchief should be abolished for the good of the service.
Our headgear is quite satisfactory, but even here there is room for improvement. The “Donald Duck” cap, which is easily damaged if not stowed in a bulky box, could be supplanted by a soft blue cap “overseas” style. Such a cap would stow with ease in the bag, or on occasion inside the jumper. It would become any type of face. As for the existing white hat, this is so practical and so characteristic of United States sailors no change is desirable. However, with a khaki uniform a khaki hat would naturally be called for, and for supplementary uses a hat of this same style in dark blue (such as now worn in the Maritime Service) or in dungaree would enhance the appearance of the men.
The short overcoat is a relic of sailing-ship days. As we no longer clamber out on yards to reef sails,1 we could well make use of a longer coat (such as that worn by British seamen) which would protect our legs from winter cold, and of even greater moment, from winter rain. Today we have special arctic garments for extreme cold, and “submarine coats” and thick zoot-drape trousers for wear at sea. The present overcoat thus becomes our dress coat only, and as such it should on every count be lengthened. The lapels could be reshaped so that the coat would look equally well when worn opened or buttoned at the throat.
Conditions of modern warfare have brought about many radical changes in naval policy. Our officers have found it desirable to adapt their clothing to the new conditions, and progress of this nature should be extended to include the enlisted personnel.
1 The closure of our blue trousers is ascribed by some to the same thing. Let it be said that any inconvenience caused by the famous feature of our “trou” is offset by a very pleasant sense of security. The writer has never heard an objection to the dress trousers by any enlisted man.