With the fleetwide transition to Navy working uniform (NWU) Type IIIs and the upcoming changes to dress uniforms, uniform fashion has been a hot topic. I love a new outfit as much as the next person; however, buying new uniforms is a task I—like most sailors—will delay if possible. Even with the uniform allowance, buying new uniforms can be a hassle or financial burden. This is especially true during a major overhaul like the Type III transition. Burdensome or not, $176.25 later, I find myself staring at well-worn Type Is (one set, no boots) wondering, “What now? What am I to do with these uniforms I no longer need?”
A uniform buyback program could solve my worries. It also could benefit the Navy by improving public perceptions of the military, alleviating potential financial strain on service members, and reducing textile waste and the overall costs to requisition new uniforms. As an incentive to return old uniforms, service members could receive a discount on new ones. For service members transitioning out of the military, a credit could be added to their final leave-and-earnings statement. Once returned, Navy Exchange Service Command could recycle or refurbish the items. Like the push to reduce funds required for maintenance, a buyback program, with a focus on conservation, has great potential for long-term mental, economic, and eco-friendly benefits.
Each year, sailors are provided a uniform allowance. The allowance is greatly appreciated even by the most fiscally responsible sailor, as uniforms seem to get increasingly expensive. For every milestone a sailor makes in his or her career, uniforms require an upgrade. New ribbons, new stripes, and considerations for weight gain/loss eventually strain the annual allowance. For the average sailor, life happens: the car transmission fails, a family member needs a loan, or a kid manages to grow at the speed of Bruce Banner to the Incredible Hulk. A buyback could provide relief when funds need to be routed elsewhere. With the discount a buyback could provide, sailors could see an increase in financial cushioning, ultimately reducing stress.
The economic benefit goes beyond putting more money into sailors’ pockets. For instance, with the transition from Type Is to Type IIIs, the old “blueberries” seem to have no value. However, because these uniforms are made from the same material and are of a similar design to the Type Is, a dyed Type I could become a Type III. Even a well-worn uniform could be reworked to produce a new one. Such practices would save the cost of manufacturing the raw materials. Furthermore, fabric repurposing often is nuanced enough to require human interaction, not just machines. An emphasis on repurposing uniform items could generate employment opportunities, contributing to the economy.
In addition to supporting the wellbeing of the warfighter and potentially stimulating the economy, this initiative could improve the overall public perception of the military. Even though all insignias and accessories identifying items as a uniform component are to be removed prior to giveaway or sale, the uniform is still undeniably a uniform.1 Giving service members incentives to return uniforms to military entities would decrease the likelihood of uniforms being worn by individuals outside the service. Who is seen in uniform and how they are seen are critical to public perception of the armed forces. It is why a shined boot can draw a judgment on character. Perception is reality, and the Navy wants to project as strong and professional. Carelessly discarding uniforms can tarnish the image it seeks to project.
A buyback program also has the potential to shrink the Navy’s carbon footprint. From production to sale, clothing manufacturing has an impact on the environment. The NWU uses a 50/50 cotton/nylon blend. Producing cotton accounts for roughly one-fourth of the pesticides used in the United States. Dress white uniforms are made of polyester, which uses an energy-intensive manufacturing process.2 A buyback program would increase the availability of already manufactured fabrics, decreasing the environmental impact of production.
A 2007 article in Environmental Health Perspectives discusses the concept of “fast fashion.” This concept considers the globalization and mass production of clothing as contributors to the speed with which clothes are discarded and this trend’s negative impact on the environment. The EPA Office of Solid Waste has reported that Americans throw away more than 68 pounds of clothing and textiles per person, per year, contributing greatly to the amount of waste found at landfills.3 Through the buyback, the Navy Exchange Service Command could revisit the World War I era, repairing, mending, and repurposing clothing to reduce the production of trash.
Certainly, there are many things to be considered to successfully launch a program on this scale. Thankfully, the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society and Sailors Attic exist, providing options for affordability and decreasing waste. However, it is estimated that only one-fifth of clothing donated to consignment and thrift shops is sold or directly used.4 Launching a buyback program has the potential to produce many long-term benefits. Properly planned and executed, this initiative could address economic and environmental needs, as well as the needs of individual service members.
1. T. Weatherspoon, “10 Things You Need to Know: Navy Uniform Update,” All Hands (August 2016).
2. L. Claudio, “Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry,” Environmental Health Perspectives 115, no. 9 (September 2007).
3. Claudio, “Waste Couture.”
4. Claudio, “Waste Couture.”