The United States Navy has had a long-standing tradition of perfectly pressed uniforms, shiny shoes, and beautiful caps. These pieces embody an overall aura of honor that comes with wearing the uniform. These uniforms have evolved over time to meet the ever-changing needs of the fleet.
In 1917, when women first enlisted in the Navy, they had their own uniform that was different from their male counterparts. At present, however, women are outfitted in the same uniform as their male counterparts. This comes with challenges in fit and overall comfortability of the uniforms. More recently, in January 2022, the pilot program for maternity women’s uniforms came out. While this is a step in the right direction, the Navy then had to address the overall fit for women’s uniforms at large.
Since 1991, the Navy has held the same standards for dressing and somewhat of a “one-size-fits-all” solution for women in the service. Women have been left to alter their uniform items, resulting in a less than ideal finished product. The fit of a sailor’s uniform can affect performance and overall quality, two things that are non-negotiable in military service.
With this in mind, in July the United States Navy will perform a uniform fitting at Aviation Institute of Maintenance in Norfolk, Virginia. Because Norfolk is a significant location for Navy operations, it was a natural fit to reflect the diverse types of women in active service. Several manufacturers that are actively involved in dressing the fleet will be on-site to fit a wide variety of women and create uniforms that fit. A wide variety of women can be accommodated to find more variable sizing and comfortable fitting uniforms so they will no longer have to sacrifice comfort and fit for their service.
The fitting will take place during Summer 2022.
