The United States Naval Academy was chosen as a test site for the Navy’s Standard Cov

tankercaptain

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US Navy Looks to Promote Gender Uniformity, For Example…
BY ROB ALMEIDA ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2012



I was driving through Annapolis the other weekend when I saw some midshipmen walking around near the city dock area. I did a bit of a double take because something didn’t look quite right as one of the mids walked past my car.

To my surprise, one of the female midshipman was wearing a “combination cover”, or the brimmed, flat-topped hats depicted in the top right image.

Women don’t wear “combo covers”, they wear hats like the one shown in the image on the left. Only the men wear those sort of hats… or so I thought.

The United States Naval Academy was chosen as a test site for the Navy’s Standard Cover Initiative, which according to a statement by their Public Affairs Office, is part of the Navy’s goal to “further a climate of inclusion for female Sailors and officers and to promote uniformity and professional appearance.”

As part of that initiative, Naval Academy female midshipmen began wear-testing the male midshipman combination cover (hat) beginning June 26 through the 2012-2013 academic year; and enlisted women in the USNA band are wear-testing the male chief petty officer combination cover beginning Aug. 17 through the 2012-2013 academic year.

Personally, I think this is a terrible idea and does little except reduce the self-image of the poor woman who has to wear it. However, considering the fact I’m no longer on active duty and I’m not female, I figured I’d ask around and get some other opinions.

One female officer, and USNA alumnus comments,

“It’s ridiculous. There’s absolutely nothing to be achieved by swapping covers. You will not gain gender neutrality or parity by requiring them all to wear the same covers. And moreover, it’s distracting from real issues that deserve far more focus than this such as sexual assault, and the combat exclusion laws, and others. Iraq and Afghanistan have proven that our combat exclusion laws are unrealistic for modern warfare. We should be spending time and resources to solving these issues, rather than these empty, and meaningless gestures.”
Another female officer offered a slightly different view:

“As a line officer and engineer, the amount of time I wear dress uniforms which might require this cover is quite minimal. It’s also unlikely it’ll ever affect me, so to be honest, I don’t really care all that much. If the Academy wants to make everyone look the same, then fine, but thinking that it’s going to promote a climate of professional inclusion is highly doubtful.
The fact is, both hats look terrible.
Men’s uniforms were designed many years ago and they are timeless. Women’s uniforms were designed in the 50s to be in line with the fashion of the day back then. Unfortunately, they are still stuck in the 50s.”
Another summed it up her opinion in one word… “ridiculous.”

The fourth officer I spoke to stated:

“The more we try to make our female and male sailors the same, the more apparent the difference becomes. We are all sailors, but it is ok that our uniforms are different, it doesn’t mean we are less or more capable. It is about looking professional and representing the US Navy.”
 
COMMANDANT OF MIDSHIPMEN NOTICE 1020
Subj: SINGLE COVER INITIATIVE (SCI)
Ref: (a) COMDTMIDNINST 1020.3B
Encl: (1) Fit and Manner of Wear of the Male Combination Cap
1. Purpose. To publish the policies and procedures governing a Department
of the Navy initiative to conduct a fit and wear evaluation of the current
male combination cap by female Midshipmen assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy
and female members of the U.S. Naval Academy Band. This is part of the
Department of the Navy’s goal to further a climate of inclusion for female
Sailors and officers. Enclosure (1) depicts the proper wear of the male
combination cap.
2. Objectives. The objective is to fit and wear test a male combination cap
with all female uniforms designated in reference (a).
a. Familiarize female Midshipmen and USNA Band members with proper wear
of the male combination cap.
b. Conduct a test evaluation period and gather feedback from the Staff
and Brigade of Midshipmen.
3. Action
a. Commandant of Midshipmen. The Commandant of Midshipmen is
responsible for overseeing the fit and wear evaluation for all female
Midshipmen assigned to the U. S. Naval Academy and female band members
assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy Band.
b. 6th Battalion Officer. As Uniform Board Chairman, the 6
th
Battalion
Officer is responsible for the overall training and execution of the SCI at
the U.S. Naval Academy. Additionally, in conjunction with the Naval Academy
Business Services Division, he is responsible for supervising the fit
schedule of the male combination cap as well as collecting feedback during
the evaluation period.
c. Naval Academy Business Services Division. The Naval Academy Business
Services Division shall establish an adequate inventory of male combination
caps. They shall also schedule the specific fitting dates with the Uniform
Shop.
d. Battalion Officers. All Battalion Officers shall be responsible for
establishing an inspection schedule to ensure that the male combination cap
is worn in accordance with prescribed uniform regulations, as delineated in
reference (a) and pictured in enclosure (1). COMDTMIDNNOTE 1020
13 Apr 12
4. SCI Guidelines. Guidelines regarding key administrative aspects of this
initiative are as follows:
a. Fitting Schedule. The Uniform Shop will begin fitting and
distribution of the male combination cap to female Midshipmen during the week
of 16 April 2012. Fitting will be complete by 20 April 2012 with the
exception of female Midshipmen who are on study abroad or conducting the
Service Academy Exchange Program. The female members of the USNA Band will
be fitted following the completion of Midshipmen fitting and will be
completed prior to Indoctrination Day for the Class of 2016.
b. Test and Evaluation Period
(1) Female Midshipmen assigned to the 2012 Plebe Summer Detail shall
wear the male combination cap commencing on 26 June 2012 in support of
Indoctrination Day for the Class of 2016.
(2) Fourth Class Female Midshipmen in the Class of 2016 shall
commence wearing the male combination cap as directed by the Plebe Summer
Officer-in-Charge of the Fourth Class Regiment.
(3) First, Second, and Third Class Female Midshipmen not assigned to
Plebe Summer Detail shall commence wearing the male combination cap
commencing at Brigade Reformation on 17 August 2012.
(4) Female members of the USNA Band shall commence wearing the male
combination cap commencing at Brigade Reformation on 17 August 2012.
(5) The wear and evaluation period shall be in effect until this
notice is superseded or cancelled by the Commandant of Midshipmen.
c. Single Cover Distribution Policy
(1) Each female Midshipman and female member of the USNA Band shall
be issued two male combination caps during this test and evaluation period.
(2) Fourth Class female Midshipmen in the Class of 2016 will not be
issued any standard female combination caps, as depicted in reference (a),
until directed by the Commandant of Midshipmen.
d. Cost. During the wear and evaluation period, there will be no cost
to female Midshipmen or female USNA Band members for the male combination
cap.
5. Evaluation and Feedback. Throughout the evaluation period, the Navy will
collect wear feedback from participants through in-status surveys. The 6th
Battalion Officer (Uniform Board Chairman) will coordinate the administration
of these surveys at the U.S. Naval Academy. COMDTMIDNNOTE 1020
13 Apr 12
3
6. USNA Uniform Regulations. Enclosure (1) takes precedence over current
guidance for the wear and maintenance of the female combination cap as
delineated in reference (a). There will be no change to the current USNA
Uniform Regulations promulgated in reference (a) during the wear and
evaluation period.
7. Wear and Evaluation Period. The wear and evaluation period will remain
in effect until otherwise directed by higher authority. Female Midshipmen
shall retain their female combination caps until a final decision is made
following the wear and evaluation period.
R. E. CLARK II
 
I noticed this change in photos over the summer and ran into some female Mids in Ireland, they were all 1/C or 2/C. I asked them what they thought. None of them were fans of the change. On the majority of the females the covers looked too large. Females tend to have slimmer faces and necks and the covers just looked huge on them. The females mentioned they have had to alter alot of their standard hair tricks to make the cover fit right. I did notice alot of the female Mids hair did look sloppy so I would like to attribute it to hopefully they are learning to modify their hair tricks of braids and buns. Mids where the combo cover nearly everyday so I do think the Academy is a great test place for this. Uniformity is good, but not sure this hits the mark. But, I am curious to see the results of the study over the year and glad they are doing a trial period, instead of just sweeping change.
 
DD is active duty and would agree with the other women whose comments have been posted. Clothing styles are decades behind, and the men's cover is not flattering to women. The Navy is currently looking at changes to women's uniforms, but so far doesn't appear to understand what the true issues are.
 
This is all very consistent with the Navy's seeming obsession with social engineering.

Female midshipmen have to wear the traditionally male combination cover. Yet, they wear skirts. Dumb!

From behind, it makes it appear as if it is a male who badly needs a haircut.
 
Has there been any new word on this initiative? My son is (obviously) male, so it doesn't affect him directly, other than to the extent that it makes the Brigade as a whole look shabby. I think it would be a great idea to modernize the female uniforms, but simply slapping the male cover on female midshipmen isn't the way to accomplish that.
 
Covers

Maybe this year they will have the male MIDS wear the female covers :smile: to properly access all options.
 
My 2/C says the female mids hate them. They made no provisions for differing head shapes or where to put the hair bun. So the round cover doesn't rest cleanly or squarely, covers their eyes (the back gets raised to clear the bun) and there's no good way to keep it from blowing off in the wind. She has no problem looking different cause...wait for it...she is different.
 
It does look odd to see female Mids in the traditional male covers. As my Marine daughter points out it does not get any better in the fleet for female Marines. The female Marine cover makes them look like "train conductors". :smile:
 
The Navy is currently looking at changes to women's uniforms

I hate to tell you but they told us the same thing in . . . . 1985.:eek:

And I don't see any significant changes that have occurred since then.:rolleyes:
 
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