We’ve only seen the Army/Navy game on tv, but it appears to be pretty brutally cold some years. Any advice for keeping mids warm while staying within uniform regs?
Beat Army!
If it can’t be seen outside or through the uniform (tip, don’t wear a Mickey Mouse t-shirt under a summer white uniform shirt), all will be fine.
Some of the usual tactics to augment service dress blue (SDB), bridge coat/overcoat, white neck scarf:
- Under Armour cold weather leggings/tights and top
- Silk or other thin performance long johns
- Two layers of socks, or a performance sock liner, or black hiking socks, or thin merino or cashmere wool socks under the uniform black socks
- Glove liners, or thin wool gloves to wear underneath the uniform black gloves
- I think they get ear muffs issued
- Some leeway is granted to wear Navy spirit hats once they are in the stands or at some designated point. All kinds of blue and gold erupt out of pockets.
- The chemical packet hand and foot warmers.
- For women, a thin Cuddl Duds camisole can add an additional layer underneath a performance layer and uniform shirt. Cuddl Duds also has a complete line of cold weather layers for women. Less pricey than UA.
- Thin layers are the key.
- Plebes will get plenty of advice from upper class on survival techniques. They figure it out.
I have done my share of attending the game in uniform, from well-before March On and through Blue and Gold in the evening, and feeling the raw, damp December cold turn my feet into aching blocks of ice.
The warm bathrooms frequently become refugee areas!
My secret was a thin merino wool sweater in black, with a very deep v-neck, which I could wear under my SDB blouse (uniform jacket) without adding bulk or showing, because that item is never worn unbuttoned. I also wore a performance under layer, top and bottom, and two pair of black cashmere socks. As soon as the National Anthem was sung, I pulled my trusty issue dark navy wool watch cap out of my pocket, still the warmest head covering I own, and the oldest uniform item I still wear - though it’s the early morning dog walking go-to now.
