For once, I agree with the latest news from the Uniform Board.
NAVADMIN here: http://www.public.navy.mil/bupers-npc/reference/messages/Documents/NAVADMINS/NAV2012/NAV12314.txt
RMKS/1. THIS NAVADMIN ADDRESSES THE SERVICE DRESS KHAKI (SDK) INITIATIVE. THIS INITIATIVE WAS INSTITUTED SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AS ONE MEANS TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE, OPTIONAL LIGHT WEIGHT DRESS UNIFORM FOR WEAR IN WARM WEATHER/SUMMER MONTHS WHERE A COAT AND TIE (UNIFORM) IS DEEMED MORE APPROPRIATE THAN SUMMER WHITE AND/OR SERVICE DRESS WHITE UNIFORMS. 2. A COMPREHENSIVE UNIFORM ASSESSMENT, EVALUATING OPTIONS FOR A SDK UNIFORM, IS COMPLETE. IT INCLUDED EVALUATION OF: (1) PROBABLE QUANTITIES OF SDK SETS ORDERED/SOLD, (2) WEAR TEST OF SEVERAL MODELS EVALUATING QUALITY, DURABILITY, APPEARANCE AND FIT, AND (3) ESTIMATED COST PER UNIFORM SET TO THE INDIVIDUAL. ULTIMATELY IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A NEW SET OF LIGHT WEIGHT SDKS, OF ACCEPTABLE QUALITY, ORDERED IN THE PROJECTED NUMBERS FROM THE ASSESSMENT, WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO THE CUSTOMER. ACCORDINGLY, THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE TO TERMINATE PURSUING THE SDK UNIFORM AS AN OPTIONAL UNIFORM. 3. HOWEVER, FOR E7 THROUGH O10 PERSONNEL, THE SDB UNIFORM IS A SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE FOR WEAR IN LIEU OF SUMMER WHITE AND SERVICE DRESS WHITE UNIFORMS WHEN A COAT AND TIE IS APPROPRIATE. PER REF A, SDB UNIFORMS MAY BE PRESCRIBED FOR WEAR YEAR-ROUND TO ALL OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS (WHEN FORMAL DRESS, DINNER DRESS, OR FULL DRESS UNIFORMS ARE NOT PRESCRIBED) AND CIVILIAN EQUIVALENT DRESS IS COAT AND TIE. THE SDB UNIFORM IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN A QUALITY LIGHT WEIGHT FABRIC. 4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING LIGHT WEIGHT SDB FABRIC AND ORDER OPTIONS, AS WELL AS AVAILABILITY, WILL BE PROVIDED SEPCOR.
OMG! Finally! Someone at the Uniform Board realizes that the last thing we need is ANOTHER uniform to purchase. Especially for officers, who have to purchase everything out of our pockets, I'm getting tired of having to buy new uniforms that I will never wear.
I know Admiral Mullen was a huge fan of the service dress khaki, but seriously, what was wrong with service dress blue? Why add another uniform?
