Did your sailor get their (full) uniform allowance?

[Mary, Proud Mom of Nick]

Tell us what you think: Clothing allowances

Posted : Tuesday Aug 31, 2010 14:20:34 EDT

Personnel officials acknowledged last week that sailors who graduated from boot camp between Oct. 1, 2007, and April 27, 2009, did not receive any of the four sets of the blue-and-gray camouflage Navy working uniform, all while sailors in the fleet were given plussed-up clothing replacement allowances in 2008 and 2009 to cover the purchase cost. So once the NWU was issued at boot camp, those sailors who had been issued utilities were forced to purchase their NWUs using either their basic clothing allowance or their own money.

The Navy said the sailors who were issued utilities in that timeframe will have until 2012 to purchase all four sets of NWUs, two years later than the rest of the fleet, which must have all the required seabag items by Dec. 31 this year.

The problem is, the Navy is not boosting the clothing replacement allowance for the estimated 60,000 sailors who were issued utilities — and not the NWU — in boot camp. Instead, those sailors must spend the next two years paying for everything with their basic clothing replacement allowance, which is much lower than the 2008 and 2009 allowances that sailors in the fleet received.

The Navy said this decision will not create a hardship for sailors, but critics point out that the annual allowance is supposed to cover the replacement of existing uniforms — not just the NWU, but whites, blues and coveralls as well — and is not high enough to pay for multiple sets of new uniforms.

Navy Times wants to know what you think. Should the Navy pay the higher allowances retroactively to these 60,000 sailors, or will their annual allowances over the next two years be enough to purchase all the required uniforms? If you graduated boot camp in this timeframe, how many sets of uniforms have you been able to purchase with your basic allowance? How well do the uniforms hold up when you don’t have all four sets?

E-mail your opinions to reporter Mark D. Faram [e-mail]. Your comments could appear in an upcoming article.

 

MC3 DOMINIQUE PINEIRO / NAVYA fleetwide message notes that the number of Navy working uniforms sold is about 1.3 per sailor, well short of the required four sets. Most sailors must have four sets of the NWU by Dec. 31, but sailors who graduated boot camp from Oct. 1, 2007, to April 27, 2009, will be required to have two.

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[ProudNavyWifeFresca]

when i was in the navy, ( 70-74) i was issued a full complyment of everything i needed down to the boot polish, at no cost to me, in Boot Camp..after BC, i had to buy my own, out of my clothing allowance. not out of pocket... As i saw from, Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs Office ",As a result, the Navy is reviewing the issue and will provide a solution that will not require Sailors to use their own money for uniforms." I didnt have to an neither should my son

[ProudNavyWifeFresca]

(I had Edited, and it didnt post) an it basicly said, I didnt have to use, out of Pocket money, an neither should my son..they should get a proper Clothing Allowance that pays for The NWU seabag requirements, and those are as follows:" four NWU blouses and trousers, one pair of NWU boots, two eight-point utility caps, five 100 percent blue cotton t-shirts, five pairs of boot socks, one mock turtle neck sweater, one fleece liner one Gortex parka."..I would like to add, if they work in an inviroment that requires a Jump suit ( like the Engine Room) then add  four blue jump suits like (my son does) they do wear now. its part of their work uniform..Give them the proper full clothing Allowance, it should not "take years to pay off", or give them a ware/tear replacement program..or WTRP..It works out the same to me..But the NAVY does not see it that way..

The problem is, the Navy is not boosting the clothing replacement allowance for the estimated 60,000 sailors who were issued utilities — and not the NWU — in boot camp. Instead, those sailors must spend the next two years paying for everything with their basic clothing replacement allowance, which is much lower than the 2008 and 2009 allowances that sailors in the fleet received.

The Navy said this decision will not create a hardship for sailors, but critics point out that the annual allowance is supposed to cover the replacement of existing uniforms — not just the NWU, but whites, blues and coveralls as well — and is not high enough to pay for multiple sets of new uniforms. And I add, "WITHOUT DIGGING INTO THEIR OUT OF POCKET MONEY" The serviceman, or woman, does not have a civilion job, They are under contract to serve a set number of Years, 24/7.. they are owned by the Navy, they cant just up and leave.  to the Navy Dept. Please give The servicemen And women Their FULL Uniform Allowance, FUA's to you.who like acronimes or implyment my plan, The WTRP...PS..LOL.. Id like Royaltiesif you do!!!