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Service dress khaki wear tests underway

Wear tests of a throwback service dress khaki uniform have begun at six Navy locations and will continue through the summer.

“Sailors should be aware the service dress khaki [tests] for E-7 and above are underway and they will soon see this uniform out and about,” said Rob Carroll, head of the Navy Uniform Matters office.

The khaki tests are part of a number of wear tests currently underway around the Navy. Other wear tests include attempts to improve the current enlisted service dress white and blue “crackerjacks.”

Chiefs and officers will test the khaki uniform in Washington, D.C.; Norfolk, Va.; Millington, Tenn.; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Newport R.I.; and Yokosuka, Japan. Carroll said testers are expected to wear the uniform as a travel uniform, too.

The uniform, popular during World War II, was worn through the Vietnam War. It was done away with in sweeping changes by then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Elmo Zumwalt.

The tests will run through Aug. 25.

Wear testers will fill out online surveys and participate in focus groups about the uniform, Carroll said, and sailors who had frequent contact with those wearing the uniforms also will take part in focus groups.

DISCUSS: Throw away the throw-back or keep it?