09/01/2021
ATTENTION: Check out all the major changes and updates in uniform policy in the article link and NAVADMIN below.
https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/2759888/navy-updates-hairstyles-and-policies-in-extensive-uniform-update/
NAVADMIN 183/21
SUBJ/NAVY UNIFORM POLICY UPDATE//
RMKS/1. This NAVADMIN announces the update of several uniform and grooming standards and the issuance of NAVPERS 15665J, Navy Uniform Regulations, which will replace reference (a) in order to incorporate these changes, previous policy changes, correct noted policy discrepancies and provide updated policy guidance and verbiage to clarify uniform and grooming standards. Navy Uniform Regulations are issued by the direction of the Chief of Naval Operations and carry the force of a general order. Navy Uniform Regulations apply to all Sailors equally, regardless of their rank, grade, positions held, ethnicity or community assigned. Any difference between male and female grooming policies recognizes the differences between the genders.
2. Navy Uniform Regulations are continuously reviewed for policy applicability, accuracy, clarity and comprehension. Navy uniform policy updates directly support Sailor 2025 objectives to attract and retain the very best Sailors by finding greater flexibility in our policies and practices, including uniforms. Navy uniform policy updates are the result of Fleet feedback, uniform working group discussions, command sponsored requests and direction from Navy leadership.
3. The following uniform and grooming policy changes are effective as stated:
a. Earrings. Effective immediately. Male Sailors are authorized to wear earrings while in a leave or liberty status when wearing civilian clothes on and off military installations and when using government transportation, unless prohibited by proper authority. Earrings are not authorized when wearing civilian clothing while performing official duties.
b. Male Hair Grooming. Effective immediately. Male Sailors hair grooming standards are expanded to include bald, flat tops, faded and high and tight hairstyles. Hairstyles may also have squared or rounded gradual tapers in the back of the head. When sideburns are worn, the hair length of the sideburns will not exceed the hair length where it intersects with the haircut. Overall sideburn length limits remain unchanged and sideburns are not authorized with bald hairstyles.
c. Medical and Religious Waivered Beards. Effective immediately. Male Sailors with an approved modified shaving regimen in line with BUPERSINST 1000.22 or an approved religious accommodation to wear a beard in line with BUPERSINST 1730.11 are authorized to optionally edge (outline or shape) the outer edges of their beards on the face and neck. Edging, outlining or shaping of beards is defined as the light clipping or trimming of hair at the very outer edges of the beard to give a shaped appearance. If irritation, discomfort or skin outbreak occurs, immediately discontinue edging/outlining the beard.
d. Female Hair Grooming. Effective immediately. Female hair grooming standards are expanded to authorize very short length hairstyles that show the scalp. Overall, very short length hairstyles will not exceed two inches in bulk and four inches in length anywhere on the head. Very short length hairstyles may also include a taper at the back and side of the head and one straight fore and aft hard part. The lower edge of tapers may be rounded, squared or shapeless. Tapers will extend from the lower hairline at the back and side of the head upward to facilitate gradual blending with longer hair lengths. Hard parts are optional and will not exceed four inches in length and one-eighth of an inch in width. One hard part may be edged, shaved or clipped on the left or right side of the head, positioned above the temple, but no higher than the approximate area where the top and side of the head meet. Bald hairstyles (razor cut or shaved short) remain unauthorized except in the case of medically prescribed treatments and required care.
e. Medically-Prescribed Head Coverings. Effective 30 days from the release of this message. Male and female Sailors undergoing medically-prescribed health treatment or care that results in a drastic loss of hair, or the scalp becomes too sensitive to wear wigs/hair pieces, military covers, protective head gear or equipment are authorized to wear fabric head coverings (solid colors of black, khaki/tan, navy blue or white). Medically prescribed head coverings will match the color of the military cover prescribed for wear with the uniform being worn. The need to wear fabric head coverings must be medically documented and prescribed by appropriate military healthcare providers.
f. Accented Names. Effective immediately. Sailors whose legal names contain accents are authorized to include and display those accents in the name tags, name patches or name tapes while wearing a uniform.
g. Navy Working Uniform Type II and III (NWU II/III) Manner and Occasion of Wear. Effective immediately. Sailors may optionally wear one or two shoulder patches when wearing the NWU Type II/III. When wearing one or two shoulder patches, the Reverse U.S. Flag patch will be worn on the right shoulder pocket flap. Patches worn on the left pocket flap will be an authorized shoulder patch (Command/Unit Logos or Don't Tread on Me). Shoulder patches remain optional for personal purchase and wear with the NWU Type II/III. Command mandated shoulder patches will be procured and issued by the command directing its wear. NWU shoulder patches may be either laser cut or of embroidered construction.
h. Military Covers Worn in Privately Owned Vehicles (POV).
Effective immediately. The requirement to wear a cover while in uniform when entering, exiting and driving on military installations in a POV is rescinded. As a military courtesy, covers should be worn by the driver of a POV when entering a military installation if required to return a salute.
Covers will remain worn when in uniform while transiting in military or government vehicles unless impractical for safety or security reasons.
i. Female Dress Shoes (Pumps). Effective immediately. The authorized maximum heel height for female dress shoes (pumps) is increased from two and 5/8 inches to three inches. Three inch heels are considered the maximum heel height worn in professional work or business environments. Commercially procured shoes are authorized provided they conform to the guidelines specified in reference (a) for authorized shoe wear in uniform.
j. Male Swimwear. Effective immediately. Authorized male swimwear when conducting physical training or the semi-annual Physical Readiness Test is expanded to include performance/ competition swimwear.
k. Command Insignia. Effective immediately. Authorization to wear the incumbent Command Insignia has been extended to include all eligible officers. This policy change authorizes eligible flag officers to wear the appropriate Command Insignia in the incumbent position on Navy uniforms.
Only one incumbent Command Insignia may be worn on the uniform.
l. Dual ID Badge Optional Wear (e.g. Joint Staff, OSD, etc.).
Effective 30 days from the release of this message. The optional wear of two ID badges is approved for all eligible Sailors. Dual ID badge wear is authorized on all Service, Service Dress, Full Dress and Dinner/Formal Dress uniforms.
(1) Manner of wear for men. On uniforms with pocket flaps, center one badge on each pocket between the lower point of the flap and bottom of the pocket, midway between the sides. On pockets without flaps, center one badge on each pocket. On Full Dress Uniforms, center the ID badge on the right in a position corresponding to the level of the ID badge on the left.
On Dinner/Formal Dress Uniforms, Sailors may place two ID badges on the right breast area of the uniform, so that the badges are upright and the bottom of the badges are aligned with the top of the lowest row of miniature medals, place a one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch gap between the badges.
(2) Manner of wear for women. To provide equal visibility of ID badges worn on female uniforms, ID badges will be worn on the right side of the uniform. On pockets with flaps, center ID badges next to each other, horizontally, one-fourth of an inch above the right pocket or one-fourth of an inch above the name tag or ribbons (for Full Dress). For uniforms without pockets or pocket flaps, place the ID badges in the same relative location as in the manner of wear of uniforms with pocket flaps. If maximum visibility is not achieved when placing the ID badges above the pocket, female Sailors may optionally wear two ID badges one-fourth inch below the top of the pocket or same relative area corresponding to uniforms without pockets. On Dinner/Formal Dress Uniforms, Sailors may place two ID badges on the right breast area of the uniform, so that the badges are upright and the bottom of the badges are aligned with the top of the lowest row of miniature medals, place a one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch gap between the badges.
m. Prescription Eyeglasses. Effective 60 days from the release of this message. Authorized prescription eyeglasses and frames worn in uniform must be silver/gray, black, brown, navy blue, gold or clear/translucent. The frame around the lens can be of a different but authorized color. Frame color can also consist of a combination of two authorized colors.
Prescription glasses with transitional lenses are authorized except in military formations. When medically prescribed, other tints are authorized when documented and medically prescribed by the proper military medical care provider. Retainer straps may also be worn for foreign object debris (FOD) prevention only and will be black in color and worn snugly against the head.
When not in use, eyeglasses will not be worn on top of the head or hanging around or off the neck. Sailors on deployment on the date of this message will have up to 60 days upon returning to homeport to comply with this policy.
n. Sunglasses. Effective 60 days from the release of this message.
Authorized sunglasses worn with the uniform must have solid color frames that may be silver/gray, black, navy blue, brown, tan, gold or green. The frame around the lens can be of a different but authorized color. Lenses will be non-mirrored, black, brown, dark green or dark grey. Sunglasses may have small logos on the frame and/or lens. Retainer straps may also be worn for FOD prevention only and will be black in color and worn snugly against the head.
When not in use, sunglasses will not be worn on top of the head or hanging around or off the neck. Sailors on deployment on the date of this message will have up to 60 days upon returning to homeport to comply with this policy.
o. Bracelets, Wristwatches, Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers.
Effective 60 days from the release of this message. Wristwatch wear in uniform is expanded to include smartwatches and fitness trackers.
Only one wristwatch/smartwatch and one fitness tracker can be worn simultaneously and each on a different wrist. When wearing a bracelet, a wristwatch/smartwatch or fitness tracker is not authorized on the same wrist as the bracelet. Authorized wristwatches/smartwatches and fitness tracker colors when wearing a Navy uniform include solid black, brown, dark green, grey, navy blue, tan, white, copper, gold (metal), silver (metal) and gold/silver combination (metal) only. Smartwatches and fitness trackers are subject to applicable security regulations. Bracelets worn while in uniform may consist of natural metals or fabricated materials (e.g., plastic, wood, silicone or stone) and may be solid black, brown, dark green, grey, navy blue, tan, white, copper, gold and silver only.
4. All policy updates will be incorporated in the appropriate chapters and sections of NAVPERS 15665J as part of the new issuance of Navy Uniform Regulations.
5. Questions regarding this NAVADMIN should be addressed to Mr. Robert B. Carroll, Navy Uniform Matters and Emerging Issues Branch (OPNAV N13X), robert.b.carroll(at)navy.mil, ETCM(SW/AW/EXW) Richard Baumert, Deputy Branch Head, richard.baumert(at)navy.mil or ETC(SW) Ryan P. Cameron at ryan.p.cameron(at)navy.mil.
6. Feedback and recommendations regarding uniform policy, uniform components and uniform availability are welcomed and can be provided via MyNavy Portal at https://www.mnp.navy.mil/, select Professional Resources, U.S. Navy Uniforms and *Ask The Chiefs.* Feedback can also be provided via the MyNavy UNIFORMS App.
7. Retain this NAVADMIN until policy changes are incorporated in Navy Uniform Regulations, superseded or cancelled, whichever occurs first.
8. Released by Vice Admiral John B. Nowell, Jr, N1.//
Photo: Quartermaster 3rd Class Mayra Cortes, from Santa Clara, Calif., assigned to Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 11 (MSRON-11), applauds in formation during an Expeditionary Warfare (EXW) pinning ceremony. (U.S. Navy photo by Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Nestor Mejia)
