I love the Navy enlisted dress uniforms. The first time I put on my dress blues I felt like I was part of something that mattered more than me. I have to confess that I always kept all 13 buttons done up. The more often I wore it, the more it became a part of who I was. When the seasons changed and we went to dress white I felt almost the same. I really didn’t like the polyester, and I hated the thought that any dirt within a mile was going to hunt me down and jump on me someplace I could not see, but I enjoyed wearing it just the same.
The Navy Enlisted dress uniform is unique among all enlisted uniforms for the simple reason that it has a direct connection back to the beginning of our nation. It did not start out as a dress uniform, it grew and evolved with our Navy. Many of the parts that we see only on the dress uniform today used to be every day wear. There are many myths about the buttons, the flap on the back, and the bell bottoms, most of them false. It is basic, very utilitarian but with the possible exception of the Marine dress blues, the most iconic uniform any of or military services wear.
Some of the Myths,
There are 13 buttons on the dress blue trousers to represent the 13 original colonies.
False , I hate to say this but there are really 14 buttons. One is hidden behind the flap. There are 14 because 13 was not enough to keep the flap up and 15 was too many.
The Piping on the collar signifies the three victories of John Paul Jones.
False, the Piping was added with the stars to break up the uniform.
Some of the things about the uniform that a lot of people don’t know (Even some of the saltiest Chiefs):
The piping on the cuffs originally indicated the first 3 ranks, Landsman, Able Seaman and Seaman, and later the E1-E3 Ranks. It wasn’t until the start of WW2 that the became fixed on all uniforms no matter what the rank.
The flap on the back was originally detachable, it was there to protect the rest of the uniform from the grease and tars used in the long hair of the Sailors.
The Neckerchief was for protection from the sun, rain sweat etc.
Rolling a coin in the center of the Neckerchief was done (and is still tradition) so the a sailor lost at sea would always have money to pay the ferryman across the river Styx.
There is a pocket hidden on the inside on the Jumper top.
Hats worn with the uniform have changed over the years. They have ranged from a black top hat to the white hat (Dixie Cup) of today. The dress cover for most of the 20th century was not the familiar white hat, but the Donald Duck style felt hat. Until the beginning of WW2, the ribbon on the felt hat had the name of the ship, that was stopped due to security concerns and was changed to US Navy. The white hat during that time was worn as the primary enlisted working cover with the undress blue and white uniform. It was authorized for wear with dress blues and whites in the early 40’s for all but “Full Dress” occasions.
The white hat can be folded in an almost infinite number or ways. No two sailors fold or roll the brim the same. It is also the best ad hoc frisbee ever.
Full Dress while rarely seen except at funerals consist of Medals on the Left side of the Jumper top, Ribbons on the right. White Pistol belt and Spats (Leggings) with a white one piece scarf similar to a dickie.
For more of the history on the Navy uniform read here
