The (US) Navy Runs Out of Pants for Its Working Uniform – Won't Get More Until October

[dimsum]

The Navy Runs Out of Pants for Its Working Uniform – Won't Get More Until October

Service officials confirmed Friday that pants for the Navy Working Uniform, or NWU, the go-to uniform for most sailors, are out of stock at Navy Exchanges.

www.military.com

Oops…

 

[Kirkhill]

Beware of Marines and bumboats.

 

[dimsum]

Beware of Marines and bumboats.

Speaking of Marines, they (the USMC) just got enough uniforms recently. Similar issue led to 2 years of shortages.

Edit to add link

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2024/04/15/marine-corps-camouflage-uniform-shortage-has-eased-up/#:~:text=The%20Marine%20Corps'%20yearslong%20camouflage,as%20cammies%2C%20in%20summer%202022.

 

[Kirkhill]

Speaking of Marines, they (the USMC) just got enough uniforms recently. Similar issue led to 2 years of shortages.

I am starting to suspect that the west, perhaps the world, is broke (as in busted, skint, flat). A lot of printed money and a lot of debt out there. Is that contributing to people unwilling to take on contracts?

Ancient military equipment being used in smaller and smaller numbers because new designs are too few, too expensive and too slow to reach market?

Is state currency losing its allure? Are governments not good bets any more?

Is there a pattern between USD, Dow Jones and Bitcoin?

Bitcoin prices have long been correlated with a variety of factors, including adoption level, new developments to the technology, etc. However, lately, as

cryptopotato.com

 

[dimsum]

I am starting to suspect that the west, perhaps the world, is broke (as in busted, skint, flat). A lot of printed money and a lot of debt out there. Is that contributing to people unwilling to take on contracts?

Ancient military equipment being used in smaller and smaller numbers because new designs are too few, too expensive and too slow to reach market?

Is state currency losing its allure? Are governments not good bets any more?

Is there a pattern between USD, Dow Jones and Bitcoin?

Bitcoin prices have long been correlated with a variety of factors, including adoption level, new developments to the technology, etc. However, lately, as

cryptopotato.com

I’m going to assume that in as per standard military procurement, someone messed up the contract.

 

[Pelorus]

I am starting to suspect that the west, perhaps the world, is broke (as in busted, skint, flat). A lot of printed money and a lot of debt out there. Is that contributing to people unwilling to take on contracts?

Ancient military equipment being used in smaller and smaller numbers because new designs are too few, too expensive and too slow to reach market?

Is state currency losing its allure? Are governments not good bets any more?

Is there a pattern between USD, Dow Jones and Bitcoin?

Bitcoin prices have long been correlated with a variety of factors, including adoption level, new developments to the technology, etc. However, lately, as

cryptopotato.com

"People aren't making pants anymore because they don't trust the US government to pay its debts" seems like a massive assumption compared to "the US also suffers from Byzantine procurement policies".

 

[Kirkhill]

True.

But there seems ti be an awful lot of people messing up on a lot of contracts all over the world.

 

[quadrapiper]

I’m going to assume that in as per standard military procurement, someone messed up the contract.

Outside possibility: the trousers are in some way rubbish (blow out at the crotch, e.g.) and have exceeded expected replacement volumes.

 

[dimsum]

Outside possibility: the trousers are in some way rubbish (blow out at the crotch, e.g.) and have exceeded expected replacement volumes.

I don’t know how the US military procures their uniforms (as in contracting, not the individual person), but it’s big enough that I’m sure there are many, many contractors.

Not sure about the USMC and USN, but the US Army and Air Force (and Space Force) I’ve seen different versions of the same combat uniform worn - sort of like if there was 2-3 versions of TW CADPAT. Most changes are whether there are chest pockets, what type they are (zipper or Velcro flap), overall uniform cut, etc.

 

[stoker dave]

But there seems ti be an awful lot of people messing up on a lot of contracts all over the world.

I would speculate contract requirements, terms and conditions have become more elaborate, complex and difficult to meet.

Here is an oversimplified version: the old contract said to produce trousers based on existing specifications for trousers.

The new contract says to produce trousers based on existing specifications for trousers AND:

• Demonstrate no forced labour used in production.
• Natural fibres are ethically sourced and renewable.
• Quality management system for prime and sub-contractors to meet some standard (e.g. ISO 9001).
• Company to demonstrate commitment to veteran / visible minority suppliers.
• All shipping / transport to be carbon neutral.
• The procurement agency will audit all the above and production shall cease until any non-conformities identified are rectified to the satisfaction of the procurement agency.

I just made that up (obviously) but that is how contract requirements grow and contracts get more expensive and slower to deliver.

My two cents.

 

[Kirkhill]

I would speculate contract requirements, terms and conditions have become more elaborate, complex and difficult to meet.

Here is an oversimplified version: the old contract said to produce trousers based on existing specifications for trousers.

The new contract says to produce trousers based on existing specifications for trousers AND:

• Demonstrate no forced labour used in production.
• Natural fibres are ethically sourced and renewable.
• Quality management system for prime and sub-contractors to meet some standard (e.g. ISO 9001).
• Company to demonstrate commitment to veteran / visible minority suppliers.
• All shipping / transport to be carbon neutral.
• The procurement agency will audit all the above and production shall cease until any non-conformities identified are rectified to the satisfaction of the procurement agency.

I just made that up (obviously) but that is how contract requirements grow and contracts get more expensive and slower to deliver.

My two cents.

I think you are closer to the truth than I was.

 

[daftandbarmy]

Outside possibility: the trousers are in some way rubbish (blow out at the crotch, e.g.) and have exceeded expected replacement volumes.

This is exactly what happened in the UK when they issued the 'new and improved' combat trousers, in the mid-80s.

Pockets and seams exploded with no notice, in some very amusing circumstances

 

[dimsum]

As an aside, I still find it funny that the standard working uniform for much of the USN is this.

 

[Navy_Pete]

As an aside, I still find it funny that the standard working uniform for much of the USN is this.

I don't get any kind of camo on ships at all, and stupid when we do the same

 

[Kirkhill]

As an aside, I still find it funny that the standard working uniform for much of the USN is this.

View attachment 87471

Uniform you say?

 

[dimsum]

Uniform you say?

I mean, the Cdr in front is an aviator, and there’s a Marine in there too.

It’s operational uniform - “looks” shouldn’t be the first priority. That being said, I agree with @Navy_Pete that camouflage at sea is puzzling.

 

[Pelorus]

I wonder if the idea behind the camo that it provides some advantage to hiding oil, grease, etc. stains on a light-coloured uniform.

Having spent a good chunk of time in our heavy, pitch black NECUs in tropical weather, I really wish we had gone with light grey or light blue like most hot climate navies. But every time I see grey coveralls any stains are quite noticeable.

Either that or it's all just to meet some silly military motif.

 

[dimsum]

Either that or it's all just to meet some silly military motif.

I’m almost positive it’s the second reason.

 

[RangerRay]

Back to striped shirts and bell-bottoms!

 

[Navy_Pete]

I wonder if the idea behind the camo that it provides some advantage to hiding oil, grease, etc. stains on a light-coloured uniform.

Having spent a good chunk of time in our heavy, pitch black NECUs in tropical weather, I really wish we had gone with light grey or light blue like most hot climate navies. But every time I see grey coveralls any stains are quite noticeable.

Either that or it's all just to meet some silly military motif.

The weight of the new NECU shirt is crazy; it's closer to the old NCD jacket and double lined. THe old blue NCD shirts weren't bad for heat, and if they got oily were cheaper and easier to replace.

If the RCN wasn't... the RCN we would have things like maintenance coveralls for the maintainers vice bespoke FR uniforms. The standard oil rig ones are FR and pretty comfortable, and our crews are small enough that it's not like you can't normally identify people on sight anyway once you are sailing..