thedrifter
02-01-07, 07:36 PM
Spokeswoman: Don’t wait to buy dress blues
By John Hoellwarth - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Feb 1, 2007 15:29:30 EST
Marines who wait until the last minute to buy dress blues for this year’s ball may find the racks at clothing sales empty.
The commandant’s plan to make the Corps’ most formal uniform part of every recruit’s initial issue by the start of next fiscal year is likely to lead to a shortage, according to a uniform board spokeswoman.
As soon as the Corps begins issuing dress blue coats to the recruit depots in San Diego and Parris Island, S.C., on Oct. 1, the rest of the service will be “looking at a back-order situation,” said uniform board spokeswoman Mary Boyt.
If leathernecks want to buy dress blues for the next Marine Corps birthday ball, “they shouldn’t wait,” she said.
The Corps has only one manufacturer for the enlisted dress blues coat, Crown Clothing Co. of Vineland, N.J., which produces about 30,000 of them each year. A company official said it plans to increase production.
But when the Corps starts issuing the uniform in boot camp, “we’re looking at 40,000 dress blue coats for recruits and reservists alone,” Boyt said. “You throw in the active-duty population, and that’s a lot of dress blues.”
The Corps is giving Marines already in the fleet a four-year window before possession of the uniform becomes mandatory, Boyt said.
The commandant’s initiative also means an increase in the amount of money Marines get each year to maintain their uniforms, though the exact amount has not been announced, Boyt said.
Officers’ dress blues are made from a different material by a different manufacturer, and their availability will not be affected by the commandant’s intent, she said.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/xml/news/2007/02/mcblues070201/070201_dressblues_story_287.jpg
The commandant’s plan to make the Marine Corps’ dress blue uniform part of every recruit’s initial issue by the start of next fiscal year is likely to lead to a shortage, according to a uniform board spokeswoman.
Ellie
By John Hoellwarth - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Feb 1, 2007 15:29:30 EST
Marines who wait until the last minute to buy dress blues for this year’s ball may find the racks at clothing sales empty.
The commandant’s plan to make the Corps’ most formal uniform part of every recruit’s initial issue by the start of next fiscal year is likely to lead to a shortage, according to a uniform board spokeswoman.
As soon as the Corps begins issuing dress blue coats to the recruit depots in San Diego and Parris Island, S.C., on Oct. 1, the rest of the service will be “looking at a back-order situation,” said uniform board spokeswoman Mary Boyt.
If leathernecks want to buy dress blues for the next Marine Corps birthday ball, “they shouldn’t wait,” she said.
The Corps has only one manufacturer for the enlisted dress blues coat, Crown Clothing Co. of Vineland, N.J., which produces about 30,000 of them each year. A company official said it plans to increase production.
But when the Corps starts issuing the uniform in boot camp, “we’re looking at 40,000 dress blue coats for recruits and reservists alone,” Boyt said. “You throw in the active-duty population, and that’s a lot of dress blues.”
The Corps is giving Marines already in the fleet a four-year window before possession of the uniform becomes mandatory, Boyt said.
The commandant’s initiative also means an increase in the amount of money Marines get each year to maintain their uniforms, though the exact amount has not been announced, Boyt said.
Officers’ dress blues are made from a different material by a different manufacturer, and their availability will not be affected by the commandant’s intent, she said.
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/xml/news/2007/02/mcblues070201/070201_dressblues_story_287.jpg
The commandant’s plan to make the Marine Corps’ dress blue uniform part of every recruit’s initial issue by the start of next fiscal year is likely to lead to a shortage, according to a uniform board spokeswoman.
Ellie