thedrifter
10-19-07, 06:51 AM
Navy, Marines to receive clothing allowance boost
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, October 20, 2007
WASHINGTON — The Navy and Marine Corps have increased the Clothing Replacement Allowance so that sailors and Marines can buy new uniforms, officials said.
Marines are getting extra cash to pay for their new physical fitness uniforms and the dress blue uniforms, which are now required for all enlisted Marines, said Mary Boyt, of the Marine Corps Uniform Board.
The extra money will be spread out over the projected useful life of the uniform, so Marines will get $66 a year for two years to cover the cost of the physical fitness and uniform as long as the uniform is required, Boyt said.
For the dress blues, male Marines will get $55.22 and female Marines will get $62.77 a year for four years as long as all enlisted Marines are required to have the uniform by Oct. 1, 2011, she said.
The money will be paid to Marines in a lump sum and is intended to go toward uniform expenses, Boyt said.
“Whether or not the Marine uses it for that purpose is up to the Marine,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Navy increases are meant to allow sailors to buy three new uniforms that will be available beginning this year: The new physical fitness uniform, the new working uniform and the new uniform for sailors from E-1 through E-6, said Robert Carroll, head of the Navy Uniform Matters Office.
Carroll said there are three categories of allowances for enlisted sailors:
Basic, for sailors with between six and 42 months service.
Standard, for sailors with more than 42 months service.
CPO, for sailors E-7 to E-9.
The increase in the allowance will be spread out over two years to cover the entire cost of the uniforms, according to the Navy.
The physical fitness gear is expected to cost $50 per set, said Carroll, who could not comment on the price for the new service and working uniforms because the necessary contracts have yet to be signed.
The service and working uniforms are expected to be introduced over 24 months beginning in summer of 2008; while the physical fitness uniform is expected to be introduced in spring 2008 and distributed to the fleet over seven months, Carroll said.
Those timetables are tentative, Carroll said.
The Navy decided to increase the clothing allowance for sailors because sailors were complaining that they were being required to buy new uniforms without being given the necessary cash, Carroll said.
The onus is now on the sailors to wait before the new uniforms are issued before spending the extra money, he said.
Ellie
By Jeff Schogol, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Saturday, October 20, 2007
WASHINGTON — The Navy and Marine Corps have increased the Clothing Replacement Allowance so that sailors and Marines can buy new uniforms, officials said.
Marines are getting extra cash to pay for their new physical fitness uniforms and the dress blue uniforms, which are now required for all enlisted Marines, said Mary Boyt, of the Marine Corps Uniform Board.
The extra money will be spread out over the projected useful life of the uniform, so Marines will get $66 a year for two years to cover the cost of the physical fitness and uniform as long as the uniform is required, Boyt said.
For the dress blues, male Marines will get $55.22 and female Marines will get $62.77 a year for four years as long as all enlisted Marines are required to have the uniform by Oct. 1, 2011, she said.
The money will be paid to Marines in a lump sum and is intended to go toward uniform expenses, Boyt said.
“Whether or not the Marine uses it for that purpose is up to the Marine,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Navy increases are meant to allow sailors to buy three new uniforms that will be available beginning this year: The new physical fitness uniform, the new working uniform and the new uniform for sailors from E-1 through E-6, said Robert Carroll, head of the Navy Uniform Matters Office.
Carroll said there are three categories of allowances for enlisted sailors:
Basic, for sailors with between six and 42 months service.
Standard, for sailors with more than 42 months service.
CPO, for sailors E-7 to E-9.
The increase in the allowance will be spread out over two years to cover the entire cost of the uniforms, according to the Navy.
The physical fitness gear is expected to cost $50 per set, said Carroll, who could not comment on the price for the new service and working uniforms because the necessary contracts have yet to be signed.
The service and working uniforms are expected to be introduced over 24 months beginning in summer of 2008; while the physical fitness uniform is expected to be introduced in spring 2008 and distributed to the fleet over seven months, Carroll said.
Those timetables are tentative, Carroll said.
The Navy decided to increase the clothing allowance for sailors because sailors were complaining that they were being required to buy new uniforms without being given the necessary cash, Carroll said.
The onus is now on the sailors to wait before the new uniforms are issued before spending the extra money, he said.
Ellie