Capt. Syd Abernethy, commanding officer, NAS Whidbey Island, signed out the new uniform policy, NAS Whidbey Note 1020, last Friday.  Since there were quite a few policy changes, we hope you’ll take a few minutes to check out the information below:

Flight suits

Flight suits may be worn by aircrew members and individuals engaged in flight or flight-related duties during that working day. This authorization does not include ground support, non-aircrew maintenance or non-aircrew support personnel.

Flight suits may be worn to/from home and work to include short duration stops, on military transport aircraft, and to official business meetings away from home station when the wear of flight suits is appropriate for transportation or for the level of meeting (i.e. working meeting).

Flight suits shall be clean and well kept. Sleeves will be worn full length with hook and pile (velcro) sleeve cuffs closed or with a maximum of two outward rolls when not engaged in flight operations. All zippers will be closed and FOD flaps will be closed on pen pockets.

This uniform may be worn for brief and appropriate stops off base during duty hours or while commuting to and from the place of duty.

Off base - What’s okay

A brief, appropriate stop should not exceed 10 minutes.  Some examples include:

-- Dropping off/picking up children from daycare centers or school

-- Obtaining gas or other essential driving aids

-- Picking up/dropping off dry-cleaning.

-- Automatic teller machines

-- Picking up vehicles at repair shops or gas stations.

-- At drive-through windows where exiting the vehicle is not required.

-- At convenience stores or drug stores solely for the purpose of emergency childcare or health products.

-- Business conducted in financial institutions (business defined as ATM transactions and brief teller transactions only.)

And what’s not okay

Personnel are prohibited from wearing flight suits as liberty uniforms off base or during inappropriate circumstances such as:

-- Restaurants, pizza parlors, bars, lounges, etc.

-- When dealing with public officials at their offices (police, courthouse, attorneys)

-- While attending classes or conducting business at education facilities (except on base).

-- At commercial airport/bus stations.

-- At retail/rental stores, shopping malls, and stops for shopping.

-- At grocery stores/supermarkets.

-- At movie theaters, mini-golf, or other entertainment/recreational or sporting activities.

Green flight jackets

Sage green (NOMEX) flight jackets may only be worn by aircrew members and individuals engaged in flight-related duties, within the perimeter of Ault Field with flight suits,

Working uniforms

Working khaki, utilities, and other working uniforms are not authorized for wear outside the fence line of Ault Field at any time. The brown leather flight jacket is the only jacket authorized for wear off base with flight suits. Off base is defined as outside the fence lines of Ault Field and the Seaplane Base.

Sage green flight jackets are not authorized with any service uniform (with ribbons). The jacket will be worn with the zipper zipped at least 3/4 of the way. The jacket shall be maintained in a clean and serviceable condition. If torn, stained, or frayed beyond reasonable repair, it should be exchanged for a new jacket.

Foul Weather Jackets

Foul weather jackets are considered organizational clothing. Organizational clothing is worn with working uniforms only and is not authorized for wear off base at any time.

To and from work

Working khakis, Navy utility uniform, Navy camouflage utility uniform (woodland pattern) shall be clean, in good repair, and present a professional appearance and may be worn while commuting to and from work to include all travel aboard DOD-owned/controlled aircraft and ferries in the Puget Sound area. These uniforms may be worn for brief and appropriate stops off base during duty hours or while commuting to and from the place of duty. The same rules apply here as listed under flight suits.

Navy blue coverall uniform

The Navy blue coverall uniform should not be confused with organization coveralls, which are not authorized outside of the work center. The Navy blue coverall uniform shall be clean, in good repair, and present a professional appearance. The Navy blue coverall uniform is authorized on base inside the perimeter fence lines of both Ault Field and Seaplane Bases. It is not authorized for wear off base at any time.

The authorized jacket for E-6 and below to wear with this uniform is the blue working jacket. Chief Petty Officers and Officers may wear the khaki windbreaker.

Naval aviators, pilots, flight officers, undergraduate pilots, Navy Flight Officers and flight surgeons may wear the leather flight jacket with the Navy blue coverall uniform.

Eligible enlisted aircrewmen (E-1 through E-9) may wear the leather flight jacket with the Navy blue coverall uniform.

Navy knit watch caps

Personnel are authorized to wear the Navy knit watch cap only while in the performance of a military watch. The watch cap shall be worn squarely on the head; double folded approximately 2-1/2 inches - 3 inches, with the bottom edge parallel to and 1-1/2 inches above the eyebrows.

The watch cap is not prescribed for wear around the base and may only be worn within the immediate vicinity of the work center.

General info on sleeves

During the seasonal uniform periods, the following guidance is provided for rolling sleeves on flight suits, blue coveralls, and camouflaged utilities.

-- In winter, sleeves will be rolled down (with the exception of flight suits).

-- In summer, sleeves may be rolled, with inside out, forming a roll approximately three inches wide and terminating at a point approximately two inches above the elbow (with the exception of flight suits).