The thread on Aviation Working Greens that is up got some discussion going in Chat. We brainstormed trying to think of the proper format for how to state the case that there are many Naval Aviators & NFO's, both active, reserve and retired that would like to see the AWG's stay as an "optional" uniform. Without digressing into a discussion of what hat or trousers are OK, and things of that nature, what would be the best way to respectfully approach the issue. While random JOs wearing the AWGs may get awareness out there, it probably will not attract the right kind of attention with those who have the power to change it. What I think the goal of the letter, for an end state should be, is to allow the AWG's to stay as an approved alternate uniform. Just like they are now. Reasons to keep them: History Professional looking working uniform Nobody is forced to buy/wear them. Just personal preference. Obstacles to keeping them: Being a working uniform, hard to justify for much else in todays Navy besides SDO. The SWOs do not like Aviators having Aviator-Only uniforms. Cost of maintaining full seabag. Even though it is OPTIONAL. The thought was to write the letter to the history of the existing AWGs, observe that nobody is forced to buy them, but there are some who like them, and like having the option to wear them, and would like to keep a Naval Aviation tradition alive. As many of you have seen, I can't write for shit. I need ideas/help. Be it on writing, advising me on proper protocol to follow so I don't piss in someones wheaties accidentally, and so on.
Seems to me like this would be one of the reasons to keep them In all seriousness though I'm so excited to be joining a community that actually has things to fight for. Nothing like this in the nuclear world.
In all seriousness this is definitely a worthy cause. There has been some discussion regarding a possible letter to proceedings. The question is whether or not Proceedings is the appropriate forum for such a discussion. If anyone especially more senior officers can suggest a better place for such a letter to be sent it would be much appreciated. Right now I think the goal is to get the uniform visible, and the discussion into a more broad forum than just AW.
Okay, here is a ROUGH DRAFT that was written by someone using my ideas and their superior writing skills. Group effort on this one. They wish to reamain anonymous at this point. We are going to need to talk about further uses for the uniform and further reasons for keeping them around. If we can get enough people on AW to order from the NEX such that we can claim a resurgence of the uniform and point to specific evidence that would be the best case scenario. Add what you can, don’t worry about the diction, Ill take care of the writing but will rely heavily on you for the experience and the substance. Feel free to add on or add ideas.
These same things could be said for service dress khakis. The sea bag expense issue wouldnt seem to be a problem because there are so many other uniforms in the same category.... service dress blue yankee, tropical khakis or tropical whites. That doesnt take into account various dinner dress combinations or female skirts and etc. You are fighting to keep an optional uniform an optional uniform... Inertia should be in your favor... Watch out SWOs might fight back and get the boat cloak mandatory.
In terms of functionality, you could point out how it is a darker uniform hiding dirt and grease normally associated with aviation environments a lot better than khakis can.
I assume the NWU is the digi cams? If so, those aren't nearly as dressy as the greens. The thing is if you have duty or some other occasion that requires you to dress up, you want to wear something that can hide dirt, but not be a utility. Oh, anyone want to push for flight suits being a uniform item? At least let us go grocery shopping in them on the way back from base.
You guys are kidding yourselves. While AWGs may be groovy, nostalgic and quaint, let's face it - nobody wears them. The last time I saw someone in AWG was 15 years ago in the VP community. It's going to be hard for you to come up with a cogent argument as to why the Navy should spend money to keep them around. Save yourselves the trouble and find something else to spend your free time on. BTW - for future reference, the proper format for a point paper can be found in the Navy Correspondence Manual. If you don't have one at your desk (and know how to use it), then you're a sub-par officer. Brett
While I do own the Navy Correspondence Manual, it is buried somewhere in my storage unit. Since NATOPS and FTI take up pretty much all the book cases in the Puma the rest of my stuff is boxed for when I need it. Seeing that I have written 3 Naval Letters in 7 years, I don't use it too often. Right now I am putting the feelers out for what should be said, and how it should be said. Whatever is sent would be checked for proper format, etc before it is sent.
Choose your battles - obviously not your strong suit. Are you doing this to impress Jodie Foster? Brett
Well, I'm wearing them today and so far, two senior chiefs and my 0-6 CO have all said they will buy the set this week and intend to wear them every week (obviously just the pants with leather jacket). I'm heading to the T-Bar later today here at Jax (shocker) and see if the Como is around, I'll gauge his reaction and see if he'll endorse a letter and route it to CPRG and AirLant. Any homos at 30 care to get in on the action? I know XO Gordon digs these.
I actually had a discussion with a few bubbleheads today that thought AWGs "looked sharp as hell and wish they were authorized to wear them".
Once I get the money I'll be looking at buying a set of AWG. I have thought many times how there needs to be better uniform for fall/winter/spring duty and non-bag days. The sk suck for that.
The AWG's are sharp a looking uniform. Downside is they are not a liberty uniform. If you are going to send a letter asking them to be saved, might as well ask that they be authorized for wear outside of base.
Brett327: Your argument that "nobody wears them" is exactly what we're working against. Right now I bet there are a lot of people reading this thread who aren't going to act because the uniform's getting the axe or because it's too expensive. Both of these reasons are the result of it being an uncommon uniform. If the uniform is saved and we can shift the momentum around, perhaps we can get the uniform on the NEX racks again and we can get the price down. And then more aviators will buy it... and it's a circle, Happy. Now it's off to the NEX to un-sub-par myself. Seriously, I'm buying that book.
I think I already said this, but I have never understood why the AWGs are considered a "working" uniform. Can you ever imagine someone dropping $500 on them and then mucking around in dirt and grease? Don't think so. They're more appropriate as a SERVICE uniform, perhaps as an alternative to service khaki. But, since they are labelled as a "working" uniform, some bean counter lumped them in with SWOveralls to get replaced. Granted, Brett also has a point. I bet half the guys coming up don't have a clue what they are. I bet if I were to hypothetically wear them to work tomorrow (if I owned a set), half the people would look at me like I had three heads and say "Dude, why are you wearing a Marine uniform with a black tie?"
It's no surprise they would be ignorant of Aviation Working Greens. The mere fact that they refer to you as "Dude" is indicative of much greater cognitive shortcomings on their part ...
