At my retirement seminar they said that we were allowed to continue to wear Navy uniforms for official functions, and I believe they said we could either wear the current uniform or the equivalent uniform that was being worn at the time of our retirement. So maybe someday in the future you'll see a retired officer rocking AVGs while everyone wishes they could...
Ahh. Well, you knew that was more likely going into your change of community. I remember the discussion here. Sorry to hear. We will be thrilled by the next chapter of Master's Life and Times sooner then expected.
Male Gigolo. It's what my next plan is. Actually, I'm going back into mad scientist/inventor mode. I'm turning my garage into a small fab shop. Picking up a TIG welder on my way home from leave (its in PA, I'm in NH going back to Norfolk). Might see the practicality of going back to running a Welding/Metal Fab shop as a "Day Job" while doing freelance engineering on the side.
What happened to the F-16 ANG plan... then shortly after that you could transition to U2s... and then who knows... I think you should try to reach 5 airframes before you call it quits.
Firms need design work. It's possible to do contract on the side work when places are short engineers. I used to do it with FEA work.
Soooo.... Is it worth picking up a new set of AWG's when I fly over to Korea? Best tailor shop around but what's the deal with the uniform? Is it regulated to my closet?
Depends on how much your CO wants to "Care". If things like the "Red Ripper Jackets" and other squadron specific stuff are worn as "uniforms" in your squadron, then maybe. Or you could be like me and just wear it (on appropriate occasions like CONA events)
For whatever it's worth, AWGs are off the BUPERS site. Only working uniforms listed are NWUs, PT, and Coveralls...
It seems like this thread/fight has died off and I wanted to bring it back to the fore. Bates, any news? I have a couple guys I'm winging with Friday express some interest in the AWG' after I explained to them what they're all about. Can I/we do anything to help at this point. Please let me know. This is too important to let go.
so you were basically told to f off and stop asking? They're never coming back, no matter who/how often it's petitioned? If SDK were brought back what about AWG's? What were you told during the petitioning?
Until we get an Aviator (or NFO) as CNO, I highly doubt AWG's have any chance to coming back. Until we get someone who is willing to say, I like this uniform, I'm the CNO and what's the sense of having power, if I can't abuse it, it won't happen. Or we could try to get John Lehman back as SECNAV.... it worked with brown shoes once, why not AWG's this time?
SDK looks like shit. Why should we have to spend $200+ on a uniform that will be worn when another pre-existing and shit hot uniform (SDB) would be appropriate? And did I mention SDK looks like shit?
Except AWG's look much better and are actually the original uniform of Naval Aviation. But why should we let something like history and tradition get in the way of $#^!! decisions.
What's the point of optional uniforms, except possibly evening dress? It's supposed to be a UNIFORM. Now, if they said SDKs go May to November or something, then SDBs the rest of the year, that would at least make sense. I at least UNDERSTAND why they'd drop a uniform (Greens), especially since only one branch used it. But why add another (SDKs) around the same time, especially if it's one, not uniformly required, and two, solves a problem that never existed.
You may like AWG's, but in my 20 years, I've only seen 2 pilots actually wear them to work. One was a RAG instructor back in 1994 and the other was an O-6 here in Newport who wore them just before the drop-dead date to get a last hurrah out of the uniform. Whether they look cool or not, was not a consideration of the Uniform Board. Folks don't wear Aviator Working Greens enough to have enough folks to push to keep them. I personally don't recall hearing senior Aviation leadership complaining about AWG's dying, so it shouldn't be a surprise that they are no longer authorized.
