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Return to Z-GramsFROM: CNO {Z-57}
TO: NAVOP
UNCLAS //NO1100//
102157Z NOV 70
DEMEANING OR ABRASIVE REGULATIONS, ELIMINATION OF
1. THOSE DEMEANING OR ABRASIVE REGULATIONS GENERALLY REFERRED
TO IN THE FLEET AS "MICKEY MOUSE" OR "CHICKEN"
REGS HAVE, IN MY JUDGMENT DONE ALMOST AS MUCH TO CAUSE DISSATISFACTION
AMONG OUR PERSONNEL AS HAVE EXTENDED FAMILY SEPARATION AND LOW
PAY SCALES. FOR THIS REASON, SHORTLY AFTER TAKING COMMAND I REQUESTED
A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF CURRENT NAVAL POLICIES AND REGULATIONS.
I DESIRE TO ELIMINATE MANY OF THE MOST ABRASIVE POLICIES, STANDARDIZE
OTHERS WHICH ARE INCONSISTENTLY ENFORCED, AND PROVIDE SOME GENERAL
GUIDANCE WHICH REFLECTS MY CONVICTION THAT IF WE ARE TO PLACE
THE IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF "THE PERSON" IN
PROPER PERSPECTIVE IN THE MORE EFFICIENT NAVY WE ARE SEEKING,
THE WORTH AND PERSONAL DIGNITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL MUST BE FORCEFULLY
REAFFIRMED. THE POLICY CHANGES BELOW ARE EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
AND WILL BE AMPLIFIED BY MORE DETAILED IMPLEMENTING DIRECTIVES
TO BE ISSUED SEPARATELY.
A. IT APPEARS THAT MY PREDECESSOR'S GUIDANCE IN MAY ON THE SUBJECT
OF HAIRCUTS, BEARDS AND SIDEBURNS IS INSUFFICIENTLY UNDERSTOOD
AND, FOR THIS REASON, I WANT TO RESTATE WHAT I BELIEVED TO BE
EXPLICIT: IN THE CASE OF HAIRCUTS, SIDEBURNS, AND CONTEMPORARY
CLOTHING STYLES, MY VIEW IS THAT WE MUST LEARN TO ADAPT TO CHANGING
FASHIONS. I WILL NOT COUNTENANCE THE RIGHTS OR PRIVILEGES OF ANY
OFFICERS OR ENLISTED MEN BEING ABROGATED IN ANY WAY BECAUSE THEY
CHOOSE TO GROW SIDEBURNS OR NEATLY TRIMMED BEARDS OR MOUSTACHES
OR BECAUSE PREFERENCES IN NEAT CLOTHING STYLES ARE AT VARIANCE
WITH THE TASTE OF THEIR SENIORS NOR WILL I COUNTENANCE ANY PERSONNEL
BEING IN ANY WAY PENALIZED DURING THE TIME THEY ARE GROWING BEARDS,
MOUSTACHES, OR SIDEBURNS
B. I VIEW THE PROHIBITION AGAINST THE WEARING OF CLEAN, NEAT WORKING
UNIFORMS OR DUNGAREES TO AND FROM WORK AS UNWARRANTED AND I NOW
DIRECT THAT IT BE SUSPENDED FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF ALL CONCERNED.
C. TO STANDARDIZE CURRENT PRACTICES, WORKING UNIFORMS, DUNGAREES,
AND FLIGHT SUITS ARE AUTHORIZED IN ALL NAVAL COMMISSARIES. EXCHANGES,
SNACK BARS, DISPENSARIES, DISBURSING OFFICES, AND OTHER SERVICE
TYPE FACILITIES, AND NO ONE WILL BE DENIED ENTRANCE FOR BEING
IN THE "IMPROPER" UNIFORM, ASSUMING THOSE WORN ARE CLEAN,
NEAT, AND IN GOOD CONDITION. BASE COMMANDERS WILL REVIEW SIMILAR
RESTRICTIONS APPLICABLE TO DEPENDENTS AND ADOPT REGULATIONS CONSISTENT
WITH CURRENT FASHIONS.
D. THE REQUIREMENT FOR OFFICERS AND MEN TO SHIFT INTO THE UNIFORM
OF THE DAY FOR THE EVENING MEAL WILL BE DISCONTINUED, EXCEPT FOR
CEREMONIAL OR OTHER SPECIAL OCCASIONS OR BY DECISION OF THE GROUP
OF PERSONNEL INVOLVED.
E. AT LEAST ONE ROOM OF EVERY NAVAL OFFICER, CPO, AND ENLISTED
CLUB SHALL PERMIT THE WEARING OF INFORMAL AND CASUAL CLOTHES {SPORT
SHIRT} AND NAS CLUBS SHALL SIMILARLY PERMIT FLIGHT SUITS IN AT
LEAST ONE ROOM OF EACH CLUB.
F. WHERE OPTIONAL UNIFORMS ARE SPECIFIED BY THE AREA COMMANDER,
THIS WILL MEAN OPTIONAL TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND NOT TO THE LOCAL
COMMANDS, EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS, SUCH AS INSPECTIONS, WHERE
UNIFORMITY IS REQUIRED.
G. WHEN VISITING FLEET UNITS, I NOT ONLY DO NOT WISH TO SEE FRESH,
PAINT APPLIED STRICTLY BECAUSE OF MY VISIT BUT CONSIDER THAT RUSTED
SURFACES HASTILY PAINTED OVER ARE A REFLECTION OF POOR COMMAND
DISCRETION. THIS TYPE OF PREPARATION FOR ANY SENIOR OFFICER VISIT
SHALL BE PROHIBITED.
H. THE REQUIREMENTS TO CERTIFY THE POSSESSION OF SUFFICIENT FUNDS
OR TO ACKNOWLEDGE GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITATIONS FOR LEAVE {EXCEPT FROM
VIETNAM WHERE SPECIAL REGULATIONS APPLY} OR LIBERTY PURPOSES,
TO PRODUCE PERSONAL PROPERTY PASSES, OR TO SHOW CERTIFIED PERMISSION
TO BE AWAY FROM DUTY STATION {WALKING CHITS} PRESUPPOSES A GENERALIZED
IRRESPONSIBILITY WHICH I DO NOT ACCEPT, AND THESE REQUIREMENTS
WILL BE ELIMINATED.
I. IN VIEW OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS FOR OPERATING
MOTORCYCLES, SAFETY REGULATIONS MUST BE STRICTLY ENFORCED; HOWEVER,
MOTORCYCLES SHOULD BE PERMITTED ENTRY AND ACCESS TO ALL NAVAL
FACILITIES UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS AS FOR AUTOMOBILES, AND CONVENIENT
MOTORCYCLE PARKING AREAS WILL BE PROVIDED. FURTHERMORE, SO LONG
AS THE HEAD GEAR MEETS SAFETY STANDARDS, NO MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR
SHOULD IN ANY WAY BE PENALIZED OR DENIED ENTRY BECAUSE OF THE
COLOR OF HIS HEAD GEAR.
J. OVERNIGHT LIBERTY WILL NOT BE TREATED AS A PRIVILEGE FOR WHICH
A SPECIAL REQUEST CHIT MUST BE SUBMITTED, BUT RATHER AS THE NORMAL
FORM OF LIBERTY FOR OUR RESPONSIBLE SAILORS. EXCEPTIONS TO THIS
POLICY WOULD BE MADE ONLY FOR EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH
AS GOVERNMENT IMPOSED CURFEW OR EXTREMELY UNSATISFACTORY ENVIRONMENT,
AND THEN ONLY UPON DETERMINATION OF THE SENIOR OFFICER PRESENT.
K. THE REQUIREMENT FOR LINE HANDLERS, REFUELING PARTIES, TOPSIDE
WATCH STANDERS IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, BOAT CREWS IN HEAVY WEATHER,
AND OTHERS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN WORK WHICH WOULD UNDULY SOIL OR
DAMAGE SUCH UNIFORMS, TO PERFORM THE JOBS IN WHITES OR BLUES IS
UNREASONABLE AND IS TO BE DISCONTINUED, EXCEPT FOR MOST UNUSUAL
CEREMONIAL OCCASIONS.
L. THE OCCASIONAL PRACTICE OF REFUSING TO FORWARD A REQUEST FROM
AN INDIVIDUAL TO HIGHER AUTHORITY WILL BE DISCONTINUED. IF PERSONNEL
IN THE CHAIN HAVE GOOD REASON FOR NOT RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF
A REQUEST, THEY SHOULD, OF COURSE, SO STATE, BUT THEY MUST FORWARD
IT EXPEDITIOUSLY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER.
M. I. AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT A MORE LENIENT ATTITUDE TOWARD IRRESPONSIBLE
BEHAVIOR BE ADOPTED, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT WE CANNOT PERMIT GENERAL
POLICIES TO BE DICTATED BY THE NEED, WHICH I SUPPORT, TO CONSTRAIN
THOSE FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO DO NOT RESPOND TO THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE
EXPRESSED IN MORE FLEXIBLE AND LESS RESTRICTIVE REGULATIONS.
E. R. ZUMWALT, JR., ADMIRAL, U.S NAVY,
CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.
Note: The original unclassified message is entirely double-spaced
with all letters capitalized.