The Navy Department Library
Maintenance/Care of Uniforms
Articles:
"Best Foot Forward." All Hands. 543 (April 1962): 31.
"Here's a Handy Summary of Basic Items of the Approved Navy Uniform." All Hands. 388 (June 1949): 52-53.
"How to Keep Your Uniform Shipshape." All Hands. 462 (August 1955): 29-31.
"Men Required to Mark Belts With Name, Serial Number." All Hands. 337 (April 1945): 74.
"Pointers on Stowing Your Uniform." All Hands. 463 (September 1955): 31.
No doubt you received a briefing concerning the care of your uniform while you were at boot camp, but just in case that period is some time behind you, you'll find here a few tips you may have forgotten.
One of the best guides is Navy Uniform Regulations. Here's an informal abstract of what that publication has to say concerning your uniform and appearance:
Uniforms must be kept scrupulously clean, with devices and insignia bright and free from tarnish and corrosion.
Hats and caps are worn squarely on the head, bottom edge horizontal.
Keep your face clean-shaven - and if you wear a mustache and/or beard (subject to command regulations), keep them short and neatly trimmed. No eccentricity in the manner of wearing mustaches and beards is permitted.
Make sure your hair is close-trimmed. It may be clipped at the edges of the sides and back, but it should be so trimmed as to present an evenly graduated appearance. Your hair should not be longer than three inches.
No articles - such as pencils, pens, watch chains, fobs, pins, jewelry, handkerchiefs, combs, cigars, cigarettes, pipes, or similar items - are permitted to be worn or carried exposed upon the uniform. This restriction does not apply to cuff links, tie clasps and shirt studs. You may wear a wrist watch, identification bracelet and an inconspicuous ring.
Uniform Regs also has a few remarks concerning the appearance of women. Hair must be neatly arranged. The back of the hair may touch, but may not fall below the collar. Side hair must be trimmed or arranged to show a fairly close contour. The hair should not show under the front brim of the hat. Cosmetics, if used, must be conservative and in good taste. No pencils, pens, pins, handkerchiefs, or jewelry may be worn or carried exposed upon the uniform. Earrings, hair ribbons and other hair ornaments are not permitted. A woman may wear a wrist watch, an identification bracelet and inconspicuous rings.
Naval personnel are expected to provide themselves with an adequate supply of the correct uniforms, and are forbidden to possess or wear any other than the regulation uniform or insignia of their respective rank, corps or rating, or to wear decorations, medals, badges or ribbons not prescribed by regulations.
All wearing apparel and insignia you obtain through Navy clothing supply system are considered regulation. Clothing and insignia from other than official sources must conform in pattern, appearance and quality to those you obtain from naval sources.
You may not transfer or exchange your uniforms without the authority of your commanding officer.
Regulations provide that, unless directed otherwise, when on leave or liberty you may wear civilian clothing within the Western Hemisphere (including Greenland), and in United States possessions outside the Western Hemisphere.
When on leave and traveling in a foreign country you should normally wear civilian clothes. Dress and personal appearance should be appropriate to the occasion so as not to bring discredit upon the Navy.
You are not authorized to wear any part of your uniform at the same time you wear civilian clothes, except articles such as raincoats, shoes, socks, gloves, linen and underwear, which do not present a distinct naval appearance.
Enlisted personnel are not authorized to have civilian clothing in their possession aboard ship, but they may have such clothing on hand at naval activities ashore when authorized by their commanding officer and if stowage space is available. They may wear civilian clothes to and from shore activities when authorized by their COs.
The best uniform in the world will give good service only if you give it proper care and maintenance. No matter how well-fitting a uniform is when new, especially the coat, it will not continue to look its best or keep its shape unless it is carefully put on and kept buttoned. If you carry large or heavy objects in the pockets, you will soon destroy the shape of the pockets. If space is available, uniforms should be kept on hangers; or otherwise kept neatly folded and carefully stowed.
It's no accident that the present day uniform will meet space requirements provided, since it was designed after the clothing preferred by seagoing men of the U.S. Navy long before there was any required uniform. In those early days, when there was even less space than now allotted for the enlisted men's uniform, the basic outfit as we now know it, was evolved. To this day it still serves the two basic purposes for which it was designed - (1) to provide a distinctive, durable outfit for the man wearing it as a member of the U.S. Navy, and (2) to fit the stowage space aboard ship.
When the whole uniform, form socks to dress jumpers, is folded or rolled properly, it will fit into a very small personal gear locker.
Source: "Best Foot Forward." All Hands. 543 (April 1962): 31.
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Here's a Handy Summary of Basic Items of the Approved Navy Uniform
The Navy uniform has changed a good bit down through the years and it is still changing.
In Revolutionary days, bluejackets wore their neckerchiefs tied in front and hanging loosely in the back to protect the uniform from the tar that they used to braid their hair into a queue that hung down the back of the neck.
Since tar is no longer fashionable, the neckerchief today is more an ornamental part of the uniform. Other changes have been made in the uniform to fit it to the changing needs of the men and women of the fleet.
The birth of naval aviation meant the addition of the green uniform for air personnel. The acceptance of women in the service meant a whole raft of new uniforms. Even now, plans have been approved that will provide enlisted men with conventional trousers and remove the buttoned cuff from the dress blue jumper.
Five changes alone have been made in the last two years to U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations (1947) to keep uniform requirements abreast of the times. In this article you find a handy summary of the current basic items of the approved uniform and how they should be worn.
Male Uniform
Officer
Service Dress Blue A - Blue coat, blue trousers, black belt, combination cap with blue cap cover, white shirt, black necktie, black shoes, black socks and gray gloves, if worn. Blue flannel shirt may be worn on ships and stations in cold weather when senior officer present prescribes it.
Service Dress Blue B - Blue coat, blue trousers, black belt, combination cap with white cap cover, white shirt, black necktie, black shoes, black socks and gray gloves, if worn.
Service Dress Blue C - Blue coat, white trousers, white belt, combination cap with white cap cover, white shirt, black tie, white shoes, white socks and white gloves, if worn.
Service Dress Blue D - Blue coat, blue trousers, black belt, combination cap with blue cap cover, conventional white shirt with turn-down collar, black bow tie, black shoes, black socks and gray gloves, if worn.
Service Dress Blue E - Same as Service Dress Blue D except for white instead of blue cap cover.
Dress White- White, single-breasted, high neck coat, white trousers, white belt, combination cap with white cap cover, no shirt, no necktie, white shoes and white socks. White gloves on appropriate occasions or as prescribed.
The blue overcoat or blue raincoat may be worn with any of the above uniforms, if prescribed and when appropriate.
Service Dress Khaki - Khaki coat, khaki trousers, khaki belt, combination cap with khaki cap cover or garrison cap (unless combination cap is prescribed), khaki shirt, black necktie, brown shoes and brown or khaki socks.
Tan gloves may be worn on appropriate occasions or may be prescribed. This uniform must be of tropical worsted, gabardine, Palm Beach, or similar material.
The khaki coat may be removed indoors and the SOP may authorize removal of coat entirely. The blue or khaki raincoat may be worn in bad weather. Note: The working gray uniform, common during the war and now in limited use, will go out of use 15 Oct 1949.
Aviation Winter Working - Green coat, green trousers, khaki belt, combination cap with green cap cover or garrison cap (unless combination cap is prescribed), khaki shirt, black tie, brown shoes and brown or khaki socks. Tan or brown gloves may be worn on appropriate occasions or may be prescribed. The aviation winter working overcoat may be worn with this uniform alone.
Working Khaki - Cotton khaki trousers, cotton khaki shirt, black tie, khaki belt, combination cap with khaki cap cover or cotton khaki garrison cap, brown shoes and brown or tan socks.
Tropical White - White shorts, white tropical shirt (short-sleeved), combination cap, with white cap cover or white helmet, white shoes and white socks.
Tropical Khaki - Khaki shorts, khaki tropical shirt, combination cap with khaki cap cover or khaki helmet, brown shoes and khaki socks.
Dungarees - Blue chambray shirt and dungaree trousers, black belt, black shoes and black socks. A dungaree jumper may be worn over the shirt.
Service ribbons are to be worn with all officer-type uniforms except Working Khaki and Tropicals.
Chief Petty Officers and Stewards
The uniforms for chief petty officers and stewards are similar to those for the male commissioned officer. Chiefs, however, can wear blue woolen as well as gray gloves with Service Dress Blue A, B, D and E, and blue woolen gloves with the aviation winter working uniform.
CPO pilots are required to have the aviation winter working uniform; other CPOs on aviation duty are not. A chief's white uniform has a conventional, double-breasted coat - and he wears a white shirt and black tie with it.
Stewards may wear Service Dress Blue A, B and C, Dress White, Service Dress Khaki, Working Khaki, Tropical White and Khaki and Dungarees. The white coat is similar to that worn by chiefs.
Enlisted Personnel (Other Than CPOs and Stewards)
Dress Blue A - Dress blue jumper, blue trousers, blue hat, neckerchief, black shoes, black socks and blue woolen gloves, if prescribed.
Dress Blue B - Same as Dress Blue A with white hat.
Undress Blue A - Undress blue jumper, blue trousers, blue hat, no neckerchief (except in special cases), black shoes, black socks and blue woolen gloves, if prescribed.
Undress Blue B - Same as Undress Blue A with white hat.
Undress White A - Undress white jumper, white trousers, white belt, white hat, white or natural color socks and black shoes.
Undress White B - Same as Undress White A but without jumper.
Tropical White - White shorts (with skivvie shirt), white cap or helmet, black shoes and white socks.
Tropical Khaki - Khaki shorts (with skivvies shirt), white cap or khaki helmet, black shoes and white socks.
The blue jersey may be worn in combination with the male enlisted uniforms only as prescribed. The blue overcoat (peacoat) and the raincoat may be worn in appropriate weather or may be prescribed.
Rating badges shall be worn with each uniform except Undress White B and Tropicals. Service ribbons shall be worn with Dress Blue A and B, and Undress White A when neckerchief is prescribed. Blue wool muffler is optional with all blues.
Dungarees - Blue denim jumper or blue chambray shirt, blue denim trousers, black belt, black shoes and black socks. Dungarees may be worn only at authorized times. White hat or watch cap, as prescribed.
Women's Uniforms
Service Dress Blue A - Blue coat, blue skirt, combination hat with blue hat cover or blue garrison cap (unless combination hat is prescribed), white shirt, black necktie, beige hose, black shoes and black gloves (white gloves are prescribed for formal or social occasions) and black handbag, if carried. The handbag is optional and may be prescribed with or without shoulder strap. The coat may be removed indoors with permission of SOP.
Service Dress Blue B - Blue coat, blue skirt, combination hat with white hat cover or blue garrison cap (unless combination cap is prescribed), white shirt, black necktie, black shoes, beige hose and white gloves and black handbag, if carried. The coat may be removed indoors if authorized. White scarf may be worn with either Service Dress A or B.
Dress White - White coat, white skirt, combination hat with white cap cover, white shirt, black necktie, beige hose, white shoes and white handbag, if carried.
Working Gray - Gray and white seersucker dress, combination hat with gray hat cover or gray garrison cap (unless combination hat is prescribed), black necktie, beige hose, black shoes and black gloves, if worn and black handbag, if carried. The tie can be removed on station limits if authorized.
The smock is required for hospital personnel but may also be worn if authorized by other Navy women as temporary protective covering while at work. The blue overcoat and blue raincoat may be worn with any of the women's uniforms on appropriate occasions or may be prescribed.
Indoor Duty (Nurse Corps only) - White dress, white nurse's cap, white shoes and white hose. Indoor duty uniform shall be worn in hospitals, hospital ships and dispensaries unless CO prescribes the Nurse's Gray Indoor uniform for certain hospitals and hospital ships overseas. The cape is to be worn with indoor duty uniform. Blue smock may be worn in the laboratory.
Slacks, Dungarees, and Exercise Suit - The slack outfit shall be worn when prescribed for travel and sports. Dungarees may be worn where authorized for certain types of work which might soil a regular uniform. Exercise suit may be worn for certain forms of sports. The blue turban is optional for work or sports unless blue garrison cap is prescribed.
Source: "Here's a Handy Summary of Basic Items of the Approved Navy Uniform." All Hands. 388 (June 1949): 52-53.
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How to Keep Your Uniform Shipshape
This is the second in a series of articles on the Navy uniform. For an account of the evolution of the Navy-man's outfit and the traditions behind it, see All Hands, June 1955, p. 28. This article deals with the care and marking of the uniform. Forthcoming in this series is a report on folding and stowing of clothing and gear.
You sometimes may forget, but you are a representative of the United States government. What you do and how you look reflects credit upon yourself, your Navy, and your country. The same goes for every other Navyman. Your uniform is recognized world-wide as "United States Navy."
You have a good beginning in your uniform. The clothing and equipment you receive as Navy issue is made of high quality material and is the result of an exceptionally high standard of workmanship. With a minimum of trouble on your part, you can keep it shipshape.
No doubt you received a briefing concerning the care of your uniform while you were at boot camp, but just in case that period is some time behind you, you'll find in these pages a few tips you may have forgotten.
One of the best guides is Uniform Regulations. Here's an informal abstract of what that publication has to say concerning your uniform and appearance:
-Uniforms must be kept scrupulously clean with devices and insignia bright and free from tarnish and corrosion.
-Hats and caps are worn squarely on the head, bottom edge horizontal.
-Keep your face clean shaven and if you wear a mustache and/or beard (subject to command regulations), keep them short and neatly trimmed. No eccentricity in the manner of wearing mustaches and beards is permitted.
-Make sure your hair is close-trimmed. It may be clipped at the edges of the sides and back, but it should be so trimmed as to present an evenly graduated appearance. Your hair should not be longer than three inches.
-No articles, such as pencils, pens, watch chains, fobs, pins, jewelry, handkerchiefs, combs, cigars, cigarettes, pipes, or similar items are permitted to be worn or carried exposed upon the uniform. This restriction does not apply to cuff links, tie clasps, and shirt studs. You may wear a wrist watch, identification bracelet and a ring if it is not conspicuous.
-Uniform Regs also has a few remarks concerning the appearance of women. Hair must be neatly arranged. The back of the hair may touch but may not fall below the collar. Side hair must be trimmed or arranged to show a fairly close contour. The hair should not show under the front brim of the hat. Cosmetics, if used, must be conservative and in good taste. No pencils, pens, pins, handkerchiefs, or jewelry may be worn or carried exposed upon the Wave's uniform. Earrings, hair ribbons, and other hair ornaments are not permitted. Women may wear a wrist watch, an identification bracelet and inconspicuous rings.
-Naval personnel are expected to provide themselves with an adequate supply of the correct uniforms and are forbidden to posses or wear any other than the regulation uniform or insignia of their respective rank, corps, or rating, or to wear decorations, medals, badges, or their ribbons if not prescribed by regulations.
-All wearing apparel and insignia you obtain through the Navy clothing supply system are considered regulation. Clothing and insignia from other than official sources must conform in pattern, appearance and quality to those you obtain from naval sources.
-You may not transfer or exchange your uniforms without the authority of the commanding officer.
-Regulations provide that, unless directed otherwise, when on leave or liberty you may wear civilian clothing within the Western Hemisphere (including Greenland), and in United States possessions outside the Western Hemisphere.
-When on leave and traveling in a foreign country you should normally wear civilian clothes. Dress and personal appearance should be appropriate to the occasion so as not to bring discredit upon the Navy.
-You are not authorized to wear any part of your uniform at the same time you wear civilian clothes, except articles such as raincoats, shoes, socks, gloves, linen and underwear, which do not present a distinctive naval appearance.
-You are not permitted to have civilian clothing in your possession aboard ship but you may have such clothing on hand at naval activities ashore when authorized by your commanding officer and if stowage space is available. You may wear civilian clothes to and from shore activities when authorized by your commanding officer.
The best uniform in the world will give good service only if you give it proper care and maintenance. No matter how well fitting a uniform is when new, especially the coat, it will not continue to look its best or keep its shape unless it is carefully put on and kept buttoned. If you carry large or heavy objects in the pockets, you will soon destroy their shape. If space is available, uniforms should be kept on hangers; or otherwise kept neatly folded and carefully stowed.
Here are a few miscellaneous hints that will keep your uniform looking trim and smart:
Only a neutral soap should be used with fresh lukewarm water when washing woolens. If hard water is used, a little borax may be added to the water in order to soften it. When washing your blues, work up thick suds. The soap should be thoroughly dissolved in hot water, then added to cool water. You'll be happy to know that you shouldn't rub any more than necessary. Too much, and you'll spoil the finish. Rinse thoroughly until all traces of the soap are gone. Use plenty of soap and water when washing, and plenty of water when rinsing. Don't use a washing machine for woolens if you can help it; if one is used, avoid low water levels that produce a pounding action, and wash with a minimum of rubbing or agitator action.
After washing, woolens should be centrifugally dried or squeezed gently to remove the surplus water (don't wring them out!) and then dried in the open air, weather permitting. If not, they may be dried below decks. After washing, colored garments should notbe hung in the sun to dry. When this cannot be avoided, turn the garments inside out.
Pressing after laundering will greatly improve the appearance of your blues or, for that matter, any garment. However, heat, friction, pressure, and soap produce felting. Felting, weave take-up, and elongation in the finishing process are the chief reasons for shrinkage. When laundering woolens avoid high temperature, friction, and pressure as much as possible. Never run woolen goods through a wringer or twist them to remove the excess rinsing water before drying. When an extractors is not available, hang - or better, lay out - the wet garments to dry without wringing. After washing, napped goods can be rubbed with flannel to soften the surface.
The tape on collars and cuffs of the jumpers can be cleaned (without washing the entire jumper) by scrubbing lightly with a toothbrush, using a neutral soap sparingly with slightly warm water.
Blue cloth trousers and jumpers should not be washed more frequently than necessary. Dry cleaning preserves the original finish and appearance of the garments. Particularly in case of dress blue jumpers and trousers, it is recommended that, if possible, the garments be dry cleaned rather than washed in a laundering machine.
Never use chlorine bleaches on woolen garments or blankets. Even in diluted solutions it yellows and weakens the wool fibers and in stronger solutions dissolves them completely.
A light singe mark should be rubbed vigorously with the flat side of a silver coin. It won't work, however, in the case of bad singes or scorches. Many singe marks can be removed by sponging with 3 percent solution of hydrogen peroxide and allowing to dry in direct sunlight. Don't use the hydrogen peroxide method on woolen or dyed fabrics.
To remove the shine from blue uniforms, steam the spot by laying a wet cloth over it and pressing with a hot iron and then rubbing it very gently with a piece of "00" sandpaper or emery cloth. If possible, this should be done by a regular tailor. Sponging with a dilute (1:20) solution of ammonia before steaming is also recommended.
Here's a rundown on how to remove a wide variety of stains:
Rust, ink and fruit: Soak the stained part in a solution of oxalic acid or put some powdered oxalic acid or sodium or potassium acid oxalate on the stain previously moistened with water and rub with a piece of white cotton or linen. The stain will dissolve and can be washed out with water.
Do not allow the oxalic acid solution to dry in the fabric as it will damage the material. Thoroughly rinse it immediately, preferably with warm water. Oxalic acid and its soluble salts are very poisonous and care should be taken in handling them.
Oil or grease: Place garment on table and put clean cloth, or other absorbent material, under stain and apply carbon tetrachloride, petroleum benzine, benzol, or lighter fluid on stain and tamp it, driving oil and grease into the absorbent material. If stain is heavy, shift cloth to a clean place and flush with cleaning solvent.
To eliminate ring, saturate clean cloth with cleaning solvent and sponge lightly working from the center of stained area outward. NOTE: Carbon tetrachloride and many other solvents are highly poisonous. If they are used, instructions on the container should be carefully followed.
Paint: Paint stains, while still fresh, can be removed with turpentine. Old and hard paint stains are difficult to remove and in such cases uniforms, if possible, should be sent to a reliable dry cleaner. A treatment for old paint stains is to apply turpentine and allow to stand for an hour. Then with teaspoon, or other blunt instrument, break up the stain and flush out as outlined in procedure for oil and grease. But it is much better to remove paint immediately while it is still fresh and will come out easily.
NOTE: Always use a tamping action when spotting fabrics. Even the most delicate weaves may be struck vigorously with a brush using a perpendicular action. Rubbing is likely to leave a chafed area with later damage to color and weave.
Paraffin and wax: Place blotting paper over the spot and apply hot iron to the blotting paper. Continue this, using clean blotting paper, until the spot is removed.
Iodine: Iodine stains can be readily removed from white uniforms by applying a solution of "hypo" or sodium hyposulphite, used in photography, and then rinsing throroughly with water.
Use "hypo" for white cotton only. Iodine may also be removed by using starch as prepared for laundry purposes. A solution of ammonia may also be used.
Kerosene: Wash in a solution of warm, soapy water.
Mildew: If stain is recent, simply use cold water. Old mildew stains may be bleached provided the material is white cotton.
Food: Sponge the stain thoroughly with cold water. If a grease stain persists, dry thoroughly and then sponge with a little naphtha, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, or lighter fluid.
Blood: To remove dried blood, stains should first be brushed with dry brush to break up and remove as much as possible and then soaked in cold water for about an hour followed by regular washing. If a slight trace of the stain remains, apply solution of ammonia. It's best to remove blood immediately with coldfresh water, before it dries.
To prevent moths, brush your clothes frequently, and then hang them outside in the sun. If your uniforms are to be put away for a long time and left undisturbed, thoroughly clean, then pack away in an airtight plastic bag, or with camphor balls, naphthalene, cedar wood, paradichlorobenzine, or sprayed with a solution containing DDT.
A clean cut in a serge or cloth uniform can be repaired by being rewoven with threads drawn from the material in another part of the garment. This process is rather expensive, but a cut so repaired cannot be detected.
Cap devices and other embroidered metal insignia may be kept new and bright by scrubbing them occasionally with a toothbrush and am-water.
This should be done as soon as there are any signs of tarnishing or corrosion. If corrosion has been allowed to continue too long, the device cannot be restored to its original condition.
The gold part of officer and CPO metal cap devices may be cleaned by washing with soap and water or by rubbing with any kind of polishing cloth. The sterling silver part can be cleaned with any silver polish.
Gold lace will rapidly tarnish and deteriorate if in contact with or hung near any substance containing sulphur, such as rubber or ordinary manila and kraft wrapping paper.
If you follow the above pointers you'll get plenty of return in the way of appearance and long life from your uniform - the best known outfit throughout the world today.
Source: "How to Keep Your Uniform Shipshape."All Hands. 462 (August 1955): 29-31.
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Men Required to Mark Belts With Name, Serial Number
Because instances have occurred where a belt was the only item of clothing remaining for the identification of fire, blast and explosion victims, the necessity for adequately marking such items is called to the attention of COs in BuPers Circ. Ltr. 62-45 (NDB, 15 Mar. 1945, 45-257).
Uniform Regs, Art. 5-54, requires that every article of enlisted men's clothing be legibly marked with the owner's name and serial number. The letter directs COs to make certain that this regulation is conformed with and states that belts should be legibly marked at least once with the owner's name and serial number.
Source: "Men Required to Mark Belts With Name, Serial Number." All Hands. 337 (April 1945): 74.
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Pointers on Stowing Your Uniform
This is the third, and last, in a series of articles on the Navy uniform. Earlier, an account of the evolution of the Navyman's outfit and the traditions behind it appeared in All Hands June 1955. The second article dealt with the marking and care of the uniform and appeared in All Hands, August 1955. It is felt that these three articles, if digested completely by every Navyman, will go a long way in helping to keep the men who wear the uniform right up near the top of the list of best dressed men.
Over the many years that men have worn the bell bottom trousers and coats o' Navy blue, there have been many discussions, held over a cup of coffee on either the forecastle or fantail, on the subject of ways to improve the uniform. And there has always been one point, put forth by the sea-going men in the group, which has entered into the discussion. That one point remains as valid today as it did many years ago and runs something like this, "If you want to recommend a change in the uniform, remember that you have to come up with an outfit that will fit into the limited stowage space aboard the smallest of ships."
As it now stands, the uniform of the first six pay grades of enlisted men can be rolled into a tight little ball, stuffed in a locker and three months later be pulled out to wear on liberty, looking just as sharp as the day it came back from the cleaners.
It's no accident that the present uniform will meet these space requirements, since it was designed after the clothing preferred by sea-going men of the US Navy, long before there was any required uniform. In those early days, when there was even less space than now allotted for the enlisted men's uniform, the basic outfit as we now know it, was evolved. To this day it still serves the two basic purposes for which it was designed, (1) to provide a distinctive, durable outfit for the man wearing it as a member of the US Navy, and (2) to fit the stowage space aboard ship.
When the whole uniform, from socks to dress jumpers, is rolled in the prescribed manner, it will fit into a very small locker. Check this yourself by following the instructions on this and the following pages and stowing your own uniform as recommended.
The men aboard ships will already be following the same procedure or something very close, but many of the shore-based sailors can profit by using these techniques as well. The added uniforms needed aboard a shore station make even the largest locker a bit crowded. If, after you've folded and stowed your clothes as illustrated, you still have some left out, then you either haven't followed the illustrations too closely or you have more clothes than you should have in your sea bag.
Source: "Pointers on Stowing Your Uniform."All Hands. 463 (September 1955): 31.
