# ADM Mullen wearing the SDK uniform? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 8, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405 "2009-04-08T16:47:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/1 "2009-04-08T16:47:47Z")
What’s up with the Navy’s Service Dress Khaki uniform? From what I find on line, it is still being tested; it’s not approved. But ADM Mullen is wearing it India. Maybe he volunteered to test the 4-star version. Did the Navy suddenly approve this uniform? If so, for what situations? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/2 "2009-04-08T16:53:26Z")
The services test the uniform by making a small group of active duty wear it. This way, you find out if the product will actually be usefull (if not popular) or safe. > **[Military Daily News](https://www.military.com/daily-news)** > > Daily updates of everything that you need know about what is going on in the military community and abroad including military gear and equipment, breaking news, international news and more. > [@](#): > > The wear test is tentatively scheduled to end in August. Participants are required to compete a on-line survey and attend focus groups to express their experience, satisfaction with components and most importantly should the Navy adopt the uniform as a requirement. A decision will be pending after the survey and a Business Case Analysis is completed and briefed. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/3 "2009-04-08T17:24:41Z")
This is the second sharpest damn uniform in Navy history (according to **Papa Doug** , who wore it from 1958-'61). The sharpest of all is the [Aviation Working Green](http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/686/ferrerxl0.jpg), which the Navy no longer wants any part of. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/4 "2009-04-08T19:33:48Z")
I like the old, WW2-era blue uniforms better: Nimitz: [http://www.gpaulbishop.com/GPB%20History/GPB%20Archive/Section%20-%201/C.%20Nimitz/nimitz\_c\_01.JPG](http://www.gpaulbishop.com/GPB%20History/GPB%20Archive/Section%20-%201/C.%20Nimitz/nimitz_c_01.JPG) Halsey: [http://www.ub88.org/halseyconnection/files/admiral-halsey.png](http://www.ub88.org/halseyconnection/files/admiral-halsey.png) Spruance: [Royalty-Free Stock Photos, Creative Images & Vectors | News, Fashion, and Entertainment imagery - Getty Images](http://pro.corbis.com/images/UKD98INP.jpg?size=67&uid=%7BACF4AC10-90C4-49F4-86F1-E41C03187A8D%7D) Admiral Dewey looked impressive, too, back in the day: [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/dewey-george1.jpg](http://www.destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/dewey-george1.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/5 "2009-04-08T20:22:29Z")
Another picture: [http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/New\_service\_dress\_khaki.jpg/800px-New\_service\_dress\_khaki.jpg](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cf/New_service_dress_khaki.jpg/800px-New_service_dress_khaki.jpg) And article: [http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wvec.com/news/military/stories/M\_IMAGE.11432118fbd.93.88.fa.d0.10a505a80.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wvec.com/news/military/stories/wvec\_military\_092507\_navy\_uniform\_testing.10a4625e3.html&usg=\_\_7kV2wXiu6FzwS27NQWiUD5XOzgE=&h=245&w=160&sz=10&hl=en&start=17&tbnid=gdvwqbSzHpzaXM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=72&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnavy%2B%2522service%2Bdress%2Bkhaki%2522%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wvec.com/news/military/stories/M_IMAGE.11432118fbd.93.88.fa.d0.10a505a80.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wvec.com/news/military/stories/wvec_military_092507_navy_uniform_testing.10a4625e3.html&usg=__7kV2wXiu6FzwS27NQWiUD5XOzgE=&h=245&w=160&sz=10&hl=en&start=17&tbnid=gdvwqbSzHpzaXM:&tbnh=110&tbnw=72&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnavy%2B%2522service%2Bdress%2Bkhaki%2522%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den) ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/6 "2009-04-10T01:23:31Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I like the old, WW2-era blue uniforms better: > > Nimitz: [http://www.gpaulbishop.com/GPB%20History/GPB%20Archive/Section%20-%201/C.%20Nimitz/nimitz\_c\_01.JPG](http://www.gpaulbishop.com/GPB%20History/GPB%20Archive/Section%20-%201/C.%20Nimitz/nimitz_c_01.JPG) > Halsey: [http://www.ub88.org/halseyconnection/files/admiral-halsey.png](http://www.ub88.org/halseyconnection/files/admiral-halsey.png) > Spruance: [Royalty-Free Stock Photos, Creative Images & Vectors | News, Fashion, and Entertainment imagery - Getty Images](http://pro.corbis.com/images/UKD98INP.jpg?size=67&uid=%7BACF4AC10-90C4-49F4-86F1-E41C03187A8D%7D) > > Admiral Dewey looked impressive, too, back in the day: [http://www.destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/dewey-george1.jpg](http://www.destroyerhistory.org/goldplater/dewey-george1.jpg) What do you mean, “WW2-era”? I don’t think the Service Dress Blue of today is significantly different from the SDB of WW2 and I haven’t heard that the Navy plans to discontinue it. It looks like no one has any info on the status of the “experimental” SDK that ADM Mullen wore in India. I guess that fact that he wears it doesn’t mean that it is approved by the Navy for general use. Or??? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/7 "2009-04-10T02:26:45Z")
I believe that the “test” is supposed to be done, but I can’t google up anything on official adoption, and it’s not unusual for many months to go by between “test” and adoption and announcing when/if it will becomes required/standard issue. It can even remain merely an authorized variant, never officially required kit. As it stands, supposedly all the changes in the Navy uniform (utilities -\> digi-camo, etc.) were to be phased in/out by 31DEC2010, but those were changes started well before, while the SDK revival (and the cosmetic changes in junior rates’ dress whites) was a late add-on to the changes. ( **Beware of Doug** , that is also the final date for AWG elimination) Now, this particular variant one would think should not have a very long teething period, compared to all the other uniform changes around, since it’s a reinstatement of a previously existing uniform, but with procurement one can always be surprised. And as per the blue, yeah, I’m also a bit puzzled by the comment – the main differences in the blue(black) suit from today to WW2 is they no longer use the blue cover and that the cut of the lapel may be slightly different (but the latter may be an artifact of tailoring technique). ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/8 "2009-04-10T03:02:12Z")
More likely the death of tailoring technique. A lot more men used to have their uniforms/civvies tailor-made. It got too expensive decades ago. Briefly speaking, a dress blue uniform then vs. now will have changed in the same ways as a civilian double-breasted suit: narrower lapels, less of a shaped cut to the coat, lower-rise waist and narrower legs to the trousers, and of course lighter-weight and more easy-care fabrics. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/9 "2009-04-10T10:27:45Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > The services test the uniform by making a small group of active duty wear it. This way, you find out if the product will actually be usefull (if not popular) or safe. > > [Military Daily News, Military Headlines | Military.com](http://www.military.com/news/article/navy-tests-new-khaki-dress-uniform.html) OK, from this article I don’t quite understand the point of this uniform. As I understand it, the service dress uniforms now are the traditional double breasted blue and the “choker” summer white. The article doesn’t say that the khaki would replace either of these uniforms, just be something extra add to the menu of uniform options. What am I missing? How is this going to simplify the uniform choices of officers and CPOs? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/10 "2009-04-10T10:34:40Z")
The Army ACU came out officially during my first deployment. Our 2-star, 1-star, their Aides and the CSM all received special orders. It has been recent policy to give new uniforms to the leadership first and then have it filtered in to the ranks. I guess they feel that everyone will get comfortable with it once they see the highest profile people wearing it. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/11 "2009-04-10T15:19:27Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > OK, from this article I don’t quite understand the point of this uniform. As I understand it, the service dress uniforms now are the traditional double breasted blue and the “choker” summer white. The article doesn’t say that the khaki would replace either of these uniforms, just be something extra add to the menu of uniform options. > > What am I missing? How is this going to simplify the uniform choices of officers and CPOs? I do not know for sure. If I can be excused for speculating, I would guess that the Navy is not going for simplification, but adaptability. Formal setting: wear jacket. Office and informal wear: remove jacket. Stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![Yeah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/dbc845/32.png) [@Yeah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeah)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adm-mullen-wearing-the-sdk-uniform/492405/12 "2009-04-11T18:11:29Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > I do not know for sure. > > If I can be excused for speculating, I would guess that the Navy is not going for simplification, but adaptability. > > Formal setting: wear jacket. Office and informal wear: remove jacket. Stuff like that. I think you are right. I think I read somewhere that if you take off the jacket and tie, the SDK turns into one of the khaki uniforms (although wouldn’t you have to put on a name tag and ribbons?) I have nothing against the SDK which has a classic look, but it’s just one more expensive uniform to keep in the closet.