Military Program News

NAUMD Meets with Defense Supply Center Philadelphia!

NAUMD Military Affairs Committee Chair Jim Hangley, DSCP's Tom Hutchinson, Col. Kurt Wilson, NAUMD's Richard Lerman, NAUMD Military Affairs Committee Member Ilene Rosen, DSCP's Kevin Peoples, DSCP's Terri Scheetz and DSCP's Gary Shute during the July 15th Meeting in Philadelphia

NAUMD held a working meeting with the Clothing & Textiles Directorate leadership under the guidance of Col. Kurt Wilson, Supply Chain Manager. The focus of the meeting was to determine how to assist NAUMD Members in meeting the needs of the Armed Forces Uniform Program! NAUMD representatives also met with Michael McCall Director of Small Business and Joann Gatica Small Business Specialist on ways for NAUMD Members to secure all the information and process to do business with the DSCP.

Members can now view two Power Point Presentations:

click here to view:

A) SMALL BUSINESS WITH DSCP

B) Doing Businss With DSCP: A Primer

These informative Power Point shares ALL you need to know about all the forms, opportunities and where to get help in learning of what items the Armed Services are soliciting proposals on and how to proceed!

STILL HAVE Questions after reviewing the Power Point? Call Joann Gatica, Small Business Specialist, DSCP - 215.737.5910

MILITARY TOWN HALL MEETING

2008 - NAUMD Convention & Exposition

The Gaylord Opryland Hotel, Nashville, TN

Above left to right: 1) NAUMD's Military Committee Chairman Jim Hangley Welcomes all to the 1st Military Town Hall Meeting, 2) A packed audience participates in the pledge of allegiance, 3) The audience enjoyed a welcome challenge to be "fearless" in selling the military as stated by Col. Wilson!  4) NAUMD's President Lerman welcomes all to the session, 5)  The Panel shares their programs 6) A full house enjoys and participates in the interactive session with Major Hale!

NAUMD Held yet another fantastic Military Town Hall Meeting during the Association's 2008 "Winning Strategic Alliances" Convention & Exposition in Nashville on March 31st. The session included presentations by all branches of the Armed Services!

Featured Speakers during the 2008 session included:

• Portia Blunt, US Marine Corp - Clothing Design

• Louise A. Caulfield, US. NAVY Clothing & Textile

• David Geringer, US Army Clothing & Equipment

• Maj. Jason P. Hale, US Air Force Clothing Office

• James Mello, US Coast Guard

• Gina Rice, US Air Force Clothing Office

• Col. Kurt Wilson, US Dept. of Defense Supply Center (DSC)

• and Panel was Moderated by NAUMD Military Committee Chairman James Hangley of Creaset - USA. 

OTHER MILITARY NEWS

* Military Designers on the Cutting Edge

NATICK, Mass. (Army News Service, Jan. 14, 2008) - When you think about clothing designers, you may think of a favorite brand or store, but not immediately about the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center. Natick, though, has clothing designers who develop and improve military clothing and equipment.

"We work with our customer's requirements to design what is needed," said Heather Cumming-Rowell, team leader of the Design, Pattern and Prototype Team. "We may be tasked to design a uniform, or we may be asked to make a change to an existing item."
Read  full story click here: mildescut
 

* Navy, Marines to Receive Clothing Allowance Boost

Washington, October 20, 2007 (Stars and Stripes) - The Navy and Marine Corps have increased the clothing replacement allowance so that sailors and Marines can buy new uniforms, officials said. Marines are getting extra cash to pay for their new physical fitness uniforms and the dress blue uniforms, which are now required for all enlisted Marines, said Mary Boyt, of the Marine Corps Uniform Board.

See full story below....

* Marine Dress Code Changes Communities

Oceanside, CA, October 20, 2007 (AP) --The Marine Corps is taking on the role of fashion police. Earlier this year, the Marine Corps commandant updated the regulations on what Marines can and cannot wear, on duty and off, in the United States. Among the fashion don'ts: No shiny metal or gems on your teeth, no designs carved in your hair, no flashy jewelry and no bare midriffs or excessive cleavage. But it is Gen. James T. Conway's ban on the wearing of camouflage uniforms, or "cammies," off base that is getting the most attention, changing not only the appearance of the Marines but also the look of their communities.

See full story below....

The NAUMD Military Committee on Monday, April 16, 2007 presented a very special "Military Town Hall Meeting" Format! The meeting  featured new information on how best to interact with and sell the Armed Services and the organizations who supply them!

Featured Speakers included:

• Portia Blunt, US Marine Corp - Clothing Design

• Louise A. Caulfield, US. NAVY Clothing & Textile

• Joe DeBlase, US Coast Guard

• Ray K. Downs, Army & Air Force Exchange Services

• Dennis Dudek, Defense Supply Center (DSC)

• David Geringer, US Army Clothing & Equipment

• Libby Glade, US Air Force Clothing Office

• and Panel was Moderated by NAUMD Military Committee Chairman James Hangley of Creaset - USA.

PRESENTATION COPIES & CONTACT INFORMATION:

NOTE: NAUMD Members wishing copies of the Presentations are encouraged to contact the NAUMD office at 212.869.0670 or email rjlerman@naumd.com

Navy, Marines and other Forces to Receive Clothing Allowance Boost

Washington, October 20, 2007 (Stars and Stripes) - The Navy and Marine Corps have increased the clothing replacement allowance so that sailors and Marines can buy new uniforms, officials said. Marines are getting extra cash to pay for their new physical fitness uniforms and the dress blue uniforms, which are now required for all enlisted Marines, said Mary Boyt, of the Marine Corps Uniform Board. The extra money will be spread out over the projected useful life of the uniform, so Marines will get $66 a year for two years to cover the cost of the physical fitness and uniform as long as the uniform is required, Boyt said.

For the dress blues, male Marines will get $55.22 and female Marines will get $62.77 a year for four years as long as all enlisted Marines are required to have the uniform by Oct. 1, 2011, she said. The money will be paid to Marines in a lump sum and is intended to go toward uniform expenses, Boyt said. “Whether or not the Marine uses it for that purpose is up to the Marine,” she said. Meanwhile, the Navy increases are meant to allow sailors to buy three new uniforms that will be available beginning this year: The new physical fitness uniform, the new working uniform and the new uniform for sailors from E-1 through E-6, said Robert Carroll, head of the Navy Uniform Matters Office.

The physical fitness gear is expected to cost $50 per set, said Carroll, who could not comment on the price for the new service and working uniforms because the necessary contracts have yet to be signed.

The service and working uniforms are expected to be introduced over 24 months beginning in summer of 2008; while the physical fitness uniform is expected to be introduced in spring 2008 and distributed to the fleet over seven months, Carroll said. Those timetables are tentative, Carroll said.

The Navy decided to increase the clothing allowance for sailors because sailors were complaining that they were being required to buy new uniforms without being given the necessary cash, Carroll said. The onus is now on the sailors to wait before the new uniforms are issued before spending the extra money, he said.

Marine Dress Code Changes Communities

Oceanside, CA, October 20, 2007 (AP) --The Marine Corps is taking on the role of fashion police. Earlier this year, the Marine Corps commandant updated the regulations on what Marines can and cannot wear, on duty and off, in the United States. Among the fashion don'ts: No shiny metal or gems on your teeth, no designs carved in your hair, no flashy jewelry and no bare midriffs or excessive cleavage. But it is Gen. James T. Conway's ban on the wearing of camouflage uniforms, or "cammies," off base that is getting the most attention, changing not only the appearance of the Marines but also the look of their communities.

Under the new regulation, Marines in camouflage cannot get out of their vehicles to run an errand or grab a meal on their way to or from the base. No pumping gas, running into the post office or picking up a cup of joe, either. Although Marines were always largely prohibited from wearing uniforms off base, they were allowed to make brief stops during their commutes. Now they can stop only for a medical emergency, a traffic accident or a breakdown. Around Oceanside, a community about 35 miles north of San Diego where Marines from neighboring Camp Pendleton are a common sight, the most noticeable effect is at fast food drive-throughs. Long lines are forming because Marines in uniform are not allowed to get out of their cars and go inside.

John Alexander, who works at GI Joe's, a military surplus store, said customers don't drop in during the middle of the day anymore, though business picks up in the late afternoon. "There's no such thing as a quick trip anymore," he said.

Navy Senior Chief David Matthews, 39, said the scene is the same in Jacksonville, N.C., outside Camp Lejeune. Matthews said some Marines and Navy personnel have come up with creative ways to run errands during duty hours.

"They get a buddy who has civilian clothes on to go with them. They drive and wait while their buddy gets out of the car and runs the errand," he said. Marines caught in uniform off base can get a warning; for repeat offenses, they can be restricted to their barracks and their pay can be docked. While the military has always had strict guidelines for what service members can wear, even out of uniform, Conway said the updated regulations are about maintaining Marine "uniformity and pride in appearance."

"It wasn't that Marines were blatantly breaking the rules. It was more of a tradition, and we just needed to get it back in the box, put it in writing and say here's the policy, here's the rules," said Staff Sgt. Jesse Lora, a spokesman at Camp Pendleton. During a quick trip recently to drop off dry cleaning in Oceanside, Lance Cpl. Nicholas Doucakis, 20, had to change clothes on base. He said the regulation didn't bother him. "If you are a Marine, they want you to look a certain way," he said. "I guess in a way they don't want you to look like a disgrace to society."

As for other branches of the military, Army soldiers can wear combat uniforms off base, and Navy personnel can wear some uniforms off base and off ship. Under the updated Marine regulations, women are prohibited from baring their midriffs, wearing any lingerie-type clothing on the outside or wearing low-slung pants or blouses that show excessive cleavage. "On the topic of wearing lingerie as outerwear, is the commandant kidding?" said TV style guru Tim Gunn of Bravo's "Project Runway." "Has this really been an issue? Surely, the Marines aren't accepting Britney into their ranks."