Those 13 buttons are supposed to represent the 13 original colonies. (A sailor from Utah once complained that he wasn't represented.)
Originally with seven equally spaced horizontal creases down each leg, (supposedly representing the seven seas but that, in reality simply made the trousers easier to fold away in a limited space!), the early bell-bottoms featured a flap held in place by buttons rather than a fly.
The trouser material is made of cotton fibers that swell when wet and can hold air. In the event of a sailor falling overboard or having to abandon ship without a life vest, the bell-bottomed trousers can be quickly removed in the water without having to remove footwear.
The collar, also known as a tar flap, was a holdover from an earlier era when men had long hair that was tied back with tar or grease. The collar protected the uniform from dirt and grime. Neckerchiefs made of silk were worn as head coverings or used to muffle the sound of guns.
The three lines are by tradition said to commemorate the Battles of Copenhagen, the Nile and Trafalgar.
The purpose of anti-flash gear is to provide protection to the head, neck, face and hands from short-duration flame exposure and heat. This equipment is donned by shipboard navy personnel whenever a fire breaks out or during periods of heightened readiness.
Those in the engineering and hull community are called firemen apprentice and wear red stripes on both navy blue and white uniforms. Those in the aviation community are called airmen apprentice and wear green stripes on both navy blue and white uniforms.
U.S. Navy sailors began calling their service dress uniforms "cracker jacks" because of the mascot of the popular caramel-coated popcorn and peanut snack. Cracker Jack was introduced in 1896 and the mascot "Sailor Jack" made his debut in 1916.
The U.S. Navy had been sporting the flared cuffs on its work uniforms since 1817. The idea was that sailors who would be working on the topmost decks, who were presumably swabbing it or whatever sailors did up there back then, would want to roll their pants up to keep them from getting wet or dirty.
The Navy got rid of the bell-bottom on its dungarees at the turn of the 21st Century, some 180 years later. In 1999, the Navy phased out the pants with flared 12-inch bottoms for a utility uniform that features straight-legged dark blue trousers. Sailors were not thrilled.
Originally intended to replace the straw hats worn by Navy sailors during the warm weather months, this hat had several advantages over its straw forebear – it was more comfortable, inexpensive to produce, and easy to clean and store.
Navy Ceremonies and Events
The bell is used to signal the presence of important persons. When the ship's captain, a flag officer, or other important person arrives or departs, watch standers make an announcement to the ship and ring the bell.
The flap would attach to the collar, thus keeping the mass of tar and hair away from the sailor's uniform.
If a sailor hits the 12-year mark before meeting those requirements, they wear red stripes. Sailors who have qualified for the gold stripes but are later convicted by court-martial or nonjudicial punishment (NJP) must also switch to red. At that point, the 12-year clock to earn the gold stripes back starts over again.
Service Dress White
This uniform is informally called "chokers" due to the standing collar. The material, formerly cotton, today is a weave of polyester known as "Certified Navy Twill". The white combination cap is the prescribed headgear.
A neckerchief (from neck (n.) + kerchief), sometimes called a necker, kerchief or scarf, is a type of neckwear associated with those working or living outdoors, including farm labourers, cowboys and sailors.
The blue uniforms are being phased out partly because of sailors' complaints, former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said in an August statement. “(Sailors) want uniforms that are comfortable, lightweight, breathable … and they want fewer of them,” he said.
The board's reasoning was to promote uniformity and help Marines to “train as we fight.” While in combat, Marines wear their sleeves down in combat zones for more protection for their arms against different terrains and climates.
A person who is discharged honorably or under honorable conditions from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Space Force may wear his uniform while going from the place of discharge to his home, within three months after his discharge.
In the Navy, the galley, or dining area, is the heart of every ship. This is where the crew gathers to eat, socialize and relax.
The Cracker Jills were created by artist Monica Ahanonu, who, according to Frito-Lay, modeled the characters after “the most represented ethnicities in the U.S., per data from the U.S. Census Bureau.”
In the United States, the army and marines use chevrons proper, (though prior to the 20th Century this was not true), while the Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard use inverted chevrons. This continued until about 1903. Keep in mind the more stripes, the higher the rank! A chevron is an inverted V-shaped pattern.
Navy. Seaman Apprentice (SA) Air Force. Airman (Amn)
Eagle on Crows/Devices
Why the Napoleonic eagle faced left is unknown. In 1941 the Navy changed the eagles' appearance to follow the Heraldic rules, which face right toward the wearer's sword arm. This rule continues to apply, and the eagle now faces to the front or the wearer's right.