Women's Navy Enlisted Service Dress Blues: Artifact Friday

The evolution of military uniforms can be traced back centuries when looking at specific countries, branches, and the fashions of the time. When looking back at uniforms two centuries ago, we can see the regalia that most armies carried going into battle. Looking at the Revolutionary War, many British troops had red coats, a part of their famous nickname, tall hats, and breeches. American troops wore blue coats but many did not have uniforms and wore civilian clothing, much of the same story when it comes to the Civil War. The regalia of the revolutionary age was much simpler in America than in Britain. Americans, however, still had their large hats. As modern times came, much simpler and more effective uniforms began to be worn and the past military regalia would be phased out almost completely. World War I comes to mind as the first instance of regulated, effective, and simpler military uniforms that were issued. In more recent decades, with the standardization of women within the military, there have been many variations of military uniforms, especially within the branches. This 2000s Women's Navy enlisted service dress blues are just one of many. However, these dress blues are interesting within the scope of history and the inclusion of women's uniforms in the Navy. This uniform is a single-breasted coat and dress blue pants with an additional option for a skirt for women. The hat or “bucket cover”, as it is more commonly called, was specific to female enlisted sailors. The badge on the left arm of the uniform sleeve is a patch of a U.S. Navy petty officer third class rating badge for an Aviation Electrician's Mate. These uniforms were phased out in 2021, and women's uniforms were transitioned to the traditional crackerjack jumper and white hat that is the iconic Navy uniform. These uniforms are symbols of service and the many different jobs that are accomplished by our military forces.