Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Navy begins distributing flame-resistant clothing
http://hamptonroads.com/2014/01/navy-begins-distributing-flameresistant-clothingNavy begins distributing flame-resistant clothing
By Brock Vergakis
The Associated Press
© January 16, 2014
NORFOLK
The Navy started distributing flame-resistant coveralls to its sailors on Wednesday, more than a year after a laboratory test showed that the camouflage uniforms that most sailors wear out to sea will quickly burn up if they catch fire.
The Navy plans to issue the dark blue, cotton clothing to every sailor who goes to sea aboard a surface ship or aircraft carrier by the end of the year. The amphibious assault ship Bataan was chosen by U.S. Fleet Forces Command as the first to receive the new clothing because it will be deploying soon. Sailors aboard other ships nearing a deployment will be next in line, according to the Navy. Army and Marine combat uniforms already are designed to be self-extinguishing.
The Navy had long been aware that its working uniforms were not flame-resistant. The Navy decided to abandon flame-resistant clothing for all sailors in 1996 as a cost-cutting measure and because they failed to meet other standards, among other reasons. Sailors in specific jobs, however, such as engine room personnel, firefighters and those in flight-related duties were still issued flame-resistant clothing.
After a video of the 2012 laboratory test showed exactly how flammable its working uniforms are, many sailors, family members and veterans expressed concerns about their safety. Those concerns were raised despite assertions by the Navy that there is no evidence that a sailor wearing the nylon-cotton blend had suffered severe burns. A Navy working group assigned to study the issue noted that the sailors without the proper clothing would most likely be affected if a fire grew large enough to threaten the survivability of the ship, and decided each sailor should have that protection.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
2 replies, 682 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (2)
ReplyReply to this post
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Navy begins distributing flame-resistant clothing (Original Post)
unhappycamper
Jan 2014
OP
Kaleva
(36,341 posts)1. I never understood why the Navy went to camouflage work uniforms.
MADem
(135,425 posts)2. They look like frigging pajamas!
I suppose they're easy to care for.
For awhile there, they were interested in having all the services "match" to some extent.
And I wouldn't be surprised if the person that won the cammie contract was a Republican...