Why do Navy pants have 13 buttons?

Someone may well decide 100 years from now that the Navy eliminated the stripes because it figured Admiral Nelson couldn't possibly have won those battles because he didn't have any carrier air support. Those 13 buttons are supposed to represent the 13 original colonies.

Why do sailor pants have a flap?

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.

How many buttons are on Navy dress blues pants?

An old sailor's tale is that the buttons represent the 13 original colonies.

What was the purpose of bell-bottom pants in the Navy?

Although no one has been officially accredited with inventing the bell bottom trouser, the flared out look was introduced for sailors to wear in 1817. The new design was made to allow the young men who washed down the ship's deck to roll their pant legs up above their knees to protect the material.

Why does the Navy wear Cracker Jacks?

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. #DYK that U.S. Navy subs often use popcorn in man-overboard drills?

The 13-Button Navy Trousers Myth

Why do sailors wear Dixie cups?

The “Dixie cup” hat worn by male recruits are now part of a uniform overhaul set in motion by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus last October. The changes are meant to promote equality among genders and help integrate women into the ranks. The iconic Dixie cups must be worn by all female enlisted recruits by Oct. 31, 2016.

Do female sailors wear Cracker Jacks?

This is the first update for dress whites — worn by all sailors, with women wearing the combination cover instead of a "Dixie cup" — since World War II. The uniform takes cues from full dress whites, a version of crackerjacks phased out in 1940.

Why are sailors pants so wide?

Hort said the wide-legged pants served a number of purposes: * They're easy to slip off if a sailor is swept overboard. Once removed and the legs filled with air, they make a pretty fine emergency flotation device. * They can be rolled up above the knees for swabbing decks and wading ashore.

Why did the Navy get rid of dungarees?

Their threads put sailors at risk for worsening burn injuries by melting. And sailors said they were uncomfortable and that the only camouflage they offered was when someone fell overboard.

Why do sailors wear baggy pants?

The loose bell-bottom lower leg prevented the pant from chafing the legs when wet. The design of the sailor pant includes many buttons on the front flap, or buttoned broadfall front. The zipper was not popular on a wide scale at the turn of the century.

What is a 13 button salute?

Not only does the "13 button salute" refer to the 13 buttons on a Navy dress uniform, in US Navy slang, a "13 button salute" refers to the act of removing the dress trousers so fast that all 13 buttons come undone immediately, usually prior to intercourse.

What is a cracker jack military?

crackerjack (countable and uncountable, plural crackerjacks) (US, slang, in the plural) The traditional blue uniforms of the enlisted men of the US Navy. (US, slang) A U.S. Navy sailor.

What is a Cracker Jack suit?

Hand Wash. Miss Cracker Jack is a nautical inspired flirty costume. Includes capri length pants, a belly-baring top with big red bow, and a sailor hat; shoes available separately. Note: costume sizing is different than apparel sizing, review the Delicious size chart and measure before selecting size.

Why do sailors wear those white hats?

Currently made from 100-percent cotton, the white service hat—also called a “squid lid,” “Cracker Jack hat,” or just plain “cover”—of course serves as protection against the scorching sunlight at sea, and when used properly is a quite serviceable flotation device.

What do hash marks mean on military uniforms?

Criteria: A service stripe, commonly called a hash mark, is a decoration of the United States military which is presented to members of the U.S. Army to denote length of service. The United States Army awards each stripe for three years of honorable service.

Why do sailors wear white?

Sailors wear white because it improves visibility, it was the first color worn by sailors, it symbolizes the integration of the seven seas, and it helps sailors keep cool under the summer heat. However, white is not the only standard uniform of the navy.

Why does the Navy wear white gloves?

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.

Does the Navy still use bell bottoms?

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.

Who can wear brown shoes in the US Navy?

Navy regulations list brown leather shoes as optional for Officers and CPOs (E-7 and above), but you don't need to be a fashion expert to appreciate just how well these classy Oxfords complement the Service Khaki uniform.

Why is the Navy called the Andrew?

Some say, including the Admiralty Manual of Seamanship, the nickname 'Andrew' derives from a man called Andrew Miller, a zealous officer of the Impress Service (a Royal Navy recruitment service) during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

What does the crow symbolize in the Navy?

A crow is an unofficial Navy term for the petty officer rank insignia, which includes an eagle above one to three chevrons, depending upon a Sailor's rank.

What are bell bottoms called now?

Flares made their comeback in the second half of the 1990s with a new name: boot-cut, since the flare was not so wide.

What do sailors call their uniforms?

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.

How do you wear the Dixie cup in the Navy?

It must be worn “squarely on the head with the lower front edge approximately 1 ½ inch above the eyebrows and not crushed, bent or rolled.” In 2016, the Navy expanded the wear of the Dixie Cups to female enlisted Sailors, ushering in a new era for the cap.