Female Navy recruits will now wear 'Dixie cup' hats in move toward uniformity
United States Navy recruits of all genders will now receive the classic "Dixie cup" hat upon enlistment.
The first group of women received the famous white hat (also charmingly nicknamed "dog bowl" and "squid lid") at a Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois, on April 4.
In an official press release issued April 5, the branch of the military said the inclusive move was one of spreading consistency in the ranks.
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"The Navy redesigned several uniform elements for Sailors that improve uniformity across the force as well as improve the function and fit of their uniforms," the release says. "The changes will eventually make uniforms and covers more gender neutral."
The Navy announced the changes initially last October.
The changes are to "send a signal that the Navy is one team, has one standard and is one in dress," Lt. Cmdr. Nate Christensen told the New York Times. “When individuals look at a group of sailors, they should see a group of sailors, indistinguishable by uniform."
The new universal white hats will replace the lidded black and white toppers that were formal uniform for female sailors.
While the original announcement and this newest release stress the reason for the "Dixie cup" change as increased uniformity, the move could also be seen as reflective of a more inclusive, unbiased military -- one that might be easing away from differentiating across gender, religious or sexuality lines.
It is only a week after a Sikh man won the right to continue wearing a turban and his beard in uniform and a few months after President Barack Obama nominated an openly gay man to lead the U.S. Army.
Sailors currently wearing the old uniform caps will have until Oct. 31 to adhere to the new dress code standards.
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I have done neat stuff all over these United States from sailing lessons on the Puget Sound to motorcycle maintenance on the backroads of upstate New York. My professional experience extends from newspaper reporting in the mountains of Eastern Oregon to fixing espresso machines throughout Kentucky. I also have kept a cat alive for 10 years.
