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Navy Announces Regulation Changes For Handbags, Nuclear Insignia

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS110830-11
8/30/2011

From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy announced future regulation changes for female Sailors carrying handbags and nuclear weapons security insignia for enlisted personnel assigned to special weapons facilities in a message released Aug. 30.

The changes, approved by the Chief of Naval Operations and announced in NAVADMIN 260/11, go into effect for handbags Oct. 30 and for nuclear weapons security breast insignia next year.

The NAVADMIN also included an update on the service dress khaki uniform. Prototype designs are authorized for wear until Oct. 1, 2011, and an approved uniform is projected to be available for purchase by September 2012.

Female Sailors may carry handbags purchased from civilian sources as long as the handbags meet the following specifications:
- They must be plain black, brown or white grain leather or synthetic leather. Exotic materials such as eel, alligator or ostrich skin are not authorized.
- Bags must be rectangular, 7.5-14 inches long, 5.5-11 inches high and 2-4 inches deep.
- Flaps must be magnetic or zippered, with brass-plated, silver, or gold colored closures.
- A strap must be of the same material as its purse, with brass-plated, silver, or gold colored buckles.
- Decorative stitching, embossed designs, visible ornamentation and manufacturers' logos are not allowed.

The new nuclear weapons security breast insignia is expected to be available in August 2012 from Navy Exchange uniform centers. This insignia is a 1.25-inch by 1-inch silver shield - metal for service uniforms and embroidered for authorized working uniforms - with a trident surrounded by an atom symbol. The shield signifies the security mission. The atom symbol signifies the strategic mission.

At the bottom of the shield, there is a scroll with five openings on which stars can be mounted to indicate years of creditable service in the nuclear weapons security mission. Without stars, the scroll indicates one year of service in the mission. One to three gold stars indicate two to four years of service, and a silver star indicates five years of service.