The National Capitol Region is now offering pregnant Marine Corps officers access to maternity uniforms without charge, thanks to a Defense Logistics Agency Maternity Uniform Pilot Program launched this month. This initiative addresses the financial burden previously placed on officers for acquiring Marine Officer Uniforms adapted for maternity.
Recognizing the significant personal expense of maternity uniforms, the National Defense Authorization Act of October 2020 mandated the Defense Logistics Agency, in collaboration with Service Secretaries, to create a pilot program. The goal is to provide temporary maternity uniforms to pregnant service members at no individual cost.
For enlisted Marines, maternity uniforms are a one-time issue. However, officers were traditionally responsible for purchasing their maternity uniforms out-of-pocket, incurring an average cost of $500. This new program enables the Marine Corps to issue and collect specific maternity uniform items, eliminating expenses for Marine officers.
The program includes essential items such as the Maternity Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform, green tunic, short and long-sleeve service blouses, service maternity skirts, and slacks, along with service tapes. Blue dress skirts and slacks are slated to become available in fiscal year 2023, further expanding the options for marine officer uniforms during pregnancy.
Emily Madden, a clothing designer from the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center working with MCSC, highlighted the program’s practical approach: “When the Marine officer comes in, she can try them on quickly and say, ‘Hey, I need to go up or down,’ and work with the facility to determine the right sizes.” This hands-on approach ensures proper fitting and addresses the varying needs of pregnant officers.
Logistical considerations and service standards were key factors in determining the items included in this Maternity Package, Madden explained. The focus was on providing the most beneficial items for pregnant Marines while also considering the practical aspects of uniform management.
“The products we identified to go through this program were what would be the most beneficial to pregnant Marines,” Madden stated. “On the internal side of the Marine Corps, we considered servicing the items in regards to alterations, ribbons, and cleaning. We also chose items that we were producing currently in the enlisted package for their 604 form.”
The NAVMC 604/604B form, used for individual clothing requests and tracking uniform issuance, provided a foundation for managing the program’s uniform needs. Utilizing items already on this form streamlined the process for program managers to estimate uniform quantities. Unlike enlisted packages, however, this pilot program requires uniforms to be returned to the issuing facility. Returned marine officer uniforms will undergo inspection, similar to other issued gear.
“Much like many other items that go in and out of the hands of Marines, we have a serviceability standard,” Madden clarified. This standard covers aspects like stains, wear and tear, and fabric thinness, aligning with criteria used for other gear within the Consolidated Storage Program (CSP). Uniforms not meeting these standards upon return will be retired, but at no cost to the Marine officer.
Participation in the program requires written authorization from a commanding officer. Eligible female officers can schedule appointments at the Individual Issue Facility at Marine Corps Base Quantico to receive their marine officer uniforms. The program acknowledges the unique nature of pregnancy and individual sizing needs. Madden advises officers to start with their pre-pregnancy clothing sizes as a sizing reference point. The issuance facility staff will assist in finding the correct fit for each uniform component. This sizing data is crucial feedback for program improvement.
“Say I wear medium regular combat trouser in non-maternity, a same size will be a medium maternity combat trousers,” Madden illustrated. “The issue facility will discuss this with them and pull that size set of all equivalent items together at once. When the Marine officer comes in, she can try them on quickly and say, ‘Hey, I need to go up or down,’ and work with the facility to determine the right sizes. Then we’re gathering that feedback from the folks at the IIF and recording it.”
Recognizing that body changes during pregnancy may necessitate different sizes, the program allows officers to exchange uniform components for the correct size throughout their pregnancy. Currently, the pilot program is available to officers within the NCR and bases within a 100-mile radius of MCB Quantico. Officers attending courses within this region are also eligible. The NCR was selected as a test region due to the high concentration of officers stationed or attending advanced schools, providing a robust testing pool, particularly for service dress marine officer uniforms.
“I think that’s been one of our biggest complaints,” Madden noted, regarding the challenges of maintaining service uniforms for events or meetings during pregnancy. This pilot program aims to address this concern and gather valuable insights into the use of service dress marine officer uniforms.
While the program covers the cost of the uniforms, alterations remain the responsibility of the Marine officer. It is recommended to use tailor shops near MCB Quantico or those familiar with the TM 1020-15-1B Technical Manual for Uniform Fitting and Alteration to ensure compliance with regulations.
Participants are required to return the marine officer uniforms within six months after pregnancy. Officers receiving new orders during pregnancy can coordinate uniform returns via their local command’s mail facility. Officers will not be charged for any uniform piece deemed unserviceable upon return.
This pilot program is scheduled to run through fiscal year 2025, with findings and conclusions expected to be reported in Spring 2026. Madden encourages all program participants and Marines utilizing maternity uniforms to provide feedback on fit, durability, and availability to the program office.
For more detailed information about the Pilot Program for Issue of Maternity Uniform, please visit https://www.marcorsyscom.marines.mil/maternity-uniform-pilot-program/ to learn more about accessing marine officer uniforms during pregnancy.
