Marine Corps pulls uniform survey after ‘loud and clear’ opposition

By Jennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes
Published: October 25, 2013

The Marine Corps Uniform Board has pulled its survey of options for a gender-neutral dress and service cover after widespread negative reaction to one of the options, which has been slammed as “girly” and “appalling.”

On Thursday, several news outlets published stories asserting that President Obama was trying to emasculate male Marines by forcing a change to their dress and service covers, and incorrectly wrote that men and women in the Marine Corps currently wear the same style of cover.

It all stemmed from a survey to active and Reserve Marines about the best option for a universal cover — a cap that would be worn by men and women. The manufacturer of the women’s “bucket cover” — which has a distinctly different shape than the men’s cover — is going out of business and will not continue to make the cap, according to the Marine Corps.

Additionally, Marine Corps and other services have been asked by the DoD to find a unisex option for a dress and service cover as a cost-saving measure, Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Neil Murphy said.

However, Murphy said Friday, “Confusion caused by the survey’s release outside the Marine Corps, and exacerbated by recent rumors in the media, compelled the board to pull the survey.”

“While there was never any desire or intent to change the male Marine dress cover, the feedback we have received has been heard, loud and clear,” Murphy said.

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http://www.stripes.com/news/us/marine-co...sition-1.249171