New and updated uniforms are scheduled to come online across the fleet for active duty and reserve Sailors in calendar year 2016.

Most noticeably are the uniforms for women, which are being redesigned to match styles worn by men.

Along with redesigns, brand new uniforms will be added including a fitness suit that mimics a design used by the Marine Corps. Not all uniform updates will be noticed by Sailors stationed in Singapore, with little need for coveralls and cold weather parkas, but here are a few updates that will be seen in the fleet and at Navy installations around the world.

Lightweight Navy Working Uniform (NWU) Type I: This lightweight version of the current NWU has been in high demand by Navy members stationed in tropical regions for several years. Sailors located in Guam, Hawaii, Diego Garcia and Singapore will be the first to purchase this uniform around April of this year.

Starting Oct. 1, recruits will begin receiving them at recruit training command as part of their mandatory sea bag. Distribution to the rest of the fleet has not been established at this time.

Service Dress White/Blue Cover (Women): The cover normally worn by women with both the Service Dress White and Blue uniforms will be phased out this year starting at recruit training command in April.

Enlisted women will now wear the "dixie cup" cover to establish a more standard style across the fleet. Female chiefs and officers will be assigned a combination cover resembling their male counterparts sometime this year for their respective dress uniforms.

Service Dress Blue: Both men and women, ranks E6 and below, will begin the transition to one service dress blue (cracker jack) uniform this year starting with the distribution at recruit training command in October. The style is similar to the current design with a few modern touches. The trousers will have pockets and a zipper and while the traditional 13 buttons will remain, they will be purely decorative. The blouse will also contain extra side zippers making it easier to put on and take off. When the new SDB is issued to women, they will be required to wear the uniform with the "dixie cup" cover.

Fitness Suit: The new uniform will be worn over the Navy issued PT gear to protect Sailors from the elements during outdoor exercises and will also be authorized to wear with civilian clothing. The fitness suit is being produced early this year with first sets being issued to incoming recruits in October. Mandatory possession of the uniform by all Sailors will be Jan. 1, 2020.

All Weather Coat: The design for the all-weather coat won't be changing much except for going from single-breasted to double-breasted design due by 2017. Recruits already started receiving this updated coat in late 2015 as a beginning of the phase-out process.

Sailors should expect to see an increase in their uniform allowance in order to meet the mandatory wear date of 2020.

Sailors assigned to Navy Region Singapore have been eagerly awaiting the lightweight NWU since it was announced earlier this year. Master-at-Arms 1st Class Dennis Long said he is interested in seeing how it compares with the current uniform.

"It'll be great to have on the really hot days here," said Long. "I'm hoping it won't be as stiff as the current NWU and will have some breathing room. We could really use that being stationed out here where the humidity is high almost every day."

"I think that the change for women's blues to match the men's uniforms will help make the fleet be more united," said Information Systems Technician 1st Class Amber Blair. "Everyone will be following the same regulations, having the same uniform standards and looking exactly the same instead of the big differences between the men and women. That's important when we're aiming for equality among all Sailors."

For more details on all the uniform changes and requirements see NAVADMIN 236/15 at www.npc.navy.mil

For more news from Commander, Task Force 73, visit www.navy.mil/.