Marine Barracks Washington, D.C.

8th & I

"Oldest Post of the Corps"

The Barracks continues uniform evaluation for female Marines

By Sgt. Dengrier Baez | Marine Barracks Washington | July 12, 2013

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A parade staff with Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., stands in their position during a Friday Evening Parade at the Barracks May 31. (Photo by Sgt. Dengrier Baez)

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Lance Cpl. Daniela Gonzalez, a ceremonial hoster with Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., stands her post prior to the commencement of a Tuesday Sunset Parade at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., June 11. (Photo by Sgt. Dengrier M. Baez)

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Cpl. Frances Durden, a ceremonial hoster with Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., stands her post at the main gate during a Friday Evening Parade at the Barracks April 26. (Photo by Sgt. Dengrier M. Baez)

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WASHINGTON, D.C. --

Marine Barracks Washington, D.C., is conducting an ongoing evaluation of female uniforms and covers during the 2013 parade season.

The testing process, being conducted at the direction of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James F. Amos, is to evaluate the use of a modified male blue dress coat and dress cover on women who march in the Friday Evening and the Tuesday Sunset Parades. Female Marines who are in a ceremonial hosting capacity during these parades will only evaluate the dress cover.

Given the frequency with which Barracks Marines wear the blue dress uniform, the highly visible unit is uniquely positioned to evaluate the use of what are traditionally male uniform items on female Marines.

It’s unknown at this time whether or not this change will be instituted on a Corps-wide basis.

At the end of this parade season, the command at the Barracks will gauge feedback from its diverse population of Marines and report this information to the Commandant. At that point, the way ahead will be determined.

23 Comments

Ronald Yeaton 310 days ago

Having been at the Barrack in the late 60s and early 70s, the new uniform for the Women Marine looks great, well done, Semper FI
John Callahan 310 days ago

I think Wm's are hot no matter what they wear.
John Callahan 310 days ago

I think Wm's are hot no matter what they wear.
Robert Barclay 327 days ago

I urge the Commandant to resist this ridiculous effort to change the uniform and especially the covers! This is just the administration's effort to take the focus off its failed healthcare debacle!!
ArtyScout 327 days ago

Sir; As a Marine veteran it was with a heavy heart and anger that I read that President Obama wants the Corps to change their covers to be more unisex. I feel this is a big mistake. My anger was immediately registered with my co-workers who know how vehemently loyal I am to the Marine Corps. My son at present serves his country proudly as a Sergeant in the Corps. So I ask that the experimentation of the new cover be terminated immediately. There is nothing wrong with our garrison covers and the differences of male and female is what makes them unique. The Corps is steeped in tradition and this is one of them that I'd really hate to see changed.
Respectively; Manuel Castro, SgtUSMC
Richard Raker 1 years 15 days ago

I am a Marine from the Vietnam era, I think the men's type barracks cover looks great on the women. It gives more uniformity to the looks. I have done many funerals with men and women in dress blues and feel it would look great.
Thanks
Richard Raker
L/Cpl 1959/1963
2/9/3. 3/1/1
Caitie 1 years 20 days ago

I personally love the male uniforms, female pft's are the same as men's and now we're in combat roles, i hope before i get commissioned we have the same blues as the men, makes us look all the same, looks nicer.
Jvanilla 1 years 34 days ago

I don't see why Females can't just wear the same uniform as the Males, they're all in the same branch of Military, the only differences are their genders, physical shapes and Capabilities.
Gunny 1 years 35 days ago

Stop the social engineering of our beloved Corps. Just because society is crazy around us does not mean we have to.
Gunny 1 years 35 days ago

keep the traditions the way they are.
Gunny 1 years 35 days ago

Stop the insanity with all these crazy experiments on our beloved Corps. Nothing wrong with traditions. When will the world learn that all men and women are created different for a reason. WE are not equeal in the arena of physical strength.
getwithtimes 1 years 38 days ago

old man with years in the corps, retired...but, its time to get with it. women marines are getting killed alongside men, these uniforms look great, and so its time to have 1 marine corps. good job to our 35th comndt.
For Real? 1 years 48 days ago

If women can wear the male uniforms, when will the male Marines be able to grow long hair and tie it up or maybe the females should get the short haircuts... The uniforms are different for a reason, men and women have different builds and the uniforms are made as such. The female uniform would not look right on males just like the male uniform does not look right on females.
John 1 years 49 days ago

Institutionalized cross dressing. Next thing you know they be sporting fake moustaches. This is a social engineering train wreck. I can only imagine the sick, twisted machinations between the ears of whoever conceived this idea. For the love of all the traditions held sacred by those of us, male and female, who ever proudly wore these uniforms, stop the insanity. God made them male and female. AMEN!!!
Mike 1 years 56 days ago

Insane. Stop it! Dresses for men next? For the love of the corps, stop it! The picture of the new barracks sgtmaj is completely ridiculous.
errik 1 years 57 days ago

hey y is there NEVER any pics of motor t ???????????
T A Rowe 1 years 62 days ago

I attended the parade last Friday night. Outstanding performance by all. I think the female Marines look much better in the standard cover. Then there is uniformity.

This is not a criticism, just a suggestion. When the parade is over, it would be nice to have ALL the Marines come back out on the parade deck, so that the families could take pictures of their Marines in their dress blues. I noticed that many people went to see the "Chesty's" but our Marine had return to his barracks. A picture on that parade deck, him in his dress blues, would be been priceless!!! Just a suggestion!!!
Virginia Rueber 1 years 66 days ago

I do not like the men's blouse on the woman, all woman do not look good with a belt to accent their hips. I also do not like the cover, I like the bucket cover. If it doesn't fit get a haircut, it fit me fine when I was on active duty.
Steve Mecredy 1 years 66 days ago

Dress covers look great! Keep them. I look forward to seeing them on the women Marines coming to Fort Henry in Kingston, Ontario this summer.
Sandra D.Ortiz 1 years 66 days ago

Change it to match the men..they are all Marines and should be uniformed as such..looks great!
blackblood 1 years 66 days ago

looks unsat. I guess I'll be calling all officers Ma'am then.
blackblood 1 years 66 days ago

looks unsat. I guess I'll be calling all officers Ma'am then.
Kristin 1 years 67 days ago

The PFTs are now identical so why can't the uniforms be? This has been an ongoing debate since I was in from 02-06, we took a survey then about the Blues jacket & cover. It would be much easier for the female Marines with longer hair to have the same cover as the males.