Uniforms & Grooming
For specific guidance on how to wear the uniform, see your Cadet Reference Manual. Each Cadet was issued a hardcopy, and an electronic copy is under Unit Information- Reference Files.
Grading guidance for uniform days is under Grading Policy on left.
NJROTC Ribbon Slideshow: https://www.netc.navy.mil/Commands/Naval-Service-Training-Command/NJROTC/Cadet-Information/Cadet-Information/#basictop
We issue uniform items to Cadets at the beginning of each school year, then as needed as Cadets outgrow specific items and need new ones issued & tailored. There is no cost to the Cadet or their parents for uniforms or tailoring. Our tailor will make the required adjustments and charge our Unit, not the individual Cadet or their parents.
The only cost to the Cadet and their parents is the cost of keeping the uniform items clean. Iron shirts/blouses using the "polyester" setting on the iron. While most of the issued uniform items can be machine washed and ironed at home, some specific items require occasional dry-cleaning, and these costs are the responsibility of the Cadet and their parents. Each issued item will have a tag that describes how to clean the item.
Cadets are required to wear their uniform once a week for the entire day, from leaving home to arriving home. That is a program requirement for all 583 NJROTC units globally.
On exceptionally cold days, it is acceptable for cadets to wear another coat, hat, or gloves over their uniform, but the cadet must take those off those items when they enter the school building.
We only issue new or dry-cleaned uniforms to Cadets. When a Cadet returns a uniform item, whether because they have outgrown it or because they are leaving the program, we expect it to be turned in dry-cleaned. In order for a uniform item to be accepted back by our unit, it must be dry-cleaned, and be brought to the Unit in the dry-cleaning bag with the dated receipt attached. If a Cadet leaves the program and has not turned in all of their uniform items, a fine for the un-returned uniform items will be sent to the school administration and school bank. Students cannot attend school functions (including graduation) until they have cleared all of their fines.
Grooming Policy:
- Navy Policy on grooming standards:
New guidance on hairstyles and earrings from 31 August 2021:
Cadet Field Manual page FM-8 rewrite
b. Women
24 examples of how to wear your hair in uniform (click on image and rotate)
https://allhands.navy.mil/Features/Hair/
Hair: Clean, neatly shaped, and presents a well-groomed appearance. Lopsided or asymmetrical haircuts and hairstyles are not authorized. The wearing of an approved style is authorized provided it does not prohibit the proper wear of safety gear and allows uniform head gear to be worn squarely on the head.
a. Braids and Ponytails. Single braid, French braid, or a single ponytail is authorized in Service, Working, and PT uniforms. The initial accessory for the ponytail will not be visible when facing forward. Authorized accessory devices must be consistent with the color of the hair. The end of the braid or ponytail may extend up to three inches below the lower edge of the collar of the shirt, jacket or coat.
b. Hair Buns. Will not exceed three inches from the scalp or extend beyond the width of the back of the head.
c. Lock Hairstyle. Consists of one section of hair that twists from or near the root to the end of the hair and creates a uniform ringlet or cord-like appearance. Locks may be worn in short, medium,
and long hair lengths in the following manner:
(1) Locks must continue from the root to the end of the hair in one direction (no zig-zagging, curving, or ending before the end of the lock to dangle as a wisp or loose hair) and should encompass the whole head. Locks partings must be square or rectangular in shape in order to maintain a neat and professional appearance.
(2) Locks can be loose (free-hanging where no hair is added to the lock once it is started other than hair extensions that are attached at the end of the natural hair). When worn loose, locks will be spaced no more than three-eighths of an inch apart, diameter/width will not exceed three-eighths of an inch, and locks will be tightly interlaced to present a neat and professional military appearance. Locks may also be worn in a bun provided all hair grooming requirements are met. Locks may not be worn in combination with other hair styles (e.g. twists, braids).
(3) New growth (defined as hair that naturally grows from the scalp and has not yet been locked) will not exceed one-half inch at any time.
(4) Locks that do not meet the above standards and do not present a neat and professional military appearance will not be worn in uniform. The Senior Naval Science Instructor has the ultimate responsibility for determining when hairstyles are eccentric, faddish, or out of standards.
Shoulder Cords:
Right shoulder: only the Leadership Academy silver/grey cord is authorized
Left shoulder: only the cords authorized in CDMIS. The official list from NJROTC headquarters includes:
CO/XO: black & grey
Academic team: orange
Athletic team: red
Color guard: blue
Drill team: black
Orienteering team: green
Staff: white. Captain's definition of staff is C/LTjg and above.