Naval Aviation is a community steeped in tradition. From sending all of our future Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers through NAS Pensacola to our brown shoes and boots and even our very own Wings of Gold, we refuse to let go of our past. This is not done for vanity’s sake, as some of this country’s greatest Americans wore the Wings of Gold. However, as times change, so does the Navy. Planes, pilots, and even tactics come and go. In our rush to the future, we left behind one of the sharpest looking uniforms this country has ever seen: Aviator Greens. 

Bringing back Aviator Greens is not only a viable change, but would serve to boost morale after an extraordinarily difficult year. Our Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers performed exceptionally during record-setting deployments. Our Student Naval Aviators and Naval Flight Officers were expected to continue their training in unprecedented circumstances. The whole community deserves a pat on the back. 

Adding Aviator Greens as an optional uniform would be a relatively small inconvenience with a tremendous boost to morale. The uniform itself is very similar to the Marine Corps’ service alpha, meaning that there is already logistical support. Such a change would increase espirit-de-corps between Navy and Marine aviators and would promote a cooperative and competitive culture. Furthermore, Aviator Greens do not necessitate the wearing of ribbons or medals, making it an easy uniform to prepare and clean. It’s sharp and semi-formal appearance exude an air of professionalism and nod to our trademark green flight suits. Finally, Aviator Greens harken back to WWII, Naval Aviation’s finest hour. The Army recently brought back pink-and-greens in a similar move. I challenge the Navy to at least consider this change.