Is there an instruction or regulation governing the use and wear of the tan UDT swim shorts - commonly used at BUD/S?

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 05:20:57 -0400

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2016 5:45 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 05:45:06 -0400

The only instruction or regulation that I remember from my very "brief" tryout for UDTs in 1970, was the rather strong suggestion to make sure the opening was in the front!!! .

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 4 at 2016 6:00 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 06:00:00 -0400

ENS Private RallyPoint Member thanks for the read/ share! Being Army this is new to me!

Response by CW2 Jonathan Smith made Aug 4 at 2016 9:19 AM

CW2 Jonathan Smith — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 09:19:48 -0400

UDT's are also worn by Army salvage divers so it may be covered in AR 670-1 but I believe you're asking for a naval regulation. That I'm not sure of.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2016 9:41 AM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 09:41:28 -0400

If you are asking, as for the use for PT and or in the gym, I don't think there is a instruction covering the use or wear of them. I will say your command may set what ever PT uniform policy they wish, if there is no set PT uniform for unit PT the standard falls back to the US Navy standard PT uniform Blue PT shorts and Yellow PT Shirt. We have Divers inside the Seabee community and they have UDT/Ranger shorts that they use for their unit PT, and some wear them doing personal PT on their own around the base and no problem. We have more people and units conducting PT on the base then you would see at a regular base. I will also say this the UCT divers wear the Green Cargo type shorts when not in dive statues around the compounds and only use the UDT shorts during some PT sessions and for Dive operations. I do not believe there is an Instruction for use and wear of them. If you are talking for your command, I would go to your command PT instruction. I am speaking form the Seabee world and we do things a little different for some things.

I am not sure if I helped, do remember that the fall back to Navy PT is the Navy PT uniform. I will contact some of the Seabee Dive team guys and see if the Navy has an instruction.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 4 at 2016 10:07 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 04 Aug 2016 10:07:33 -0400

The better question is why would you want to wear them? :)

Response by LT David Phillips made Aug 9 at 2016 12:16 PM

LT David Phillips — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 12:16:24 -0400

I've been looking through the USN Uniform regulations, and can't find them mentioned anywhere. You'll see them during exercise and water evolutions at BUD/S, NDSTC, and on dive stations all over.

Response by LT David Phillips made Aug 9 at 2016 1:09 PM

LT David Phillips — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:09:02 -0400

Dang. While I was looking, I ran across the boat cloak. It will no longer be authorized after 1 OCT 2016. Too bad ... that was way cool.

Response by PO2 Heath Howard made Aug 10 at 2016 12:28 PM

PO2 Heath Howard — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:28:39 -0400

When at sea with a Marine unit, our Uniform of the Day was UDT shorts and green T-Shirt. It looks like it is unit specific.

Response by PO1 John Runningwolf made Aug 11 at 2016 5:06 PM

PO1 John Runningwolf — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 17:06:31 -0400

UDT's are worn while performing PT which of course includes running and swimming. Also if a shirt is worn with the UDT's it was a navy blue short sleeve with a NSW insignia on the upper left chest in yellow or gold. Also it was acceptable to wear UDT's anytime you were working in or around water where you were going to get wet (as in either working on or around the PBR's and Mini ATC's is what they are referred to now a days. However, this uniform of the day I am describing is from the 60's and early 70's in South East Asia. Things may have changed a lot since then of course.

Response by PO1 James Hull made Aug 15 at 2016 10:42 AM

PO1 James Hull — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 10:42:06 -0400

Not really a regulation, but just advice. Don't sit cross-legged when wearing.

Response by MAJ William Dolen made Dec 23 at 2017 10:55 AM

MAJ William Dolen — Sat, 23 Dec 2017 10:55:43 -0500

Can't answer the specific question. As far as I know, they're issued to all military divers. They don't bunch up under a wetsuit, and I've worn them on civilian dive boats for 20 years. Mine don't have any embroidery or stenciling that would make me come across as something I'm not. Nobody has ever said anything negative to me. They're traditionally worn without underwear, but that can be inappropriately revealing in mixed company. They're also a powerful incentive to keep up with core workouts.

Response by Sgt Fernando Urena made Nov 11 at 2018 5:47 PM

Sgt Fernando Urena — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 17:47:50 -0500

Same rule as silkies, always go one size smaller.

Response by PO2 Brandon McHenry made Jun 17 at 2019 5:08 PM

PO2 Brandon McHenry — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 17:08:23 -0400

These were issued as standard uniform for Rescue Swimmers in training also when there was a Swimmer School at FTC San Diego. I don't know about now...