Khaki belts are worn by Officers and enlisted Sailors in the United States Navy and Marine Corps, as well as by Officers in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Merchant Marine (all three of these organizations follow Navy uniform regulations).
Navy uniform rules call for the wear of khaki belts by male and female Officers and Chief Petty Officers with the Service Khaki uniform (USPHSCC, NOAA, and USMM consist only of Officers). Khaki belts are 1-1/4-inch wide for males and 1-inch wide for females, and when worn they must pass through all the loops of the trousers. Male personnel wear the khaki belt with the clip to the left of the buckle, while females wear it with the clip to the left of the buckle. Marine Corps regulations call for the 1-1/4-inch wide khaki belt to be worn by all Marines wearing the utility uniform until they are qualified to wear the martial arts utility belt.
At the Salute Uniforms, we offer the khaki belt manufactured in four types of material: cotton, nylon, polywool, and CNT (Certified Navy Twill). Belt material should match the material of the uniform it will be worn with. You may also choose to order your belt with or without a buckle.
Prior to 1975, the khaki belt was worn with many consider to be one of the Navy’s most iconic uniforms: the Service Dress Khaki. The Service Dress Khaki walked the fine line between formal and informal wear, which makes it somewhat ironic that the Service Dress Khaki was banished from officers’ seabags by Elmo Zumwalt, the Chief of Naval Operations who pushed for the relaxing of rules regarding facial hair and expanded the civilian clothing privileges held by officers and CPOs to all Petty Officers serving aboard ships.
In 2006, the Navy announced it had begun looking into introducing a contemporary version of the Service Dress Khaki, and in 2010 the the Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs announced an updated version should be available for optional purchase within 18 months. Instead, the Navy decided against bringing back a modern version of the classic uniform, citing among other factors prohibitive costs, and in October 2012 a NAVADMIN announced the program had been terminated.
But if you’re a fan of the Serve Dress Khaki, you’re at the right place. We offer both the
Chief Petty Officer and
Officer versions of this classic uniform for veterans who prize its classic appearance, as well as for movie or television production companies seeking authentic Service Dress Khakis for their wardrobe departments.