Following Senator Hassan’s Request, West Point Agrees to Issue Better-Fitting Uniforms to Incoming Female Cadets

WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, the United States Military Academy at West Point agreed to provide incoming female cadets with better-fitting uniforms after U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan called on the Army Secretary last month to review the policy on unisex uniforms.

See below for coverage highlights from Stars and Stripes:

Stars and Stripes: West Point agrees to issue smaller-sized combat uniforms to new female cadets

By Rose L. Thayer

Women entering the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., will now have access to smaller-sized Army combat uniforms following a request from Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., to review the school’s policy on unisex uniforms for incoming cadets.

“I am grateful that the Army has agreed to change its uniform policy at West Point to be more inclusive for female cadets,” Hassan said in a statement. “Uniforms are an important part of military academies’ culture, and ensuring that female cadets have uniforms that fit is essential to making them feel included in a space that has been historically male-dominated.”

The senator wrote to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy on Oct. 5 asking he review the policy and explain why women weren’t offered the female sizes of the Army Combat Uniform, known as the ACU, during their issuance of gear, even though the uniforms are sold in the base’s Post Exchange. This left women to pay out-of-pocket for better-fitting uniforms. Known as the ACU-Female, this line of uniform sizes offers more room in the hips, thighs and bust and comes in smaller sizes. The unisex version of the ACU is better fit for a man’s body, though some women might prefer it.

Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, the West Point superintendent, responded Thursday to Hassan with a letter on behalf of McCarthy and wrote the perception of exclusion was never the intent of the policy. He noted most uniforms are sized to each cadet and the full-dress uniform is custom tailored.

“Secretary McCarthy and I commit today to changing this uniform issue policy so that future incoming West Point cadets are afforded the opportunity to be issued the type of ACU that best fits their individual body type as part of their uniform issue during cadet basic training,” Williams wrote.

[…] “A properly fitted uniform is also important to a cadet’s ability to perform competitively and effectively during their training,” Hassan said. “I appreciate the crucial role that military academies play in molding the military's future leaders, and this is an important step as we continue working to fully support the young women and men who step up to serve.”

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