With the release of NAVADMIN 174/16 in August 2016, the United States Navy began the process of phasing out its Type I Navy Working Uniform (NWU) in favor of the Type III NWU, which originally issued only to Navy personnel serving in ground units when it was introduced in 2010. The Type III NWU employs a Woodland camouflage pattern inspired by the Marine Corps’ MARPAT design and developed for wear by United States Special Operations Command units; the pattern was named AOR-2 when it was adopted by Naval Special Warfare units.
Regulations call for the wear of nametapes and service tapes on the NWU Type III, with black, ¾” block letters embroidered on 1.24” strips of uniform fabric. The words “U.S. NAVY” are centered on the service tape, which according to the footnotes in the U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations are to be “sewn centered above and flush with the top of the wearer’s left shirt pocket.” However, you should not assume the omission of service tapes with hook-and-loop fasteners (Velcro) means they are not permitted on the uniform as the manual is undergoing constant revision to check for omissions and errors.