TYR Tactical

Meet the Navy’s First Maternity Flight Suit

NORFOLK — On Mother’s Day, many Americans pause to celebrate and reflect on the mothers in their own lives. In the Navy, it’s also important to reflect on the sacrifices made and challenges faced by mothers who serve. At Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR), looking for opportunities to better support Sailors and their families is always a priority.

CNAFR was recently selected to participate in a preliminary rollout of a new maternity flight suit in a step to better support expecting mothers.

Lt. Cmdr. Jacqueline Nordan, CNAFR’s mobilization program manager received the first Navy maternity flight suit earlier this year 

“The addition of this uniform item makes an immediate impact on women in the Navy,” said Nordan. “It shows that leadership is listening and is supportive in response to the issues that female aviators are raising.” 

Nordan explained that the adjustable side panels on the new flight suits provide not only more comfort, but also improve safety and allow female aircrew to maintain their professional appearance throughout their pregnancy. 

“Prior to the maternity flight suit, pregnant aircrew have generally collected larger sized flight suits and gone up through additional sizes throughout their pregnancy, potentially needing three to five additional flight suits,” said Nordan. “Wearing a larger-sized flight suit results in longer hems and sleeves, potentially presenting a safety hazard in the aircrew cleared to fly during pregnancy. Additionally, wearing clothing that is clearly too large for you presents a less professional appearance for daily business. Pregnant aircrew who are not flying are still conducting squadron business. They’re still instructing classes, working in simulators, giving briefings, and representing their organizations. It makes a big difference to be able to continue to represent ourselves professionally in a well-fitting uniform throughout a pregnancy.”

Nordan understands the impact this change will have on her fellow female aircrew’s experience while growing their families and she says she is grateful to be a part of the project. 

“I’m thrilled to participate in moving this initiative forward,” said Nordan. “The CNAFR supply and maintenance teams have put some hard work into determining how we could incorporate these uniforms into our current system, and they deserve all the credit. I get the easy job – I just put the uniform on in the morning and loosen the waist straps as the weeks go by.” 

In making seemingly small changes like these to address uniform and safety concerns of female aircrew, the Navy is also communicating a very important message to women who serve.

“These additions are important because they show that leadership supports the idea that having a career and having a family can be compatible,” said Nordan. “Being a dedicated Navy professional while building a family can be done. Moves like making a daily uniform item more wearable during pregnancy remove some of the small barriers that can build up and discourage women from going down that path.”

The Navy’s maternity flight suit program is still in development. Policy and instructions for obtaining the flight suit will be released as information becomes available.

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chelsea Milburn

13 Responses to “Meet the Navy’s First Maternity Flight Suit”

  1. Joe says:

    Perfect for when you’re at 30,000 ft and need to drop a MOAB (Mother of Air Force Baby)

  2. Will says:

    WTF is this? Yay! Let’s turn the military into a day care!

  3. Adam says:

    This is simultaneously a demonstration of how far we’ve come and how low we’ve fallen.

  4. Chris says:

    I was hoping this was some sort of April Fool’s. Wow. Just Wow. I’m wondering how much of a difference the flight suit of a Preggers is going to make to a hostile inbound SAM or AIM? Maybe the enemy will stop and say “oh wow, they have a pregnant women aboard, let’s pause and let them go about their way”. This Admin, just like old Billie back in the day, really wants to deface and destroy our U.S. Military. It really shows how much contempt they have for our fighting men and women.
    At least elephant ears spent a little more effort in hiding it.

    • FormerDirtDart says:

      These uniforms were ordered by the Trump administration.
      So, please continue

  5. Chris B says:

    I’d like to know if there was any kind of safety study done for the child along the lines of effects of load noises being transferred directly to the eardrum via the amniotic fluid, long term exposure to aircraft vibration, chemical exposure, and possibly ejecting/parachuting along with the PLF once reaching the ground?

  6. SGT Rock says:

    Is this her “O” face? Or is she having contractions? Who got her preggy? Was it her husband or someone else in the flight wing? How many kids have been blasted outta that hangar? Is the production line still viable? So many questions…

  7. Ace says:

    Men’s sizes too, right?

  8. Iggy says:

    I know a few guys who fit those too.

  9. tangloppen says:

    Well, the Russians have a far more masculine military, just ask Kremlin Cruz.

    I don’t get why you guys are so butthurt about maternity suits? Seriously, why bother? Why care? I thought that America was all about serving the nation, serving the military, so by that, to serve – even if you are pregnant – shows that you are a patriot.

    • Richard Schagen says:

      Yep

    • Amer-Rican says:

      ‘Kremlin Cruz’?! That comment is anti-American and toxic, clearly NOT patriotic.

      And why get so butthurt about maternity suits, why care about something you argue is so trivial ?!

      Finally, NOT everyone who serves is a patriot- in every military there are some spies, traitors, insurgents, cancerous malcontents.

  10. SSD says:

    I see we still can’t control ourselves. How sad that I have to treat adults like children. Feel free to fight the culture wars on Facebook.