- The Washington Times - Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Women in the Marine Corps no longer have to wear pantyhose underneath uniform skirts, according to new regulations.

The change came down Monday in an administrative message. If female marines choose to wear pantyhose, they must be “skin tone harmonizing,” the message reads.

Marines who decide to show more skin must still wear no-show socks.



Last month, a female Marine made a formal request for the rule to be changed. The Marines’ commandant, Gen. Eric Smith, then recommended the change to the Marine Corps Uniform Board.

Before Monday’s rule change, female Marines had to wear full-length pantyhose whenever they were in uniform skirts. However, women in the Corps are always able to wear slacks as an alternative.

The Marines are the latest to scrap the pantyhose requirement for soldiers. The Corps follows the Navy’s decision to scrap the rule in 2022 and the Air Force’s in 2021, while the U.S. Army still requires female soldiers to wear pantyhose in some situations.

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