The Department of Defense updated the policy regarding the acquisition of athletic shoes for military recruits. In a letter to members of the Armed Services Committees, the Deputy Secretary of Defense confirmed a policy change that requires new recruits to use their footwear allowance to purchase U.S.-made athletic footwear that is compliant with the Berry Amendment, once they are available in the marketplace.
This policy change will ensure that the Armed Services are not dependent on foreign sources for essential basic training needs and will significantly help support the U.S. supply chain for American-made shoes, says proponents of the change.
“This policy correction will help strengthen and support the domestic industrial base and the thousands of manufacturing jobs that provide the necessary equipment for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Special Forces, with no additional cost to the taxpayer,” says exectuives at Wolverine Worldwide. “It also strengthens the ability of industry to provide the full spectrum of footwear needs of the Armed Services, from combat boots to athletic shoes.”
The new legislation was pushed U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas during the past several years to boost local and national footwear manufacturing. Tsogas represents Massachusettes, home to New Balance.
“I applaud the Department of Defense for making this policy change which will require all services to treat athletic footwear like every other uniform item, including boots,” said Congresswoman Tsongas. “The DoD has spent approximately $180 million on the athletic footwear cash allowance program to date, which is money that could have gone to American jobs and manufacturing. Innovative companies, such as New Balance right here in Massachusetts are able to provide our service members with quality products and keep business here on American soil.”
