The U.S. Marine Corps Changes Its Dress Code Policy For Women: “The Wear Of Hosiery With Skirts Is Optional”

The dress code for women in the U.S. Marine Corps has been updated.

Earlier this week, the Marine Corps announced that female Marines will no longer need to wear pantyhose with their uniform skirt.

“Effective immediately, the wear of hosiery with skirts is optional,” the Marines Corps said in a statement.

However, if pantyhose are chosen to be worn with a skirt, they must be “skin tone harmonizing,” the Marines stated. Additionally, the organization noted that dark hosiery may still be worn under dress slacks.

Maj. Joshua Larson, a spokesperson for the Office of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, explained to PEOPLE that the decision to change the hosiery requirement was made because it did not “pass a ‘common sense’ test.”

“As part of the Marine Corps’ Talent Management initiative that began in 2021, then Assistant Commandant Gen. Eric M. Smith, who was the Talent Management officer for the Marine Corps, provided guidance to assess current Marine Corps policies to determine if any policies were either outdated or didn’t pass a ‘common sense’ test,” Larson said. “Within the spirit of common sense, our Uniform Board recommended a change to the policy that required women to wear hosiery with skirts. Hosiery is now optional.”

Although women had previously served in two world wars, they were not formally recognized as a permanent part of the regular Marine Corps until June 1948, when Congress passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, as reported by Marine Corps University.

According to the organization, women currently constitute 5% of the more than 175,000 active duty members of the Marine Corps, with 93% of all occupational fields and 62% of all positions now accessible to women.