DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
901 M STREET SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Frocking of Naval Personnel
An early use of "frock" (15th century) referred to the long
habit characteristically worn by monks. Through the centuries, frock came
to describe various loose garments of some length. The "frock coat,"
which was a long-skirted garment coming almost to the knees, became a popular
fashion for men in the early 19th century and was quickly adopted for military
uniforms. It is feasible that the frock coat was so called because the length
was reminiscent of earlier clothing articles.
There is an alternative explanation for the term "frock coat."
An ornamental closure, called a "frog," which consisted of a spindle-shaped
button passing through a loop of material or braid, was typical on military
uniforms at least as early as the mid-18th century. The expression could
have evolved from frog coat to frock coat.
Our assumption is that the current usage of "frocking" is
in some way related to the officer's frock coats. The verb form "to
frock," relating originally to the monk's cloak, meant "to invest
with priestly office or privilege." Perhaps this idea of establishing
position by the donning of a particular garment is resurrected here. Another
explanation for the link between the term and the practice is that the early
undress uniform for a midshipman was a short coat whereas that for a lieutenant
was a frock coat. When a midshipman was appointed to act in the capacity
of a lieutenant, he wore the uniform of the latter. In this instance, it
could be said he was "frocked."
Regarding the practice of frocking itself, there are various instances
in Navy Regulations at least as early as 1802 of personnel assuming the
uniform of the next higher rank, not necessarily with higher pay, when appointed
by proper authority to assume the duties and responsibilities of that rank
prior to actual promotion. These appointments were sometimes temporary as
when it was necessary rapidly to swell the ranks during war time, especially
in the Civil War. Other instances concerned a commander's need to fill an
unforseen vacancy for which there was no one of equal rank. In this case,
a junior who was qualified for promotion would assume the uniform and duties
pending approval by the Navy Department.
The practice that we currently refer to as frocking has been in common
usage in one form or another throughout the Navy's history. There does not
seem to be a definite point however at which the practice was first established.
The original use of the term "frocking" to describe the current
policy is also unclear, but probably is of recent vintage as it does not
appear in earlier documents (18th-19th century). The 1974 version is the
earliest Bureau of Naval Personnel Manual to contain the policy itself and
refer to it as "frocking."
28 March 96