ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s top admiral has approved the first-ever physical fitness uniform for sailors, the Navy has announced.

Adm. Mike Mullen approved the new uniform for sailors from E-1 through O-10 last week, according to a Navy news release.

The uniform consists of a gold shirt and blue shorts, the news release says.

The shirt is made of moisture-wicking, odor-resistant polyester with the word “Navy” in reflective lettering on the front and back; while the shorts are nylon and have reflective piping and Navy lettering.

The shorts come in 6- and 8-inch lengths and feature side pockets with a hidden identification card pocket in the waistband the news release says.

No pictures of the uniform were available Monday, according to the Chief of Naval Personnel’s office.

Beginning Oct. 1, sailors’ clothing-replacement allowance will be increased to allow sailors to buy two sets of short-sleeve shirts and shorts.

“Uniform availability at uniform centers and command uniform distribution activities will be phased in beginning with major Fleet concentration areas in spring 2008,” the news release says.

When the uniform is delivered to the fleet, sailors will be required to wear it for command-directed physical training and during their physical fitness tests, but not when sailors work out on their own.

“Sailors may still wear personal PT gear when not participating in command PT activities or the semi-annual fitness tests,” said Robert Carroll, head of the Navy Uniform Matters Office, in the news release.

Further information on when sailors should wear the uniform will be released in an upcoming Navy Administrative Message, or NAVADMIN.

The uniform was chosen after a careful evaluation, according to Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. John C. Harvey Jr.

“We looked at the lessons learned from the other services and got feedback from our Sailors — young, mature, male, female, officer and enlisted — and arrived at this design,” Harvey said in the news release.

Choosing the uniform comes at close to the end of Mullen’s tenure as CNO.

He has been confirmed as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is expected to begin his new position on or about Oct. 1, replacing Marine Gen. Peter Pace.