The uniforms of the United States Army distinguish soldiers from other service members. The two primary uniforms of the U.S. Army are the Army Combat Uniform, used in operational environments, and the Army Green Service Uniform, worn during everyday professional wear and during formal and ceremonial occasions that do not warrant the wear of the more formal blue service uniform.
History
The design of early army uniforms was influenced by both British and French traditions. One of the first Army-wide regulations, adopted in 1789, prescribed blue coats with colored facings to identify a unit's region of origin: New England units wore white facings, southern units wore blue facings, and units from Mid-Atlantic states wore red facings. Bandsmen wore red uniforms to make them more easily identifiable to commanders on the field of battle. Pantaloons were originally white, following British uniforms, but were changed to gray in 1821 and sky blue in 1832. Infantry wore tricorne hats, with different cover prescribed for cavalry and specialist troops depending on function.
The original Revolutionary War enlisted uniform jacket was dark blue with state-specific facing colors. This was worn with a white waistcoat and breeches and black shoes. All ranks wore a black tricorne hat with a black cockade; later a white cockade was inset to represent the American alliance with Bourbon France. From 1782, Regulars had red facings. Foot regiments (infantry, artillery, and supporting units) wore gold-metal buttons and lace. Horse regiments (cavalry, light dragoons, and horse artillery) wore white-metal buttons and lace.
From 1810, the uniform changed to follow European trends. The tight-fitting and short-skirted double-breasted coatee replaced the single-breasted coat, and the waistcoat was discontinued. Militia wore gray coatees, still worn as a ceremonial uniform at West Point today. Regulars wore national blue (dark-blue) coatees, except for musicians, who wore reversed red coatees with blue facings. Enlisted ranks wore the coatee with a black stovepipe shako, white or gray trousers with matching button-up spats, and black short boots.
Facings and buttonhole trim were discontinued in 1813. From the early days of the Continental Army, the wearing of a sword and a worsted crimson sash served as a badge of rank for all sergeant grades. By 1820, the worsted sash became a privilege of first sergeants and above only. From 1781, until 1833, the "first sergeant" was simply the senior sergeant in a company or battery and was not a separate grade of rank.
Beginning in the 1850s, U.S. military began to place an increased emphasis on French army tactics and styles, influenced, in part, by the rise of Napoleon III. The most extreme adoption of French military fashion was in the use of zouave uniforms by some U.S. Army infantry regiments, and the purchase of 10,000 chasseurs à pied uniforms to outfit the Excelsior Brigade. More subtle French styling – including frock coats, kepi hats, and collar ornaments – were more common for uniforms of the Union Army during and after the American Civil War.
Beginning in 1902, the Army made khaki and olive drab field uniforms standard issue, having seen their effectiveness in limited use during the Spanish–American War. The traditional blue was reserved for dress uniforms. Uniforms used during World War I remained substantially similar to the 1902 patterns. Blue uniforms were suspended during the conflict. During the inter-war period, piecemeal modifications were made to the designs, such as the introduction of open-collar coats, straight-legged trousers, and collared shirts with ties, resulting in uniforms that by the end of the 1930s were entirely different. A blue dress uniform was reintroduced in 1937.
The U.S. Army uniforms used during World War II saw a divergence between field and garrison service elements. The latter necessitated by the suspension of the blue dress uniform again, leading to them becoming separate classes of uniforms by the end of the war. These uniforms continued in use into the Korean War.
The OG-107 combat uniform was introduced as the new standard field uniform during the Korean War, and continued as the standard fatigue duty uniform for almost three decades. It saw minor changes through its lifespan.
In 1954, the Army Green Uniform, also called the "Class A" uniform, was introduced for garrison dress. An alternate semi-dress uniform for the summer months, the Army Tan Uniform, continued in use until 1985, though was relegated to Class B status following the mid 1960s. The blue dress uniform, now mandatory for officers and an authorized option for enlisted soldiers, was reinstated in 1957.
The OG-107 field uniform was replaced in 1981 by the Battle Dress Uniform and Desert Battle Dress Uniform, later the Desert Camouflage Uniform, which saw use during the Gulf War. These were replaced by the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in the mid-2000s, during the War in Afghanistan and War in Iraq. When initially introduced, the ACU used the Universal Camouflage Pattern. This proved to be an ineffective pattern and was replaced beginning in 2014 with the more effective Operational Camouflage Pattern. , the ACU in OCP is the standard issue field uniform of the Army.
Beginning in 2010, the blue Army Service Uniform (ASU),AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of the Army Uniform Insignia previously used as a formal dress uniform, displaced the green Class A uniform as the daily wear service uniform. This move proved unpopular, and in 2018 a new Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) modeled after World War II-era officers garrison uniforms was announced. By October 1, 2027, all soldiers will be required to wear the AGSU as office attire. The blue uniform will remain the ceremonial and formal dress uniform.
Current designs
Standard uniforms Army Combat Uniform
The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is the utility uniform worn in garrison and in combat zones by the U.S. Army. It consists of a jacket and trousers in the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), worn with combat boots and a t-shirt. In the field, the jacket may be replaced by the flame resistant Army Combat Shirt when worn directly under a tactical vest. A matching patrol cap is worn when other headgear is not in use.
The ACU was introduced in 2005, replacing the previous Battle Dress Uniform and Desert Camouflage Uniform. The uniform originally featured a pixelated camouflage pattern, known as the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP), which was designed for use in woodland, desert, and urban environments, and was worn with a black beret. The black beret was replaced for wear with the ACU by the patrol cap in July 2011; the beret remained in use with the Army Service Uniform. UCP was found to perform poorly in the field, and beginning in 2010, most soldiers operating in Afghanistan were issued ACUs using the commercial MultiCam pattern, which was found to be better suited to that country's terrain. Subsequently, OCP, which is similar to MultiCam, was adopted Army-wide starting in 2015, with UCP fully retired in 2019.
The ACU jacket bears name tapes, rank insignia, and shoulder patches and tabs, as well as recognition devices such as a U.S. flag patch and the infrared (IR) tab. Two U.S. flag insignia are authorized for wear with the ACU, full-color and subdued IR. The U.S. flag insignia is worn on the right shoulder pocket flap of the ACU coat. Unit patches are worn on the left shoulder, while combat patches are worn on the right. The name tapes, rank, and skill badges are either secured with hook-and-loop fasteners or can optionally be sewn on. Maternity Work Uniform The ACU maternity work uniform in the OCP is a daily work and utility uniform for pregnant Soldiers.U.S. Department of the Army. (2021). Wear and appearance of Army uniforms and insignia (Army Regulation 670-1). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army. Chapter 5. Aircrew Uniform The Army aircrew combat uniform (A2CU) in the OCP is a daily work, utility, and field uniform for aircrew members and the Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble (FREE) is designed to be worn with the prescribed duty uniform to provide aviators and CVC with modular, flame-resistant protection.U.S. Department of the Army. (2021). Wear and appearance of Army uniforms and insignia (Army Regulation 670-1). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army. Chapter 6. Garrison Culinary Uniform The garrison culinary uniform is the daily work uniform for all enlisted Soldiers in career management field (CMF) 92 who hold the culinary specialist MOS when prescribed by CTA 50–900 and by the commander (see figs 7–1 and 7–2). The culinary management noncommissioned officer (NCO) and dining facility manager uniform are variations.U.S. Department of the Army. (2021). Wear and appearance of Army uniforms and insignia (Army Regulation 670-1). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army. Chapters 7-8. Combat Vehicle Crewman Uniform The CVC uniform in the OCP is a daily work, utility, and field uniform for CVC. The FREE version is designed to be worn with the standard duty uniform to provide aviators and CVC with modular, flame-resistant protection.U.S. Department of the Army. (2021). Wear and appearance of Army uniforms and insignia (Army Regulation 670-1). Washington, DC: Headquarters, Department of the Army. Chapters 9. Physical Fitness Uniform
The Army Physical Fitness Uniform (APFU), manufactured by UNICOR and adopted in 2013, is modular, with individual pieces that can be combined or eliminated depending on physical training conditions. All parts of the uniform are styled in black and gold and include track jacket, short-sleeve and long-sleeve T-shirts, track pants, and stretchable running trunks. The uniform was released in October 2014. No standard shoe style is specified to be worn. Soldiers are expected simply to purchase commercial running shoes. Shoes with profane or vulgar logos, as well as "toe shoes", such as the Vibram FiveFingers running shoe, are prohibited.
Army Service uniform
From 2010 to 2020, a blue uniform, known as the Army (Blue) Service Uniform, was used as the daily wear service uniform, replacing in daily wear the previous green service uniform used by all officers and enlisted personnel introduced in 1956.The Army Green Uniform - March 1968 The Army has a tradition of blue uniforms dating to the Revolutionary War. With the introduction of the current green service uniform, the blue uniform returns to its previous position as a formal dress and ceremonial uniform. Army Green Service Uniform
The current garrison service uniform is known as the Army Green Service Uniform. Introduced in late 2018, it is based on the "pinks and greens" officers' service uniform worn in World War II and the Korean War. The service uniform includes a dark olive drab coat, light drab trousers, a tan shirt, an olive drab tie, and brown leather shoes for both men and women, with women having the option to wear a pencil skirt and pumps instead. The uniform became available to soldiers in mid-2020. Blue Mess uniform
Mess dress is the military term for the formal evening dress worn in the mess or at other formal occasions. This is generally worn as the military equivalent of white tie or black tie. The Army has two versions, a blue winter version and a white summer version, each worn with different accessories depending on the formality of the occasion.
The Army blue mess uniform is considered equivalent to black tie, and consists of the mess jacket, trousers, white semiformal dress shirt with a turndown collar, black bow tie, and black cummerbund. The Army blue evening mess uniform is considered equivalent to white tie/tails, and consists of the same jacket and trousers, but with a white formal dress shirt with a wing collar, white single-breasted vest, and white bow tie.
White Mess uniform