Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

New Army Service Uniform
Army.mil - News ^ | 8/25/2008 | C, Todd Lopez

Posted on 09/08/2008 12:09:05 PM PDT by cll

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Aug. 25, 2008) -- Out with the old, in with the blue. The Army has made it official; the green service uniform, which has defined the service since the mid-1950s, is on the outs.

In place of the green uniform will be a variation of the blue uniform, something many Soldiers already own. Official word on the new "Army Service Uniform," or ASU, was released Aug. 20 in a message to all Army activities. The message defines the wear policy and the "bridging" strategy for transition to the new uniform.

"It's a culmination of transformation efforts that started in 2004," said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Kenneth O. Preston of the new ASU. "We had three 'Class A' style uniforms, all the same style jacket, with just a different color -- the policies on how we wore accoutrements on them were different. We asked the question -- if we wear one only, which would it be? And the blue uniform was the most popular of the three."

The new ASU coat, similar to the existing blue coat, will be made of a wrinkle-resistant material and will have a more "athletic" cut.

Other changes to the uniform include authorization of a combat service identification badge to recognize combat service, overseas service bars authorized on the jacket sleeve for both enlisted Soldiers and officers, the wear of distinctive unit insignia on the shoulder loops of the blue coat for enlisted Soldiers, authorizing paratroopers to wear the black jump boots with the blue ASU, and the decision to transition to a new short sleeve and long sleeve white shirt with shoulder loops.

It is also permissible for enlisted Soldiers to wear both overseas service bars and service stripes on the new blue ASU coat. Officers and Soldiers in the grade of corporal and above will additionally wear a gold braid on their slacks to indicate leadership roles.

"That is kind of a right of passage as you transition from being a (junior) enlisted soldier to a noncommissioned officer," Preston said of the gold braid.

New items for the ASU will be available in military clothing sales after July 2009.

Soldiers will be expected to possess the entire uniform by July 2014. The two key components of the uniform, the coat and slacks, are expected to cost around $140, with modifications bringing the total cost to $200. Enlisted Soldiers will receive an increase in their annual uniform allowance to help offset the cost of the uniform.


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: army; oldnews; uniform
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-119 next last
Out with the greens, in with the blue. With a coat it looks great. Without the coat and with the white shirt it looks awful!


1 posted on 09/08/2008 12:09:06 PM PDT by cll
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SandRat; StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska

Ping.


2 posted on 09/08/2008 12:11:11 PM PDT by cll (Choose life or choose death)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SandRat; StarCMC; Kathy in Alaska

Ping.


3 posted on 09/08/2008 12:11:29 PM PDT by cll (Choose life or choose death)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

Between the berets and the ugly new white shirts, the Army is looking quite gay these days.


4 posted on 09/08/2008 12:12:43 PM PDT by rivercat (Sarah Palin '12)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

I would ‘lol’ but I am sure this more of a time of mourning than outright laughter.


5 posted on 09/08/2008 12:13:10 PM PDT by CodeToad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

Looks vaguely french.


6 posted on 09/08/2008 12:13:49 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Wish it was Palin/McCain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

The Army is joining the Air Force? pretty funny, considering the Air Force was once a branch of the Army.


7 posted on 09/08/2008 12:14:40 PM PDT by ozzymandus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

The greens looked like warmed over dog poop.

The blue look like poop. At least that’s an improvement. They’d be better off if they just went back to Ike jackets.


8 posted on 09/08/2008 12:14:57 PM PDT by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

FWIW, the uniform makes me think of a British bobby...


9 posted on 09/08/2008 12:15:03 PM PDT by mewzilla (In politics the middle way is none at all. John Adams)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

Ah yes; the Army and it’s never ending quest to make soldiers look like Panamanian generals.


10 posted on 09/08/2008 12:16:57 PM PDT by SAMS ("I may look harmless, but I raised a U.S. MARINE!" Army Wife & Marine Mom)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rivercat

Who designed these uniforms-Bill Clinton.


11 posted on 09/08/2008 12:17:36 PM PDT by Dr. Ursus (( commander of the simian host))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: cll
Looks like they just decided to cut production costs and steal Air Force uniforms.

12 posted on 09/08/2008 12:17:40 PM PDT by mnehring (Mavrick/Barracuda 2008)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cll

Does this smell like pEU, or am I off base here?


13 posted on 09/08/2008 12:17:53 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (McCain, the Ipecac President.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rivercat
Bit of a different beast, but much better green.
14 posted on 09/08/2008 12:17:53 PM PDT by MeanWestTexan (Wish it was Palin/McCain)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: cll; Redleg Duke
Here's a different photo showing the coat:

The yellow leg stripe is a nice touch (Plains Indians used to call the infantry "yellowlegs" because of their yellow-striped pants) and I wonder if the artillery guys will get red?

Still, this is going to look a lot like the Air Force blues to the uninitiated.

15 posted on 09/08/2008 12:18:06 PM PDT by Mr. Silverback (*******It's not conservative to accept an inept Commander-in-Chief in a time of war. Bac Mac.******)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: rivercat
It doesn't do anything for me at all. The beret kills it for me.
16 posted on 09/08/2008 12:18:22 PM PDT by wally_bert (Tactical Is Still Missing A Chair! Star Wreck In The Pirkinning......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: cll

Light green is going to show the dirt less.


17 posted on 09/08/2008 12:18:33 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but Hillary's ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MeanWestTexan

That green looks very professional. That would be my preference.


18 posted on 09/08/2008 12:18:39 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (McCain, the Ipecac President.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: cll

Looks a little too “Air Force” to me.


19 posted on 09/08/2008 12:19:14 PM PDT by oyez (Justa' another high minded lowlife.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SAMS

“Ah yes; the Army and it’s never ending quest to make soldiers look like Panamanian generals”

lol!


20 posted on 09/08/2008 12:19:17 PM PDT by cll (Carthage must be destroyed)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-119 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson