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.
Actually, the Cavalry had the yellow stripe on the pants and I believe the Infantry was white. Of course, the Field Artillery were the “Redlegs”.
That uniform is exactly like USAF military police circa 1972 from top to bottom, with the exception of missing the white-laced jump boots.
Me, too (although 99.99% I wore a flight jumpsuit of some kind). You could get out of anything as a pilot.
I guess you were making a joke. Otherwise, nonsense. Ike Jackets were worn by all ranks at the end of WW2 until the early 1950’s. They were the sharpest US uniform ever.
Too bad the Army football team can’t look a little like
the Air Force!
Is moral really why the uniforms are being changed? Honestly, I don't know, that's way I ask.
My Dad got into the Army Guard while the Ike Jacket was still in. They got rid of it because it really looked bad on fatso!
Baseball caps are too Air Force, and thus quite lame.
I wore a flightsuit about half of the time too, though not a pilot.
I find it very attractive with the blue jacket, and it does have historical resonance. Its very similar in effect to the uniforms of the 19th-early 20th centuries.
They would look snappier with closed collars in the true 19th century style.
The berets are a poor match with the uniform I think, as are the womens hats. A stiff Kepi would be better, or a Stetson-type campaign hat, though that is much less practical.
I can’t pick on zoomies. They kept the bad guys out of the sky so I didn’t get killed.
Although I did not care for the time they bombed targets below us when they were above us (happened more than once).
Next thing will be the San Francisco Castro District pink urban camo’s...zipper in the rear of course
I liked the old khakis. You could even go with a white shirt and khakis pants. This looks too much like the Air Force.
Berets are for special units only - period, but I guess that goes against the concept of an Army of One (dumb slogan). There are a lot of other covers / styles that can be used.
Take the beret away (don’t get me started on the berets) and that person looks like the mailman.
Dang, that’s a nasty-faced SOB! Reminds me of a couple of the Master Sergeants who taught me some life lessons in my early years.
Reminds me vaguely of the mailman.
Keep trying, they never look as good as the Marines!!!
oooh rahh
My vote goes for khaki too.
Lose the frog hat too.
“.....should have gone back to the old khaki uniform.”
....Amen!!....soldiers should look soldierly....this new blue&white thing looks like a airline stewardess outfit.
Stonewalls [old enough to remember when guys spit shined their low quarters instead of wearing plastic coated ones]
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