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 $200. Enlisted Soldiers will receive an increase in their annual uniform allowance to help offset the cost of the uniform.
Odd. I thought we were on the same side.
Don't the various branches of the military have similar-looking dress uniforms and headgear, but of differing colors? Why not the same with non-dress cover?
Yes, but it pisses off the grunts. When I was in Hawaii, we had one of our Warrant Officers in the O club, wearing his Stetson. Some weenie infantry 2LT got in his face about the "out of regulations" hat. It went to the CG, and he told us that we were only allowed to wear them in our squadron area. So we made it a point to run through that LT's company area, at least once per week, singing our "If You Ain't CAV, You Ain't @#$%" song.
Yes! Of course we're all on the same side! There's always been a little interservice rivalry though. for example...
A soldier and a Marine go into a latrine. When they are done at the urinal, the soldier zips up and heads straight for the door. The Marine yells, "Hey! In the Marine Corps, they teach us to wash our hands after using the head." The soldier looks at the the Marine and says, "In the Army, they teach us not to pee on our hands!"
It's all in good fun.
Ugly white shirts?
As opposed to the ugly pale green shirts?
IMHO, the Army needs to go back to the old khaki/brown uniforms they had during WW2
I liked this uniform best.
They're ugly too, but white is a pain to keep clean. I do love the old khaki/brown uniforms though, and the Cavalry should go back to the 1800's blue uniforms with authorized Stetsons.
I'm just amazed that whatever cabal of generals responsible for this travesty has spare time on their hands inversely proportional to their degree of fashion sense. It's like they're up 24/7 thinking up goofy crap to pile on to the troops.
Whoever thought the "Combat Meter Maid" look was a good move should be fired. From a cannon. Preferably, into a brick wall.
Thanks.
Well, the new ACU is an improvement for soldiers actually doing something.
Hey! You know better than that - remember: Don't Ask, Don't TELL...
hehehe
You bet.
I love that old uniform - always wished they would go back to it when I was in the Army... I can’t believe this new uniform is actually making me nostalgic for our puke-green, shapeless sack, uniforms from the 80s...
OK - I am sending you a bill for a new keyboard - I think the Apple Juice that just spewed out of my NOSE all over it and my monitor will be a bit hard to clean up!
I haven't laughed that hard at a FR post in quite a while, thank you!
Huh? What the heck is that suppose to mean? Please tell me I’m reading you wrong.
Yeah, I just read the post and realized there were multiple bad possible meanings THAT WERE NOT INTENDED.
To clarify: the above postman uniform is stupid, but the ACU, for troops in the field, is pretty cool (and should not be starched, which is even better).
I have to admit that what I gave was much more an expression of opinion than a position developed by careful analysis. My service was the Navy, and service there as an officer. Our uniform is not that much different from Navy officers worldwide, and has remained relatively unchanged throughout this and the last century. I think the best uniform is the Marine service dress blue. My son is a Marine and can recite from memory the connection of every part of the uniform to Marine Corps heritage. I served in the amphibious Navy, so never went more than four months in my 3.5 years without serving with Marines. So now you know just how unabashedly prejudiced I am.
Well, they never took them off so it was really hard to swipe them.
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