[TheBattman]

Don’t soldiers have to buy their own uniforms?

[GreyFriar]

Enlisted personnel are issued a complete set of uniforms during their in-processing. After a year or so, they start receiving a monthly clothing allowance to purchase new, i.e. replacement, uniform items that wear out. Officers receive an initial uniform allotment to pay for their initial set of uniforms, afterwards they do not receive a clothing allowance and pay for their own uniforms.

Here are the rates for enlisted personnel uniform allowances:

https://militarybenefits.info/military-clothing-allowance-rates/

https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/allowances/clothing-allowances.html

http://militarypay.defense.gov/PAY/Allowances/clothing.aspx

[OldMissileer]

Don’t soldiers have to buy their own uniforms?

Enlisted troops are given a stipend for their uniforms in their paycheck every month. It does not cover what they really need to replace uniform parts, especially the troops that are always in cammies. Each cammie piece runs about $50 and that does not include getting the name and service tapes sewn on.

Officers have to pay out of their own pocket. When I graduated ROTC we were given a one-time stipend of $300. That covered most of the cost of one Service Dress uniform or part of a Mess Dress uniform.