Posted on 08/24/2008 4:26:16 PM PDT by Dawnsblood
After a century of green uniforms, the last one is being retired from the U.S. Army. The new "Class A" uniform, as of August 21st, 2008, will be the current blue "Dress Uniform.". By 2010, troops graduating from basic training will be issued the "dress blues" as their "Class A" uniform. The "Class B" uniform will be the dress blue trousers and a white shirt with decorations (ribbons, combat badge and so on). For both enlisted and officers, rank will be worn on epaulets. The new uniform "system" is similar to the one the U.S. Marine Corps has been wearing for decades, and that's no accident.
All this in response to decades old efforts by the troops, to drop the green "Class A" uniform (green jacket and pants, with light brown shirt and tie) and go to something, anything, more impressive.. The new Class A uniform is simply the existing dress uniform. This uniform, unlike the green Class A's, that were introduced in 1954, is based on the 19th century dress uniform. Most enlisted troops do not have the dress blue uniform, because they have to buy it themselves, and that is optional for most troops. But over the next six years, the old Class A will be phased out completely.
All this is the result of longstanding "uniform envy" soldiers have had for marines. The USMC has always sported the most impressive dress uniform, and young enlisted marines were glad to spend at least $300 to buy themselves one. The marine "Class A" uniform is also green, but a darker green, and the jacket is worn with a belt. This looks much snappier, and many soldiers have suggested something like this for a new army Class A uniform. But many career army types have been campaigning for a spiffier Class A uniform, and something in blue, preferably with a belted jacket. But instead of a new uniform design, the army simply made the current dress blues the new Class As. The dress blues have been around for a long time, and have a good reputation. That doesn't mean that a belt cannot be added down the road. The important thing right now is to dump those hideous green Class As, which have embarrassed several generations of soldiers.
The Class A uniform is not actually worn that much, with most troops wearing BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform, with the camouflage pattern) or the Class A uniform without the jacket, when at work. The BDUs come in several different shades, none of them featuring much green. So after a century, the green is gone. The army is also eliminating the all white tropical dress uniform, which was rarely used.
One of my CO’s would constantly refer to it as a “green suit”. I got pissed off enough that I let him have it, in private.
I thought the green army uniform (dark green pants and jacket with light green shirt) was nice. I’m sorry the Army brass feel badly about it.
It’s mighty stylish. Looks like Pat Schroeder had a hand not only in the design but also in selecting the models.
But I gotta say that every time the subject came up us dog faces wanted the Ike jacket back, and khaki. Is that what you remeber?
Thanks!
I’m not sure why there was much change on the dress side since WWII. The uniforms that Eisenhower and Patton wore were fine. If anything, I would have kept the kahki’s and dropped the greens. Our uniforms will look a lot like those of a company that provides trash removal for many Boston institutions: Gray shirt and blue pants. Amazing.
Feed me ammunition, keep me in the Third Division!
This is INSANE!!! Our soldiers are going to look like “toy soldiers” and Park Avenue Doormen. I don’t care if this was the regulation “super dress” uniform for years. When I was in the Army, I never saw one in real life, thank god. I would not join the Army again just for this reason.
Some things will never change .
“Dog Face Soldier”
I Wouldn't Give A Bean
To Be A Fancy Pants Marine,
I'd rather Be A Dogface Soldier Like I Am.
I Wouldn't Trade My Old O.D.’s
For All The Navy's Dungarees
For I'm The Walking Pride Of Uncle Sam;
On All The Posters That I Read It Says
Be All That You Can
So They're Tearing Me Down To Build Me Over Again
I'm Just A Dogface Soldier
With A Rifle On My Shoulder
And I Eat Raw Meat For Breakfast Everyday.
So Feed Me Ammunition,
Keep Me In The Third Division,
Your Dogfaced Soldiers A-Okay.
I have to say I enjoyed this song from To Hell and Back, but my relatives that were Marines didn't cotton to it! I can see their point but they should have enlisted Audie Murphy when they had their chance--
As Audie said of the 3rd Division, "We are the only Marines in Italy."
Hooah...
...and the Army goes rolling along.
we can all be thankful for that.
Ever since I joined in 1985.
The green felt wrong.
It did feel more like a “suit” and less like a proper uniform.
Khaki, at least, because not every physique can pull off the Ike jacket/waist coat ;)
The 3D Infantry Divison Song
I wouldn’t give a bean
To be a fancy pants Marine
I’d rather be a
Dog face soldier like I am
I wouldn’t trade my old OD’s
For all the Navy’s dungarees
For I’m the walking pride
Of Uncle Sam
On Army posters that I read
It says “Be all that you can”
So they’re tearing me down
To build me over again
I’m just a Dog Faced soldier
With a rifle on my shoulder
And I eat raw meat
For breakfast E’V’RY day!
So feed me ammunition
Keep me in the Third Division
Your Dog Faced soldiers A-Okay!
That’s funny. I joined the Army for love of the nation and what it stands for...to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic..... I didn’t make the choice dependent on what uniform they slapped on my back.
Don’t worry mate, the Army doesn’t need shallow people in the ranks today anyways.
I lived through that beret stupidity. Everyone KNEW it was his “Ode to Monica.” *SPIT* Absolutely HORRIBLE. The Army never had any decent headgear to wear with the Class A uniform.
I lived and worked in the (soon to be retired) Class A uniform for more years that I care to admit. We actually LOVED it when we could wear BDUs a few times a week. Much more practical and comfortable.
Anyhow, I did do a basketball lay-up in a Class A skirt and blouse; in HEELS no less. So, when it came down to it, I guess you can do just about anything in that uniform and live to tell, LOL!
(Got spit on while wearing it a time or two as well. F-ing loser liberals. I risked my life for YOU? Jerks.)
Well, now they’re calling some of them “Fobbits”, for the refusal to leave the confines of the FOBs ;)
But, The Army support and service support guys really have their work cut out for them. Not only do they have to support The Army, they also have to support the Marines and their failed logistics systems.
Where have I seen those uniforms before?
Oh, yeah! Now I remember.
"Bugler. Sound Boots and Saddles!"
Never did like the Greens. Pinks and Greens of WWII were classy especially with Sam Browne belts.
Army Mess Dress was always a classy uniform, especially with the cape.
O-K. We'd rather owe it to ya rather than cheat ya out of it!
:)
I rather liked the “c**t cap” (garrison cap), myself.
Pracical, compact and looked damn good with a slight cant.
No way we can use that, now.
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