"Army blue" is okay, since blue has a long and honorable history. It would have been nice to have the leg stripe in the Branch's color, though.
Let's not forget the new Navy and Air Force uniforms, though.
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.
"Army blue" is okay, since blue has a long and honorable history. It would have been nice to have the leg stripe in the Branch's color, though.
Let's not forget the new Navy and Air Force uniforms, though.
I could live with that! I always liked my dress blues better than the Class A greens though. Of course, being in the cavalry (Attack Helicopters) myself, we were allowed to wear the old cavalry hats that always looked pretty good with the dress blue uniform.
Officers already wear shoulder boards (with rank) that denote the branch. No need to change.
Besides, the USMC has adopted the Army dress blues concept, so the red strip (artillery) is already in use.
They can thank us for it later.
There was no gold stipe in the Civil War, or before 1930, except for General Officer uniforms. The color of the stripe was determined by your branch of service. The Marine Corps wear a red stipe. Why is this? Because they mimiced Army uniforms and the Marine Corps “branch” color was red.
I sadly suspect that you are right, though I haven’t found the source. A uniform designed by a committee, and modified by focus groups. Can’t defend it, only hope that cooler heads someday prevail.
Pardon me, but please to observe: women wear pants. Men wear trou.
Anyway, no one’s mentioned the short dress blue mess jacket, worn with cummerbund, high rise trou, and mini medals. It’s still around as far as I know.
It's like the Beret fiasco. It's corporate welfare from politicians to make sure friends get all those not needed servicemember wide lucrative contracts. We're talking about major bucks here each time a change is ordered.
The Navy uniform change from the crackerjack in the 1970's was a major disaster and even Carter's people knew as much and did something about it late 79 early 80. Can you remember when the Navy Blues went from Crackerjack to suit? I know when it went back but at bootcamp late 76 I was issued to suit dress blues.
I HATE the new Navy cammies. The dungarees looked much nicer (and neater).
Same tune as “Love Me Tender”
Great song.
Yep.
“Dress Mess”.
I’m short (5’6”), so the dress mess looks better on my frame.
The USMC also has a version (of course, taken from The Army).
We really set the uniform standards, but we just didn’t keep them :\
The one uniform that the Navy reall has is the black one.
What is that unform?
The pentagon switched to the battle uniform (now ACUs for the Army) due to the current war. Class B is the normal pentagon uniform, which was the Green Class A without the coat and tie.
The Green Class A was a silly replacement for the brown WWII uniform with the khaki shirts and ties. THat was a classy uniform. Why they do’t go back to that is beyond me.
I’ll be buried in my Dress Greens and jump boots!
IIRC, The Army retired the khaki uniforms because they ended up as surplus after the bigger wars. People started wearing the jackets (and the accoutrements) on the streets, so The Army decided to switch to something not available on the street.
Big mistake.
It is the song for the 3d Infantry Division. The Audi Murphy division. Song came out of WWII.
The funny part about this whole thing is that as any Marine will proudly admit we got our blues because the Army decided they were obsolete and donated them to the Marines during the war with Mexico (The Halls of Montezuma).
Anyway it was because of that war that the Marines have worn them ever since. Our Dress Blues were once a Battle Uniform.
Dressing a soldier like a Marine doesn’t make him one. I still have my Marine dress blues - I earned them.
Semper fi, do or die.
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.