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.
Gee, looks just like the Air Force uniform!
Yes, I would like fries and a coke with my burger...
I understand the significance of blue — Civil War esp, but the apex of the US military’s worldwide respect was (remains) WWII.
The WWII/Korea uniforms look like the “Army” to me — perhaps because of movies (and they didn’t change all THAT much circa 1986-96 — my time).
If they had to go different, maybe WWII style in kahki.
With that yellow stripe the trousers look like they were purloined from the Alaska State Troopers.
Nothing beats the uniforms pictured in your post. It’s sharp, tailored and professional. What a change! Hope there’s a good reason, as leaving this behind is sad. Maybe it’s too expensive to have our men and women dress than way today.
Only if they want to pretend they are United States Marines.
UUUUUUGHH! Spare me! There was nothing wrong with the WW II Dark Green/?Brown belted coat with tan pants. Ike Jacket? Still got one!
Oh for the days of the brown shoe army, with the O D’s,the Ike Jacket, Pinks and Greens, and Campaign Hats.
UUUUUUGHH! Spare me! There was nothing wrong with the WW II Dark Greenish Brown? belted coat with tan pants. Ike Jacket? I still got one, it lasted this long!
Easily the coolest Army uniform accessory. Especially in the club with a flightsuit.
It was a move to democratize the Army. My dad told me in the fifties, the reason the Pinks and Greens
were done away with is that only the officers wore them.
Thanks.
OMG! The Damn Yakees are comin' back!
It’s got to part of an ongoing project called “What Can We Get the Dumb Soldiers To Put Up With”.
“Let’s see if we can get them to wear a hat that’s hot in the summer, cold in the winter, won’t keep the sun or rain out of their eyes, takes two hands to put on, and that 85% of them will look like rodeo clowns in!”
“Who’da thought they’d actually wear that? I know, let’s try a pajama suit covered with velcro in a wierd color that doesn’t blend in with anything except one rare bush at Ft Irwin. We can sell the velcro as a convenience and cost saver, even though patches constantly fall off and cost several times what the old patches cost, and they’ll be reminded of how much we care for their convenience when they have to transfer all the patches each time they put on a clean one. And as a bonus, we’ll make them wear pin-on badges that you can’t wear with a seat belt.”
“Oh my God, they put up with that. There’s nothing left except to dress them up like wanna-be third-class shopping mall security guards, and we’ll especially pick on the elite guys by making them blouse neon-blue pants with big gold stripes into their boots. They already proved they’ll put up with anything.”
“the Army, as a whole, is like a guy that just keeps punching himself in the b**** over and over for no reason.” (anonymous)
I think a Mississippi Marine Brigade/Ram Fleet "dragoon" style hat would work, too.
Mr. niteowl77
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