Army adopts new service uniform

Army Logistician, Sept-Oct, 2006

The Army announced in April that it would replace the three current Army service uniforms with one new blue uniform. The green uniform and white dress uniform will be phased out, and the existing blue dress uniform will be altered to become the Army service uniform.

Reducing the number of uniforms will reduce the financial burden on Soldiers for purchases and alterations. Streamlining various service uniforms into one Army service uniform will reduce the burden on Soldiers in the same manner that the Army combat uniform did for the battledress and desert combat uniforms. "We have all of these variations of uniforms--green, blue, and white," said Army Chief of Staff General Peter J. Schoomaker. "It makes sense for us to go to one traditional uniform that is really sharp and high quality and which Soldiers will be very proud to wear. And that's what we've done by adopting this blue Army service uniform that reflects simplicity, quality, utility, and tradition."

Army blue as a uniform color traces its origins back to the National blue first worn by Soldiers in the Continental Army of 1779. "World-class Soldiers deserve a simplified, quality uniform. The blue Army service uniform is a traditional uniform that is consistent with the Army's most honored traditions," said Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston.

The blue Army service uniform provides a basic set of components that can be worn for various types of functions. The uniform will be made of a durable material that is suitable for daily use without special care.

The Army service uniform should be available in Army military clothing sales stores during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007. The uniform will be included in the clothing bags issued to new recruits beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. Soldiers who already own a blue dress uniform may continue to wear it. The mandatory possession date is expected to be the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2011. A wear-out date for the Army green class A and white dress uniforms has not been determined yet.