Current News – The New/Old Army Uniform
By COREY DICKSTEIN | STARS AND STRIPES Published: November 19, 2018
WASHINGTON — The Army is finalizing its new green throwback uniforms inspired by soldiers’ World War II attire, but only recruiters should expect to don the new duds for the time being.
The service was making final tweaks to the design of the new uniform, to be officially called Army Greens, which will see an initial run of some 200 prototypes that will be fielded primarily by recruiters, Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey, the service’s top enlisted soldier, said Monday. It could be another three months before that initial batch of uniforms is ready. But the vast majority of soldiers will not have an opportunity to purchase or receive the Greens until the summer of 2020.
Dailey received positive feedback from soldiers he spoke to about the new uniforms during a visit in recent days with troops in Asia, the Army’s top enlisted soldier told reporters at the Pentagon.
“This is something I think is very positive for the United States Army,” he said. “This is a great day to be a soldier, as I’ve gone around and talked to soldiers in the last few days overseas … an overwhelming majority are truly excited about this new uniform.”
Despite the ongoing tweaks – the Army has made changes in recent weeks to the jacket’s collar and the shirt’s material, for example – the service has made some important decisions about the uniform, Dailey said. Standard headgear to be worn with the Greens will be the Army’s Garrison Cap, which is an olive green, straight sided, foldable hat. Berets and the Service Cap will be optional to wear with the uniform.
Three new, optional jackets will be authorized to wear with the Army Greens – a green tanker jacket, essentially a zip-front, water-resistant windbreaker; a brown leather bomber jacket, and the popular green “Ike” jacket, modeled after the cropped jacket made famous by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower during World War II. All soldiers will be issued a green all-weather, trench coat-style jacket with the new uniforms.
Additionally, the Army is planning to allow soldiers assigned to airborne units to wear jump boots with the new Army Greens, Dailey said. The service has yet to make a decision, but it could switch to brown jump boots for the new uniform.
The new uniforms, which had been colloquially referred to as Pinks and Greens – a reference to a slightly different version of the World War II-era uniforms, have been a pet project of Dailey’s. The service has spent more than a year considering and developing them.
On Nov. 11, which was Veterans Day, the Army quietly announced its decision to adopt the new uniforms. However, the service has yet to conduct a high-profile, public rollout of the gear. Dailey said he expects official photographs detailing the uniform to be released in the near future.
Recruiters and some high-profile soldiers will begin receiving prototypes of the new uniform early in 2019, said Army Col. Steve Thomas, a project manager who led the Army’s development of the uniforms for Program Executive Officer Soldier. The uniforms will then start to be phased into the rest of the force in the summer of 2020 and will not be required until the summer of 2028.
That should give enlisted soldiers plenty of time to purchase the new gear with their uniform allowances, keeping them from having to pay out of pocket, he said.
Nonetheless, Dailey said the Army does not yet have an estimate for the cost of the new uniforms that he could announce publicly. The Army has pledged the Greens would not put additional costs on either enlisted soldiers nor on American taxpayers.
The Army is not ditching its blue service uniform. That uniform will become the service’s dress uniform that soldiers don for more formal occasions, whereas the Greens will be worn in day-to-day settings, Dailey said. Commanders will set soldiers’ duty uniforms, so troops who currently wear combat uniforms most days are likely to continue to do so, he said. The blues will be renamed, possibly to Army Dress Blues, Dailey added.
The sergeant major of the Army said he plans to wear his unofficial version of Army Greens at the Army-Navy football game Dec. 8 in Philadelphia.
“I’m excited about this,” Dailey said. “And soldiers are too.”
Click on images to enlarge.
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Military Uniform Humor –
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Farewell Salutes –
Francis Brown – Media, PA; US Army, WWII, ETO, Silver Star
Ray Chavez (106) – San Diego, CA; US Navy, WWII, Pearl Harbor
Robert Davenport – Sioux City, IA; US Army, WWII, Sgt., 383rd Infantry
Ellen Fritz – IL; US Navy WAVE, WWII / US Army Corps of Engineers
George Gillespie – Rome City, IN; US Army, WWII, ETO
Leandro Jasso – WA; US Army, Afghanistan, Sgt. 75th Ranger regiment, KIA
Howard Lockwood – Sydney, AUS; Australian Reg. Army # 57095, WWII
Ernest Murphy – Norwalk, CT; US Navy, WWII, submarine service
Ulysses Pinell – Maringouin, LA; US Army, WWII / US Navy, Korea
Robert Sirois – Pittsfield, ME; US Navy, WWII
Irene Zuckermann – Manhassett, NY; US Army WAC, WWII, Nurse Corps
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Posted on November 26, 2018, in Current News, Uncategorized, WWII and tagged 1940's, Army, family history, History, Military, Military History, Retro, Uniforms, veterans, WWII. Bookmark the permalink. 112 Comments.
Reblogged this on quirkywritingcorner and commented:
I love the humor on his posts.
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I’m glad you noticed; many think I’m solely a very serious person because of the topic.
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Nothing said class, quality, and integrity like those uniforms!
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Excellent description, KC. Thanks!!
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Thanks for sharing this great information. We deal with ww1 us army uniforms if anyone looking then visit our site
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Merry Christmas!
You must do a lot of work with re-enactments, eh?
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Sometimes the old ways are the best ways. 🙂
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I completely agree on this!!
Enjoy the Holidays!!
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Our ROTC unit had ike jackets and the heavy wool olive-drab trousers. I miss ike jackets, seat belts work better without all the extra material in the way.
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I never thought about that, with the seat belts – you’ve got a good point! Thanks.
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Thanks for your like of my post, “Hanukkah 2018;” you are very kind.
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I really like the retro look of the Greens, not as formal as the Dress Blues. A different, but enjoyable post, GP!
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Thank, Tiny. Seems the new retro look has the A-Okay from those here in Blogsville!!
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The Army is one of my great heroes! ♥️♥️♥️
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Glad to hear it!
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Reblogged this on depolreablesunite.
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Much appreciated!!
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Blogging also gives us the opportunity to ponder over many absurdities.Thanks for sharing so many great posts, my friend!
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Thank you. Your blog has given me many a pleasant morning over coffee!!
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Retro military uniforms? Who’da thunk it? I think it’s cool, and I like the look. Great post, GP. Hugs on the wing.
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It has become one unanimous vote in agreement here on this!!
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I was speaking to the author of this book the other day (link below). We mentioned the “excitement” that the WWII American uniforms caused the local Aussie girls. Zippered trousers created a much flatter and flattering line in comparison to buttons!
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/fiction/The-Passengers-Eleanor-Limprecht-9781760631338
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Well, Eleanor had better be prepared to get ‘excited’ again, eh?!!
(thank you for the link.)
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I also like the design.
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Terrific. So far it’s unanimous!!
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Great!
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Reminds me of my father.
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Pleasant memories I hope.
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Oh this is great. I love the old style green uniform. Sharp and dapper too. Love your toons GP! Good ones!🤣
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Thanks for visiting. I’m glad you liked the post today!!
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Yes, I like the new uniform. Although as an Aussie I still can’t get over having all those ribbons. Most soldiers would only have two or three. ie Vietnam 2 and a couple of unit citations. But I do like the new uniforms.
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If you’re talking about Sgt Major Dailey, he would have earned each one of those ribbons – it is no small feat to become a Sergeant Major. And he has been in the service since 1989.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_A._Dailey
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I am sure he has earned them all. It would be interesting to learn what they are all for.
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The main ones are in that link I sent.
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Wow. Thanks for that. Very impressive.
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How interesting that the US army is opting for a retro look rather than something ultra modern.
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I think the fact that that era was when this country was most unified.
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That’s a good point.
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I think this new Army uniform is nice; that WWII feel is awesome!
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Isn’t it though?!! I think they made a wise choice!
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Yes and I am so happy they did
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The new uniforms looks amazing and stylefull
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Thank you, Mary Lou. You and I definitely agree!
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This is a most interesting note GP!
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I think the retro look is the best.
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We shall see. The change is for some unknown reason. But for some timer I have wondered why the entire world’s military started wearing camouflage uniforms. And then why could any joe blow buy USA military uniforms at surplus stores. Wondering….
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You ask good questions, but at the moment I can not answer them. I’ve often wondered why you could buy them too.
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Darn, makes me want to go out and buy a new pair of pants. 🙂 –Curt
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What color, Curt? 🙂
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I’m partial to earthy tones, G. Show less dirt when I am out playing in the woods. 🙂
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I think it’s a great change. In a way it honours those who fought and died in it.
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That’s how I feel, plus (to me) it is better looking.
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I really like this uniform. Glad it’s a ‘go’.
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You and me both, Jennie!!
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🙂
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Love the new/old look. I recall in the old days when I was an AF officer’s wife, the time the AF brought in new uniforms – which were pretty high in polyester count – the guys all thought they made them look like bus drivers. (They lacked only the greyhound logo!).
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I think there’s just so much a designer can do to improvise a uniform, so I’m glad they’re going back!! I like your description, Jan, I always wondered why I didn’t like the new ones – Greyhound, of course!! lol
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Reblogged this on John Cowgill's Literature Site.
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Thank you very much, John.
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You are welcome very much.
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How nice!
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I thought so – thanks for stopping by, Diane!
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US service uniforms have always been so much smarter than the British equivalents.
Looks like that tradition is set to continue. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
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That WWII design (IMO) was really sharp, though I never found any fault with the British.
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LOL! I think the non-elite units should get golf shoes! That would really set them apart. Just kidding!
Great post. I hated the OD green fatigues we had when I enlisted. I thought the kakhis looked pretty sharp, but they were phased out in the mid-1980s. I really did like the jungle fatigues we were issued in Panama. Very comfortable and practical but not workable when you wanted to look sharp. I hated the BDUs. Hot, uncomfortable and ugly … but at least you didn’t have to iron them!.
I do like the look of the new uniform. Very WWII-ish. I do think you need a sharp garrison uniform that instills a sense of pride and esprit de corps. Combat uniforms, by necessity, need to vary a great deal depending on where troops are operating.
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Thanks for describing the old, so you and I agree – it’s in with the new or should I say Retro!
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When I went in they were about to fade out the WWII uniform and bring in the new uniforms. I was issued one of each. Not many liked the change. We wanted to keep the Ike jackets.
As far as switching the jump boots to brown that won’t go over very good. There’s a lot of time. work, and pride in our black inspection pair,
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We’ll see what happens, they aren’t finalized yet. I personally like the retro.
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I’m with the thought that if the soldiers like it, I’m good. I do think it’s a good design.
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We agree on both counts. Thanks, Dan!
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Being “retro” kind of guy (as witnessed by my taste in cars …) I’m glad to see the Army do this. Good move!
In your “Farewell Salutes”, I see you have Ray Chavez who recently passed away, age 106. “Packard Truck Dave” met Ray: http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=21287&forum=1
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Thank you for your comment and for reading the Salutes!! I appreciate the link – I’m on my way…..
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I like your choice of words–“opportunity to purchase”. To them (and I speak from the experience of my daughter–the Navy changed their uniforms about a year ago), it’s expensive and tedious. My daughter worked for an Admiral who wanted her in the new uniform which was only available in California (she worked at Ft. Meade Maryland). Trip home!
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So – the change of uniform worked out well for you, eh?!
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Reblogged this on Dave Loves History.
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Thank you, Dave!
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Sounds like a good change to me.
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I think they’re the best looking!
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I think the retro uniform looks great. Thanks for the report.
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So – it’s not just us talking about that era, eh? The Army agrees!
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Yup. The greatest generation
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Yea! Great uniform. I wore the Ike jacket uniform when I first joined the FL National Guard in 1955. Glad to see the Army has come full circle.
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You and me both – the best looking one by far!
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Who knew that the army cared so much about fashion choices!
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They change uniforms pretty much with every generation or so, I’m glad they’re going back to this one.
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Very stylish!
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I thought so. Thanks for visiting, Helen!
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Everything old is new again (except us). Great column and I loved the cartoons. Thanks for letting us in on this new Arm initiative.
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Retro is IN, you are so right! Happy you liked the cartoons!
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1940s fashionwas far and away the best, I always thought. Glad to see this (the golf shoes cartoon is great).
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I agree. (and I love that cartoon too)
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It looks great. I always love the WWII uniform.
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Doesn’t it?!! I’m glad they made this decision!
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So am I. I don’t really like the camouflage uniform although on the battlefield, it is necessary.
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If the soldiers are happy with the change, that’s good enough for me.
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Thanks for sharing the good news, GP!
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It was a great era of unity, what a great way to remember it!!
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I always loved the WWII Army uniform!
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It was the best in MY book!! Thanks for commenting, Will!
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I see no point to the change. On the other hand, I hope the new uniforms are made in the USA. The end of those goofy berets for all would be an improvement. Those elite units that wore them, before should continue to wear them, re-establishing their elite status.
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I agree with you, Doug. I’m glad they’re changing and what better era than that, eh?!!
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Yes, I’d agree with that much. I personally rarly wore Class A’s when I was in the US Army since my job allowed me to wear civilian clothes most of the time or fatigues the rest. I think traveling from the US to Europe, then back to the USA later wee the two major times I wore Class A’s, with one review where as wore our summer Class A’s (khakis – they were OK). That was the sum total of needing to have dress uniforms in three years! I wouldn’t be happy having to buy the new uniforms with that lack of need, but I suppose oner would be able to get away with the old ones, if I understood the article correctly, if one were in for just one enlistment.
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I think it’s a great idea
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Thanks – I agree!!!
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I didn’t know US soldiers have to buy their uniforms, ours get them given, except dress uniform which they get an allowance for.
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When you first enlist, they’re given to you and a lot has to do with rank.
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Ah right. Nice they’re doing the retro design.
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I prefer it.
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What a massive exercise to develop and implement a uniform change.
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Yes it will be, but I’m I’m glad they’re changing the current one.
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I’m glad they like it
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I prefer this uniform myself! Thanks, Derrick!
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