No more Class A's

Colleges & Universities United States Military Academy - West Point
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<p>Army Streamlines Service Uniforms to One Blue Army Service Uniform
Decision Reflects Simplicity, Utility, Quality and Tradition</p>

<p>WASHINGTON (Army News Service) – Army service uniforms will be streamlined to one blue Army Service Uniform, the Army announced today. </p>

<p>“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 Sgt. Maj. Of the Army Kenneth O. Preston. </p>

<p>“We have all of these variations of uniforms – green, blue and white,” said Army Chief of Staff Gen. 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.” </p>

<p>Many Soldiers already own an Army blue uniform (now to be called the Army Service Uniform) and may continue to wear it. Improvements will be made to the fabric and fit. Reduction of the number of uniforms will reduce the burden on Soldiers for purchases and alteration cost.</p>

<p>Introduction in the Army Military Clothing Sales Stores should begin in fourth quarter of fiscal year 2007. Introduction in the Clothing Bag should begin first quarter 2009. The Mandatory Possession Date is expected to be fourth quarter fiscal year 2011.</p>

<p>A wear-out date for the Army Green Class A and White dress uniforms will be determined at a later date. </p>

<p>The consolidation of Army service uniforms is part of a streamlining process. In 2004, the Army reduced the number of battle dress uniforms from three to one when it adopted the Army Combat Uniform in place of the Woodland Green Battle Dress Uniform (winter and summer versions) and the Desert Combat Uniform. That uniform consolidation has been a resounding success in terms of Soldier acceptance and reducing the variety of combat uniforms with which they must deal. </p>

<p>Army Blue as a uniform color traces its origins back to the National Blue and was first worn by Soldiers in the Continental Army of 1779.</p>

<p>Besides tradition, the Army Service Uniform reflects utility, simplicity and quality.</p>

<p>In utility, the blue Army Service Uniform provides a basic set of components that allow Soldiers to dress from the lowest end to the highest end of service uniforms with little variation required.</p>

<p>In simplicity, the blue Army Service Uniform eliminates the need for numerous sets of green Class A uniforms, service blue uniforms and, for some, Army white mess uniforms (and tunics, for women). Streamlining various service uniforms into one Army Service Uniform reduces the burden on Soldiers in the same manner that the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) did for the field utility uniform. </p>

<p>In quality, the blue Army Service Uniform is made of a durable material that is suitable for daily use without special care. </p>

<p><a href=“http://www.army.mil/symbols/uniforms/[/url]”>http://www.army.mil/symbols/uniforms/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>It’ll take a while for me to get used to the Army Service Uniform…When I think of blue I think of the Navy…It does look pretty sharp though, just different.</p>

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<p>I like it, the green one looked to much like a business suit gone bad.</p>

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<p>I don’t like it at all… what’s with the different hues of blue on the guy’s uniform? And the woman’s hat is pretty much the ugliest hat ever. I know I’m nitpicking, but seriously, isn’t the color green kinda the Army’s trademark? If they had to consolidate, why not use the green one?</p>

<p>First dollar bills, now Army uniforms… why the sudden aversion to green?</p>

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<p>As long as the uniform doesn’t include berets, I’m happy.</p>

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<p>good point</p>

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<p>Army should have done this a long time ago.</p>

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<p>I know the (Army Magazine dont remember name) did a survey a while back and the old Army Pinks and greens won overwhelmingly. I personally am a fan and if I had to choose I would have made that the Army Service Uniform.</p>

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<p>They are sharp looking and they would have been a good choice.</p>

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<p>what do the pinks look like?(Link?)</p>

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<p>I heard about this really cool webpage. Apparently if you type in a keyword (for example: army uniform pinks and greens) it will give you a list of websites which have that keyword in it. Its really cool, great feature. I’m feeling kind so i’m gonna give you guys the link. :)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.google.com%5B/url%5D”>www.google.com</a></p>

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<p>Mumford - thanks for your continuing genorosity on behalf of the young men and women of college confidential. Your insurmountable kind acts (such as providing links to little known sites) inspire us to persevere beyond our wildest dreams. ;)</p>

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<p>What can I say :slight_smile: Its my calling</p>

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<p>Hmm don’t like it. I liked the green. It said “ARMY” to me. Blue makes me feel like Air Farce…What about dropping the mess white? That doesn’t mean the one with all the minature metals on it does it? (I am not a uniform as you might expect)</p>

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<p>at least its less like the chair force business suit (though more similar in color)</p>

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<p>I hate to break it to you guys, but I think the Beret is still a mainstay. You don’t wear the beret with the Army Dress Blue uniform, but they still wear it with the Class As. I’d imagine the picture shows them in the Dress Blues, which is the uniform you’d actually wear a service cap with rather than a beret (and you only wear the cap itself if its before 1600–after that you go without a cover at all).</p>

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<p>The whites are completely white uniforms typically worn only by COLs and higher at summer offiicial events (like USMA graduation). The Dress Mess/Mess Dress (minature medals) will probably hang around as it’s an optional uniform for official functions. If I was to bet, I bet it becomes less optional for officers and more the norm once we switch to just the Blues so we have something different for “dress up events.” I’d also bet that there are some other changes for this that are yet to come out–like with class A’s (greens) gone, what will class B’s (just the green shirt and pants) go to…the blue pants and blue skirt with just a shirt probably won’t look right (especially with the guy’s suspenders and no pants for women as an option)…so, there will be additional modifications made, and they have 2 1/2 years to decided on it since 2009 is when they’ll start moving towards it and 2011 the mandatory wear date. For those of you thinking we’re going to “look like the Air Force” we already have the blues and have been wearing them MUCH longer than greens, or some version thereof. Watch any old western with calvary guys or look at some of the uniform tops from the Civil War even and you’ll see a resemblence. But, i suspect 2009 and 2010 will buy whatever the new concept is and not greens. Just know this is the first initial decision, and is going to be cost saving to those of us already in (as an officer you get a ONE TIME ONLY clothing allowance) so if we had to buy, say pinks and greens, it’d be more money out of pocket. At least now we’ll just have to add whatever additions/modifications they make for utility purposes.</p>

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<p>M4M how is the beret a mainstay? It hasn’t been issued that long, 5-6 years I believe, and it was issued to try and make everyone feel like there part of an elite fighting force. I just believe berets should be left to the truly elite forces and the rest of the army wear the service cap which in my opinion looks better. Just my opinion though.</p>

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<p>Hey, you’re perfectly entitled to your opinion, I’m not bashing it whatsoever. By mainstay I simply mean that for now, it’s a part of the uniform, and there’s been no serious talk of getting rid of it.</p>