Most people think marine dress uniforms look better than Army dress uniforms unless the latter has a beret; the biggest eye sore is the high-peaked "dunce" cap on the Army Class "A" uniform. A lot of warriors could be attracted to Army combat arms if the Army Class A uniform were approved. The "garrison" cap looked good on General Gavin in World War II with a big glider/parachute patch, but we are not in WWII. This is because he and his Paratroopers were allowed to wear their caps with personality: dimples and "crushes". If you see the "Beetle Bailey" comic strip you'll see this. But today's Army uniform regulations, AR 670-1 forbids wearing the garrison cap with any esperit! We should adopt a shorter garrison cap, which is not as high, dye it Army green and make it part of the uniform for non-combat arms units without berets. Combat arms units that are not SF (Green beret), Rangers (black beret) or Airborne (Maroon beret) should wear a brown beret. Recruiters who are so qualified should be able to wear their berets NOW to put forth the best Army appearance possible.

UGLY: LOOKS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE

The green Class "A" jacket with ribbons, branch insignia, regimental crest, skill badges, nameplate, unit/combat patches is too cluttered with contrasting colors/ornamentation. To bring out and accent these awards, the uniform's buttons should be black instead of shiny gold so it doesn't compete with awards for the eye's focus. Black is one of the Army's colors, along with gold. Changing to black buttons would be inexpensive, quick and easy; the pocket buttons are only held by kotter pins. Only the jacket front and shoulder epaulet buttons need sewing in order to be replace. A black plastic cap that snaps over these buttons could subdue them without removing or sewing on new buttons.

PROFESSIONAL: STREAMLINED, FOCUSED, DRAWS ATTENTION TO WHAT COUNTS NOT GARMENT FURNITURE

When we suggested this low-cost idea of black platic caps to cover over the gaudy class "a" uniform coat buttons this is the ABSURD non-sense we got from HQDA Excuse-a-crat:

"Thank-you for your suggested change to AR 670-1 that we received on DA Form 2028, Recommended Changes to Publications and Blank Forms.

Your recommendation that we change the color of the service and dress uniform buttons from a gold color to black is not favorably considered.

In the history of our uniform, the Army has gone through myriad changes in the design of the uniform. However, one constant has been the use of metal buttons, whether pewter as in the Revolutionary War, or the present gold-colored buttons. Additionally, in the late 1800's, the army began the separation of dress and work uniforms by adopting a camouflage color uniform.

The use of black buttons would blur the distinction between work and dress uniforms. Additionally, the gold buttons balance the appearance of the uniform with the other gold insignia that are worn. If you feel your individual uniform looks too garish, you have the option of not wearing all your awards, IAW paragraph 28-3b, AR 670-1.

We appreciate your interest in the Army uniform. If you need further assistance, my point of contact is XXXXXXXXXXXXXX, (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

Sincerely,

Head-in-Sand Excuse-o-crat
LTC, U.S. Army

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ABSURD REPLY WE ARE IN DIRE DANGER OF SOLDIERS ACCIDENTALLY ONE DAY GOING TO PT OR THE FIELD WITH THEIR CLASS "A" UNIFORMS IF WE HAVE THEM WITH BLACK BUTTONS!

NOT!

The marine class "A" uniform eqivalent (called Dress Greens, see above picture) has black buttons. Even the not-too-bright marine knows its a DRESS/REPORTING FOR DUTY STATION TYPE UNIFORM not a WORK uniform. The gyrene above doesn't look like he's going to go clean a latrine.

I bet if it was "LT. Shinseki" presenting the black beret idea to this guy, he would have gotten a similar list of absurd excuses. NOBODY except this bureaucrat in the Army is taught that minutae like button symbolism is a "sacred cow" tradition; he pulled that one out of his hat. The fact is that the Army class "A" uniform looks cruddy and is too cluttered by conflicting colors, and when LEADERS THAT CARE see a problem, THEY SOLVE IT, not make excuses to rationalize that everything is AOK. The black buttons would also help harmonize the new Army black beret with the class "A" uniform. Apparently when a General officer has a "good idea" all of a sudden the bureaucrats go silent. Now that its CSA General Shinseki TELLING HIM TO MAKE THE BLACK BERET A GO, he doesn't say a peep. This is EXACTLY the kind of head-in-the-sand, we-have-always-done-it-this-way non-sense that makes ADULTS leave the Army. No amount of pay/benefits can compensate for an organization that doesn't self-correct and act on the input of its members. "We appreciate your interest in the Army uniform", no they don't. If they did they would TRY THE IDEA, then present it to Senior Army Leaders and let THEM DECIDE. Instead to reduce the amount of work he has to do and to maintain the status quo the excuse-o-crat blows you off out-of-hand.

Typical!

I will say one positive thing however, at least the Army does say "thank-you for trying", experiences with the marines are that they will seek some kind of retribution for not fawning at the feet of the marine corps pagan god of propaganda.

Thanks to CSA General Shinseki, Berets are a GO!

I also suggest that Army recruiters who are Airborne qualified should be able to wear the maroon beret, Rangers the tan and Special Forces, green. This will enhance Army recruiting efforts as evidence of the quality of Soldiers in the Airborne/Special Operations units. I originally proposed we get combat arms MOS a brown beret, but the entire Army is now going to BLACK berets, which will give the Army the upper hand in the recruiting image war over the gyrenes.

The Class "B" with black epaulet slip-on rank insignia is sharp and would be "unbeatable" with a beret, it's tops.

Fighting spirit is built by the small things: an organization dedicated to excellence, unselfish leaders, sharp uniforms, superb field equipment. We must leave "no stone uncovered" until we are the best fighting force ever.

If you wish to submit a suggestion, please send it on a DA Form 2028 to the following address:

HQDA
ATTN: DAPE-HR-PR
300 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310-0300

Visit the Army uniform webpage at:

www.odcsper.army.mil/default.asp?pageid=69f

POC:

MSG Kittie L. Messman
HQDA Uniform Policy
Ft. Belvoir, Va
DSN 225-6361
COM (703) 695-6361
FAX: DSN 223-0212 COM (703) 693-0212

FEEDBACK!

Phil West of England writes:

"I think the reason that servicemen won't wear Class "A"s is that they are too formal for modern wear.

Modern Soldiers spend most of their time in tee-shirts or open necked shirts. U.S. Army class "A" uniform tunics are designed to be worn with a shirt and tie. British Army No.2 dress has the same type of collar, but looks odd unless worn with a belt, making it look even more formal.

What is needed is a tunic with a collar that can be worn buttoned up, open or with a shirt and tie for formal wear. The British battledress (No.5) blouse had a collar of this type, and a better tailored version of this design should be incorporated into service dress. The battledress blouse itself was not that smart, though the American copy, known as the "Ike jacket", was. A modern version of such a jacket might prove very popular with service men. I was watching Where Eagles Dare; last night, and the wardrobe department on this movie seem to have known their stuff. What was impressive was how versatile the Wehrmacht fieldblouse was. This jacket was usually worn fully buttoned, but this was a generation used to starched collars.

Worn without a belt it seems to have been used as barracks wear, off duty dress and informal mess dress. Many Soldiers would have a privately tailored tunic that would be used as Walking out dress-ie, for visiting family or going out on the town.

Wearing the tunic with a belt I think indicated that the Soldier was on duty. Officers might wear a pistol while non-officers might wear a bayonet, often decorated with a bayonet knot. The tunic would also be worn with webbing -either as field wear or for sentry duty.

The Point? - a properly designed service dress could be made that Soldiers would feel comfortable wearing and could fill a broad range of roles, making it more economic. It can serve as service dress, parade dress, walking out dress, mess wear, guard wear, barracks wear etc.

Colour should be something like green or khaki, so wearers are not too easy a target for a terrorist sniper. The brown-green used by U.S. troops in WW2 would also be good. Espirt de Corps can be improved by the addition of distinctive headgear, emblems, stable belts etc.

A greatcoat with a waxed cotton exterior would complete the outfit for parades and sentry duty in foul weather.

I've seen it -odd that you guys should regard your uniforms as plain -on this side of the pond they've always been regarded as smart and stylish, even dandy.

Haven't seen british servicemen wearing uniform off duty for some time -but the No.2 was way too fromal and stuffy (and I doubt if certain squaddies even had a set) -if you saw them out they were in woolly pullies and baggy combats -hardly suprising that they wore civies if they wanted to pull!

Something like the Ike jacket (but with the collar as described) would probably prove very popular with moderm troops used to bomber jackets -more practical if you are a driver or spend a lot of time seated. This would be used alongside the longer tunic.

I guess the army will stick with green -though I think we'd both agree that khaki or the darker shade used by GIs in WW2 would be better -less visible to snipers or if the man has to take to the bush if ambushed.

You can take this basic uniform and fancy it up by stable belts, sam brownes, sashes, swallow nests, lanyards,brassards, aguilettes, scarves and distinctive head gear.

Or you can wear it with boots, helmet and webbing and have a smart but functional sentry.

If the uniform was made of wool it might see use as field wear. If it is subzero and you have to wear a snowshirt for camoflage anyway, I'd much rather have a woolen outfit than a cotton one beneath.

hmm -the germans wore their grey service dress for nearly everything, and just bunged on a camoflage coveral -a option for service dressed sentries?

www.british-forces.com/fkac/uniforms/20th-4.html
www.british-forces.com/fkac/uniforms/20th-2.html
www.british-forces.com/fkac/uniforms/20th-3.html

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