Army Service Uniform

The Army Service Uniform (ASU) is a military uniform worn by United States Army personnel in situations where business dress is called for. It can be worn at most public and official functions, and as an analog for civilian business attire. In combat situations, the Army Combat Uniform is used.

Army Service Uniform
Army Green Service Uniform

History

In the early days of the U.S. Army, the uniform worn in combat was essentially the same as that worn for everyday duties. This was the common practice with most armies of the time. This changed in modern times, as field uniforms were developed which were more suited for battle.

During the Civil War era, army uniforms were relatively simple. Typically, the same uniform served as a garrison uniform and as a combat uniform. Combat soldiers in the American Civil War wore a standard dark blue coat, just like personnel in garrisons or in army offices and headquarters. Uniform standards were relaxed during the war years, especially on campaign, as conditions demanded.[1]

The 1899 Army Uniform Regulations provided for a cotton khaki uniform for field service, drawing on the experience of the Spanish–American War when both blue and khaki clothing had been worn.[2] From 1902 to 1917, the army had two uniforms: a service uniform of olive drab wool cloth for use by soldiers in the field (with a khaki cotton version used for hot weather), and a blue dress uniform used for ceremonies and off-post wear by enlisted men. The blue uniforms were dropped in 1917 prompted by the exigencies of World War I.[3]

In 1926, the previous stand collar service coat was replaced with anopen-collared coat worn with a collared shirt and tie, and 1937 saw the replacement of breeches with straight-legged trousers. Dress uniforms of dark blue tunics and light blue trousers were reintroduced in a modernized form (with open collar and tie) for officers and warrant officers in 1937.

All-purpose service coat issued to enlisted soldiers at the onset of World War II

United States Army uniforms in World War II initially included service uniforms that were intended for both field and garrison use, though some parts, such as the open-collared Service coat, were used only in garrison, while items such as the M-1941 Field Jacket was specifically for use in the field, and not meant to be worn in garrison.[4] By the latter part of the war, the introduction of the M-1943 field uniform acknowledged the distinction between field and garrison wear. Garrison uniforms included olive drab winter uniforms with coat and tie which were distinct in shade and cut of the coat for officers and enlisted soldiers, with the officers' version being a darker, belted coat that could be worn with either matching trousers or a contrasting light taupe (the combination known as "pinks and greens") while the enlisted service coat was unbelted and lighter in shade to match the issued field uniform trousers. Late in the war the Eisenhower jacket was introduced, intended for both field and garrison wear, though it too became used only for garrison wear shortly after the war. A summer service uniform of khaki cotton shirt and trousers also was issued, but was used only for garrison wear as the herringbone twill utility uniform became the preferred warm weather field uniform. These uniforms remained in use through the Korean War.[5]

US Army green service uniform for officers, as worn by former Army Chief of Staff General Peter Schoomaker.

In 1954, the Army introduced a new, all-ranks, "Class A" Army Green shade 44 service uniform. The Army reviewed various ideas in the late 1940s in order to create a distinctive uniform. Many civilian workers were mistaken for army personnel because of mass use of surplus clothing after World War II.[6][7] Blue was considered because of its acceptance in men's clothing, but it would then have been too difficult to distinguish it from Air Force and Navy service uniforms. The green color was adopted in order to provide a color which had a distinct military appearance from various uniforms of civilian service workers.[3] Originally worn with a tan shirt, the shirt was switched to a pale green-grey shade in 1979.[5]

The tan summer service uniform saw the reintroduction of a matching coat, but it was dropped in 1964 following the introduction of a tropical weight version of the "Class A" greens, and the tan uniform became a "Class B" uniform worn with a short-sleeved shirt and no tie. The tan "Class B" uniform was phased out the 1980s when the green uniform with a short sleeve shirt became the standard Class B unifrom.[5]

In the mid 1950s, the blue dress uniform was reintroduced as an option for enlisted soldiers.[5] A white dress uniform, last worn in the early 20th century, was also reintroduced, but was rarely used, as it was only required for officers in tropical areas;[5] it was retired in 2014.[7]

In 2006, then-Army Chief of Staff General Peter Schoomaker announced that a version of the dress blue uniform would be adopted as the sole service uniform for all ranks, combing ceremonial, dress, and service uniforms through wear stipulations to reduce the number of uniforms needed. The blue Army Service Uniform made its debut at the 2007 State of the Union Address, when General Schoomaker wore his blue uniform.[7] In 2010 it started being issued to all soldiers.[7][8]

Since 2010, enlisted soldiers have received the blue service uniform as part of their basic clothing bag issue when they enter the Army during initial training. The Army requires officers to purchase and maintain the blue service uniform. Possession and use of the blue ASU has been mandatory for all soldiers since October 1, 2015,[8] when the green Class A uniform was fully retired.[7]

On Veterans Day 2018, the Army announced that a new Army Green Service Uniform, based on the popular "pinks and greens" officers' service uniform worn in World War II and the Korean War, would be introduced as the everyday service uniform for all ranks starting in 2020.[9] The uniform became available to soldiers in mid-2020.[10] The Army Blue Service Uniform returns to its former use as a formal dress uniform.

Description
Army Green Service Uniform, as worn by General Stephen J. Townsend

The Army Green Service Uniform includes a dark olive drab four-pocket coat with belted waist, drab trousers, khaki shirt, olive tie, and brown leather oxfords for both men and women, with women having the option to wear a pencil skirt and pumps instead. Headwear consists of an olive garrison cap or an olive peaked service cap with brown visor; units with distinctive colored berets continue to wear them. Enlisted rank is indicated by chevrons work on the upper sleeve, while officer rank is indicated by pins on the shoulder straps.[11][9][12]

Army Blue Service Uniform for officers, as worn by General George W. Casey, Jr.

The Army Blue Service Uniform includes a midnight blue coat worn with lighter blue trousers for male soldiers and a midnight blue coat worn with either lighter blue slacks or midnight blue skirt for female soldiers. The trousers/slacks for non-commissioned and commissioned officers include a stripe of gold braid on the outer side of the leg. Generals wear midnight blue trousers/slacks with gold braid instead of the lighter blue used in lower ranks. The blue service uniform is worn with white shirts with two pockets and shoulder loops, a black four-in-hand necktie for males or black neck tab for females, and black leather shoes. Headwear includes a matching service cap with branch-of-service colors on the hat band or a beret, with black remaining the default color unless a distinctive colored beret is worn. Enlisted rank is also indicated by chevrons on the upper sleeve, while officer rank is indicated by passant shoulder straps with branch-of-service color backing. Combat boots and organizational items, such as brassards, military police accessories, or distinctive unit insignia are not worn when used as ceremonial dress. When the blue uniform is worn for social events in the evening (i.e. after retreat), men may wear a black bow tie rather than a black four-in-hand necktie, and commanders may direct that headwear is not required.

See also

References
  1. Philip Haythornthwaite, plates 1-33, Uniforms of the Civil War, ISBN 0-02-549200-4
  2. Randy Steffen, page 69 Volume III, "The Horse Soldier 1776-1943"
  3. The Army Dressed Up Archived 2008-04-17 at the Wayback Machine, 1952, Dr. Stephen J. Kennedy, The Quartermaster Review, January/February 1952, Army Clothing History page, Army Quartermaster Foundation, Inc. Website, accessed 4-9-08.
  4. Hwang, Tiffany US Army Field Jacket Development in Response to Material Shortages and the Exigencies of World War II in Momentum Vol 1 Issue 1 Article 3, April 18, 2012
  5. Cole, David (November 2007). "Survey of U.S. Army Uniforms, Weapons, and Accoutrements" (PDF). United States Army.
  6. "Prestige of the Soldier" Archived 2008-04-17 at the Wayback Machine, Major A. M. Kamp, Jr. The Quartermaster Review, May/June 1954, Quartermaster foundation, accessed 4-9-08.
  7. Jahner, Kyle (October 1, 2015). "The end of the Green Service Uniform: 1954–2015". Army Times. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
  8. AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of the Army Uniform Insignia
  9. "U.S. Army to roll out new Army Greens uniform". www.army.mil. U.S. Army. November 11, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  10. Cox, Matthew (June 12, 2020). "New Army Green Uniform Will Soon Be Available for Soldiers to Buy". Military.com. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  11. Myers, Meghann (November 11, 2018). "It's official: Army approves 'pinks and greens' uniform on Veterans Day". Army Times. Sightline Media Group. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  12. Garland, Chad (November 11, 2018). "What's old is new: Army rolls out 'pinks and greens' service uniform". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
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