Uniforms of the United States Army
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The Uniforms of the United States Army serve to distinguish soldiers from members of other services. The two primary uniforms are the utilitarian Combat Uniform and the garrison and dress Service Uniform.
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[edit] Current uniforms
 Two soldiers wearing the Army Combat Uniform, as well as ACU-patterned patrol cap (left) and boonie hat (right). |
 U.S. Army Green Class A service uniforms for enlisted personnel, (shown), and officers. |
 Soldiers wearing the Army Improved Physical Fitness Uniform |
[edit] Combat uniform
The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is the utility uniform worn in garrison and in combat zones by the U.S. Army. The uniform features a digital camouflage pattern, known as the Universal Camouflage Pattern, which is designed for use in woodland, desert, and urban environments.[1]
[edit] Service uniform
The standard garrison service uniform is known as "Army Greens" or "Class As" and has been worn by all officers and enlisted personnel since its introduction in 1956, when it replaced earlier Olive Drab (OD) and khaki (and Tropical Worsted or TW) uniforms worn between the 1890s and 1985.[2] The "Army Blue" uniform, dating back to the mid-19th century, is currently the Army's formal dress uniform, but in 2009 it will replace the Army Green and the Army White uniforms (a uniform similar to the Army Green uniform, but worn in tropical postings) and will become the "new" Army Service Uniform, which will function as both a garrison uniform (when worn with a gray shirt and necktie) and a dress uniform (when worn with a white shirt and either a necktie for parades or a bow tie for "after six" or "black tie" events).[3] The blue uniform will be a mandatory wear item by last quarter, 2011. The beret, adopted Army-wide in 2001, will continue to be worn with the new ACU for garrison duty and with the Army Service Uniform for non-ceremonial functions.
[edit] Physical training uniform
The U.S. Army currently uses the Army Improved Physical Fitness Uniform (IPFU), manufactured by UNICOR. It is essentially a tracksuit, marked with the ARMY name. It is required during Army physical training.
[edit] Past uniforms
Past uniforms include the M81 Battle Dress Uniform, replaced by the Army Combat Uniform. As of fiscal year '08, or 1 October 2007, the BDU and DCU had been phased out of normal wear.[4]
[edit] Future plans
The Army plans to deploy the Future Force Warrior system starting in 2010, with upgrades in subsystems deployed every two years following. Designed as a fully integrated infantryman combat system, initial versions are to be simple in operation with basic electronics; final versions (2032) involve such technologies as a powered armor system and various nanotechnologies.[5]
