When I see uniformed military personnel around town, say having lunch at a restaurant, they are usually wearing a uniform like this with the rank insignia on their chest - didn’t that sort of insignia used to be worn on the sleeves and/or collar? If so, why was it moved?
And, for that matter, I assume most of these people are working some sort of desk job - if so why are they wearing camo/work uniforms rather than a “dress” uniform?
I believe one reason for the removal of rank insignia on the sleeves is a matter of ease of use. A soldier no longer has to purchase a new uniform and sew on a new rank every time he or she is promoted.
Regarding the use of said uniform in an office environment, I believe the reason to be the same: ease of use. One could argue that a similar job in the civilian sector would require business dress, but it is important to note that wearing of a Service Dress uniform is not the same as throwing on a shirt and tie. A soldier (or marine/airman/sailor) is expected to wear the uniform in a very specific fashion, and requires a decent amount of maintenance, especially while wearing a ribbon rack and rank devices. The daily use of Service Dress, even for a soldier would be quite annoying for lack of a better word.
Another reason for the change is that the new rank insignia are less obvious and more easily removed in combat since they are often attached with velcro rather than being sewn on the sleeves. Non-commissioned and commissioned officers are prime targets for snipers on the battlefield.
The reason why the wearing of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) has proliferated stateside is so that even desk jockeys can give the appearance of looking like combat-ready troops. It started with the brass, and filtered down the ranks.
Personally, I think it’s a load of crap. There’s no reason why a soldier needs to be running around town or going to a restaurant wearing what is essentially a combat uniform.
When I was in the Navy, we were forbidden to wear dungarees or coveralls off base unless we were in our vehicles on our way home. Period, end of discussion. Most of us changed before we went home.
But what if they have to hide on a sofa?
Do you get upset when you see them at the airport going home or to another post?
It was mainly to cut down on the expense for enlisted men, they were having to maintain many types of uniforms for different functions. My Dad had about a half-dozen different levels of uniform- Slops, Khakis, Greens, Dress, Full Dress, etc, and not all uniform costs are paid for the military. My Mom spent hours ironing them, too.
More or less now enlisted men have just two uniforms they need.
Perfectly true. They are not combat troops until they are ordered to combat. Kipling mentioned something along those lines. Take a look at Barrack Room Ballads.
I first encountered the center-mounted rank insignia in the 1980s when working with a French Army. The idea was that the collar-worn or epaulette insignia tended to be covered by slings and straps and general stuff when a soldier was fully kitted out. Of course, now we have body armor that covers even the chest. Still, that was the reasoning.
Untrue. For one the change to using one uniform for all soldiers has been around longer than ACUs. The change came in the mid 80s when BDUs were introduced. And as was stated it was a cost cutting measure to help the troops. The Army went from having multiple uniforms to having BDUs for everyday wear and Class A/B for occasions (dress blues and mess whites weren’t much of a factor since they were strictly voluntary until you got to an advanced rank). For the most part class A/B went away from everyday use except for recruiters, the Pentagon and high level commands. So your theory about desk jockeys is out the window. In the past few years for a short time the Pentagon did go to ACUs because that CoS decided that it would remind them each day that they were at war. That has since been changed back and they are again wearing Class A/B for everyday wear. So for most of the 25 years since the big uniform change the desk jockeys and brass in charge did not wear BDUs or ACUs.
Since 2004 there have been some other significant changes. ACUs were introduced. One of the main reasons for the change in design was that all combat operations are done in body armor. The rank was changed because of that. Rank on body armor is in the same place. So when putting on your body armor you just pull it off your ACU and re-velcro to the same spot on your body armor. They also changed the pockets to make it easier to reach, pen holders on the sleeves and the collar was changed to be more comfortable under armor. I won’t pretend to say all the changes were popular and I personally believe the BDU was a superior uniform.
Since the current camoflague pattern was a total bust they are now testing new ones for yet another uniform change. As it is those deploying to Afghanistan are wearing multicam pattern uniforms instead of ACUs.
Another change which is also designed to cut down cost and get rid of multiple uniforms is to get rid of the Army green class A uniform. Greens are being phased out and the Army Service Uniform (ASU) is now the standard Class A and dress uniform. The ASU is a modified version of the dress blues. Same basic uniform but some of the flair is different.
To wrap up what the OP was asking, stripes are still on the sleeves of Army dress uniforms. I don’t remember exactly when they came off the everyday work uniform but it was sometime between Viet Nam and the early 80s. Around 83 or so the new BDU uniform started coming in and was fielded Army wide by about 85. BDUs had the rank on the collar. ACUs came in around 2004 and BDUs were totally phased out by 2006. ACUs have the rank on the chest.
See, that’s the thing: I don’t see why a soldier under the rank of, say, Lt. Colonel needs a uniform with a jacket and a tie. Just give have them wear a khaki shirt tucked into khaki pants, a windbreaker for when it’s cold, and you’ve got a nice uniform for the office and the occasional ceremony. If they head out to the field, have them sign for some combat fatigues.
Total bust? Can you elaborate on that? Not questioning as I’m not in a position to know, but I am curious to know more.
Used to be that if you were traveling via commercial aircraft, you wore dress uniform. I went to Vietnam wearing dress blues of all things (because of the time of year in the states :rolleyes:) and came home in whites. I wore what the Army calls BDUs (we called them “greens”) the entire time I was there. When we deployed via charter aircraft, we wore the greens.
ACUs were a compromise. The Army wanted one pattern instead of having to issue woodland and desert uniforms. It was supposed to work in all terrains. To most who wear it, it works in none.
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/08/army_camo_081709w/
^ Talks about how complaints from soldiers led to an inquiry by Congressman Murtha and the rapid change for those deploying to Afghanistan from ACU to multicam. It felt like it happened over night. Currently multicam is authorized only in Afghanistan.
http://www.hawaiiarmyweekly.com/2012/01/20/army-one-step-closer-to-replacement-of-acu-pattern/
^ Talks about the current process to replace the ACU with a completely new uniform. I think that the need to replace the ACU less than 6 years after fielding was complete can be called a total bust. Remember we are not just talking uniforms. Helmets, body armor, assault packs web gear, everything. A lot of money.
I enlisted in 1989. Back then when we travelled it was in class A’s. Rules have since changed. For the most part normal travel (PCS, TDY) is done in civilian clothes. They would rather you try to blend in. Although most of the guys have 3 duffle bags and an ACU carry on back pack so they kind of stand out. Travel to and from theater is in ACUs so you might be seeing guys going back and forth on mid tour leave. Has to be in ACUs. No one is packing Class A’s to go to war and no civilian clothes are authorized overseas.
I don’t get upset, by any means, but unless the soldier is going to or returning from a combat zone, they should be in the military equivalent of “business casual.”
When I was in the Navy, I traveled in either Service Dress Blues or Summer Whites, depending on the season. I didn’t wear my shipboard wash khakis or coveralls.
As MsRobyn stated previously, we were forbidden from so much as stopping at a store on the way home if we were wearing a shipboard uniform. We sure as heck didn’t go to an office job or fly on a commercial flight wearing shipboard uniforms.
Wearing a combat uniform at any office job, including at the Pentagon, just seems stupid to me.
I’m sure it has been rationalized as a “cost-cutting” measure and “to remind everyone that we’re at war,” but these just seem like the rationalizations of the rear-echelon desk jockey.
As for the fact that the practice goes back to time of the BDUs, all that proves is that the trend toward wearing combat uniforms in office jobs has been going on for a while. It’s no less ridiculous, IMHO.
What’s wrong with going back to Class A/B’s for office wear, commercial travel, and going out in town?
Which reminds me. Why did Gomer Pyle always wear his uniform on dates with Luanne Poovey?
I’ll have to look it up but the uniform allowance is something like $200 for the year. If ASU uniforms are over $300. If you have to wear it everyday you’ll need several. ACUs wear better, are much cheaper and easier to care for. Lower enlisted make at or below the poverty line. Any way you look at it, it is a big cost difference either out of pocket or an increased clothing allowance.
I’m kind of surprised that the military doesn’t just issue you the uniforms you need. Why should you have to pay for them out of pocket?
I think it’s a remnant of pre-modern military forces, like saluting and marching in rank. In the past, a soldier’s uniform was the only clothing they owned, and was worn around the clock. As a result, it was seen as “personal” gear rather than issued equipment.
