# What kind of U.S. Army uniform is this? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 2, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697 "2009-12-02T14:29:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/1 "2009-12-02T14:29:13Z")
As shown in photo 24 in this sequence from the recent State Dinner at the White House: > **[Photography](https://www.washingtonpost.com/photography/)** > > Find multimedia and interactive features including photos, video and galleries on news, politics, travel, autos, movies, fashion, science and much more. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/2 "2009-12-02T14:35:06Z")
It looks like an Army Blue Mess Jacket of some kind. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/3 "2009-12-02T14:44:52Z")
The Army Mess Blue worn by a social aide Major of the Artillery (I presume those odd purple lapels are supposed to be Artillery red.) ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/4 "2009-12-02T16:11:23Z")
Agreed. It’s the Army Blue Mess Uniform. The lapel color is indeed the branch color, though what that maroon-ish color is supposed to be, I don’t know. You can’t see his suspenders, but those would also be in the branch color. ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/5 "2009-12-02T16:26:11Z")
It may be JAG. I know purple is the color of law. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/6 "2009-12-02T16:28:50Z")
[Dress Greens Out, Dress Blues in for Army](http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,174185,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/7 "2009-12-02T16:38:56Z")
> [@Rumor\_Watkins](#): > > It may be JAG. I know purple is the color of law. In academic regalia, that is. ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/8 "2009-12-02T17:19:42Z")
It’s the Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations branch. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/9 "2009-12-03T13:26:50Z")
I believe it’s the catering branch of the New Earth Army. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/10 "2009-12-03T14:08:10Z")
Warning: PDF link follows! [Army Regulation 670-1](http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r670_1.pdf) See Chapter 24, Army Blue Mess and Evening Mess Uniforms—Male. Paragraph 24-5 states that General Officers, except Chaplains, will have dark blue lapels; all Chaplains will have black lapels; all other officers will have lapels of the first-named color of their branch (as listed AR 670-1, para 28-19); and all Enlisted personnel will have dark blue lapels. Here is the list of branch colors for lapels as found in paragraph 28-19: > [@](#): > > a. Adjutant General Corps: dark blue and scarlet (cable numbers 65012 and 65006). > b. Air Defense Artillery: scarlet (cable number 65006). > c. Armor: yellow (cable number 65002). > d. Army Medical Specialist Corps: maroon and white (cable numbers 65017 and 65005). > e. Army Nurse Corps: maroon and white (cable numbers 65017 and 65005). > f. Aviation: ultramarine blue and golden orange (cable numbers 65010 and 65003). > g. Branch Immaterial: teal blue and white (cable numbers 65024 and 65005). > h. Cavalry: yellow (cable number 65002). > i. Chaplains: black (cable number 65018). > j. Chemical Corps: cobalt blue and golden yellow (cable numbers 65011 and 65001). > k. Civil Affairs, USAR: purple and white (cable numbers 65009 and 65005). > l. Corps of Engineers: scarlet and white (cable numbers 65006 and 65005). > m. Dental Corps: maroon and white (cable numbers 65017 and 65005). > n. Field Artillery: scarlet (cable number 65006). > o. Finance Corps: silver gray and golden yellow (cable numbers 65008 and 65001). > p. General staff: no color assigned. > q. Infantry: light blue (cable number 65014). > r. Inspector General: dark blue and light blue (cable numbers 65012 and 65014). > s. Judge Advocate General’s Corps: dark blue and white (cable numbers 65012 and 65005). > t. Medical Corps: maroon and white (cable numbers 65017 and 65005). > u. Medical Service Corps: maroon and white (cable numbers 65017 and 65005). > v. Military Intelligence: oriental blue and silver gray (cable numbers 65027 and 65008). > w. Military Police Corps: green and yellow (cable numbers 65007 and 65002). > x. National Guard Bureau: dark blue (cable number 65012). > y. Ordnance Corps: crimson and yellow (cable numbers 65013 and 65002). > z. Quartermaster Corps: buff (cable number 65015). > aa. Signal Corps: orange and white (cable numbers 65004 and 65005). > ab. Special Forces: jungle Green (cable number 65025). > ac. Staff specialist, USAR: green (cable number 65007). > ad. The Sergeant Major of the Army. no color assigned. > ae. Transportation Corps: brick red and golden yellow (cable numbers 65020 and 65001). > af. Veterinary Corps: maroon and white (cable numbers 65017 and 65005). > ag. Warrant officers: brown (cable number 65016). As one can see, purple is only assigned to the USAR Civil Affairs branch while the JAG Corps has dark blue lapels. The regulation linked above is dated 3 February 2005. p.s. to **Turble** : Dress Blues (real name: Army Blue Uniform) and Blue Mess are two different uniforms. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/11 "2009-12-03T14:33:28Z")
This might be of interest; those Marines have it goin’ on!: [Mess dress uniform - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mess_dress) ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/12 "2009-12-03T14:41:36Z")
Looks like they’ve finally abandoned “don’t ask don’t tell.” ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/13 "2009-12-03T14:42:39Z")
> [@](#): > > g. Branch Immaterial: teal blue and white (cable numbers 65024 and 65005). The Branch Immaterial? Is that like the Choir Invisible? ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/14 "2009-12-03T15:18:32Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > p.s. to **Turble** : Dress Blues (real name: Army Blue Uniform) and Blue Mess are two different uniforms. Plus, they were never “Dress Greens”, just Class As. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/15 "2009-12-03T16:34:45Z")
What does a “no color assigned” lapel look like, I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/16 "2009-12-03T17:36:08Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > What does a “no color assigned” lapel look like, I wonder? Dark blue. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/17 "2009-12-03T17:48:06Z")
Looks a bit like a drum major in search of a parade. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2009, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/18 "2009-12-05T13:21:39Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > What does a “no color assigned” lapel look like, I wonder? There is only one Sergeant Major of the Army. I would assume he would wear the color of the branch he was in before he got promoted to SMA. Likewise, general staff personel would wear the colors of the branch they were in before they were assigned to the general. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2009, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/19 "2009-12-06T08:36:54Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > There is only one Sergeant Major of the Army. I would assume he would wear the color of the branch he was in before he got promoted to SMA. The Sergeant Major of the Army is an Enlisted member. As such, he would have dark blue lapels. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697/20 "2009-12-07T22:06:11Z")
The cut of that jacket doesn’t match here: [http://downloads.army.mil/docs/asu/dress\_classa\_lo.jpg](http://downloads.army.mil/docs/asu/dress_classa_lo.jpg) I also wish to point out that Army hats are doofy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-u-s-army-uniform-is-this/519697.md?page=2)