About ten years ago the U.S. Army announced they would be changing from a dress green uniform to a blue dress uniform.. That makes no sense to me. The Air Force has a blue uniform...The Navy has a blue uniform.. and even the Marine Corp has a blue uniform. The Army has always been a 'traditional rich' organization and they have returned to one of their traditions.
I served in the Army from 1964 thru 1968 and this is the dress green uniform in effect at that time. This is NOT my uniform and only displayed to show you an example from that time period. It was called a 'forest green' by the logistics people when issued to us that unforgettable day at Fort Leonard Wood. Everyone got two sets of greens, two sets of the summer khaki uniform, and four sets of fatigues (the work or battle uniform).
This photo was taken in November of 1964 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. That is the fatigue uniform on the left and a set of dress greens on the right. My friend Sherrod Russ had graduated from the code school a month before me and he was shipping out for Europe that particular day.
The Army has decided to return to the 'Pinks and Greens' of World War II era.. That is Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey in the middle, and he is still dressed in the current blue dress uniform. The four others are in the new uniform that will go into full effect in 2020. There are still ongoing discussions about the womens top as seen on the far right. They can't decide if pockets are needed on the top or not. This is a maternity top, should the soldier become pregnant. The regular women's uniform can be seen on the far left.
When Sergeant Major Dailey attended the Army-Navy football game last December 9th he was decked out in the new uniform and looked great. The change back to the World War II look is said to be a tribute to the Great Generation of Americans. Having a father and six uncles who fought in World War II, I think this is a great idea. There has been no word on the work or battle uniform at this time and apparently it will stay the same for the time being.
Count me in as one who endorses the change from blue back to green. It's not the same color as the one I wore in the sixties, but it is one with the name 'Army Green.'
