Whatever Happened To Dress Uniforms? just wondering

[Dan Schultz]

I know there are several military musicians on this board who spend MORE than their fair share of time in dress uniforms. I'm thinking back to the 60's when we weren't allowed off-base in anything other than a dress uniform.

Today... why is it that almost every time I see a military person on TV they are in camo's? ... even at press conferences and ceremonies. I seldom see anyone on the street in a dress uniform anymore.

In the 60's.... us Navy guys weren't allowed to be seen traveling in anything but our dress blues or whites... and there were specific times of year or locales for which one to wear. We NEVER wore dungarees where we could be seen by the public.

[Brown Mule]

I've wondered the same thing----------------we've had some military guys home on leave to come to church in their camoflage. There is a reserve Army band here in the state that plays concerts in camoflage(I kid them that they all need to go to Bragg or Benning and get their jump wings to be legitimate)(They verbally let me have it too saying I'm an"infantry grunt") . Anyway------------------WHAT ARE THE RULES for off base dress (as Dan brought up)

[Teubonium]

Both military and civilian dress has become more casual than it was in the '60s.

[Dan Schultz]

Both military and civilian dress has become more casual than it was in the '60s.

Can't tell the Army from the rednecks around here!

[Tundratubast]

I liked wearing my NAVY dress blue "Crackerjacks" You buy a lot less drinks for yourself, versus, buying all your drinks in civies.

[Uncle Buck]

I guess I'll chime in, although I've never been in the military myself. I have a very healthy respect for those who are or have been.

Personally, I would never begrudge anything that allows service members to be more comfortable. When I've seen service members in camos, they impress me as clean-cut, well-groomed, etc. Plus, camos are just more practical for the work most of them are doing most of the time. And camos definitely look "military" and professional, at least to me.

If I were dictator-of-the-world-running-the-military, I think I'd require/suggest dress uniforms only for formal events, heads-of-state, etc.

[Brown Mule]

Does the Army still use the Khaiki short sleeve uniform for summer------------We used be allowed off base in those and they were quite comfortable???

[b.williams]

Those wool uniforms and poplin shirts sucked. I hope today's uniforms (when mandatory) are more comfortable.

The Army Combat Uniform, (ACU), is very comfortable. Also, combat boots no longer polished. I keep waiting for some CSM to require ACU starching and boot polishing!!

[b.williams]

Does the Army still use the Khaiki short sleeve uniform for summer------------We used be allowed off base in those and they were quite comfortable???

Not since the mid 1980s. The Army went to from khaki to green at that point.

[oldbandnerd]

A friend of mine who is a Major in the US Air Force gave me an explination for this once. If I remember it correctly it has to do with us being at war and all military personnel being prepared in the case of a domestic attack. Modern BDU's and ACU's have some pretection against a chemical warfare attack. All that would be needed in an emergency is to put on your mask.

He left a field job as mission commander on a AWACS in the UK to take a desk job at Langley AFB in Virginia. He wears the same flight suite to work now that he did when he was flying.

[bububassboner]

Another thing to consider,
The Army is currently changing it's dress uniform. We are getting rid of the Class A (the green dress uniform) and changing to the Army Service Uniform (ASU). It's pretty much just a slightly different version of the Dress blues that officers wear now. I was THE LAST group of basic training kids to be issued the Class A. All new soldiers are issued the ASU and wear out of the Greens isn't till 2014 I think. Until then units are changing over slowly due to costs/wanting to wear the greens till the end. I know my unit has a performance this weekend that we will do in ACU's because we don't all have matching uniforms yet.

Just another thought from a reserve soldier