Army service uniform The U . S . Army service uniform is the military uniform worn by personnel in situations where formal dress is called for . It is worn in most workday situations in which business dress would be called for , while the army combat uniform is used in combat situations . It can be worn at most public and official functions . The green service uniform is slowly being replaced by the blue uniform . The blue army service uniform ( ASU ) is the " new " service uniform , and was adopted for optional wear in 2008 . It was issued to new soldiers starting in the fall of 2010 , and must be worn army - wide after 1 October 2014 . The ASU is replacing two uniforms already in use – the " army green " service uniform and the " army white " service uniform . It will be based on the current dress uniform known as the " dress blue " uniform . It has its roots in the " army blue " uniform , which dates back to the Revolutionary War , in which the Continental Army outfitted its soldiers in blue to distinguish them from the red uniform coats of the British Army . It also recalls the Civil War Union Army ' s blue uniforms . History . Uniform . Source : While Washington was in Philadelphia , one hundred neighbors in Fairfax County ( VA ) , under the tutelage of George Mason , had organized themselves into a voluntary militia — probably the first in the colony — electing Washington their commander . Borrowing the colors of the English Whig party , the Fairfax Independent Company wore blue uniforms with buff facings and white stockings . Washington used Thomas Webb ’ s " A Military Treatise on the Appointments of the Army " as a guide for outfitting this particular unit . Washington would soon accept the additional field command of another four independent companies : in Prince William , Fauquier , Richmond , and Spotsylvania Counties . Details . In the early days of the U . S . Army , the uniform worn in combat was essentially the same as that worn for everyday duties . This was the common practice with most armies of the time . This changed in modern times , as field uniforms were developed which were more suited for battle . During the Civil War era , army uniforms were relatively simple . Typically , the same uniform served as a garrison uniform and as a combat uniform . Combat soldiers in the Civil War wore a standard dark blue coat , just like personnel in garrisons or in army offices and headquarters . In the first half of the war , many states supplied their regiments with uniforms , resulting in distinctive jackets and buttons . Rank was indicated by a shoulder strap for officers , and chevrons on the sleeves for non - commissioned officers . Branch or specialty could be indicated by the color of the enlisted badge of rank , or the background color for officers ' shoulder straps . Uniform standards were relaxed during the war years , especially on campaign , and men often wore a variety of hats in the field . The 1899 " Army Uniform Regulations " provided for a cotton khaki uniform for field service , drawing on the experience of the Spanish - American War when both blue and drab clothing had been worn . From 1902 to 1917 , the army had two uniforms : a service uniform of wool olive drab Melton cloth for use by soldiers in the field , and a blue dress uniform used for ceremonies and off - post wear by enlisted men . Lieutenant General Edmund B . Gregory , the Quartermaster General , pointed out in 1946 that World War One uniforms had changed from a comfortable loose - fitting garment to a tight - fitting uniform suitable only for garrison wear . At the outbreak of the war , the army had to develop new loose - fitting patterns which the men could live in , as well as muster on the parade ground . Gregory noted that this gradual change to a tight - fitting uniform in peacetime has been characteristic of the history of uniforms in all armies . Around 1940 , soldiers began to use special uniforms designed for combat or field operations , with numerous special equipment and packs . The M - 1941 Field Jacket was one of the first clothing items which was approved specifically for use in the field , and which was not meant to be part of a standard service uniform . After this , service uniforms started to become more elaborate , as they were not needed to be useful in combat , and could take on a unique appearance , with new features and embellishments . Units began to display their own special patches , and badges were added for various specialties . Among the earliest unit patches was for the 81st Infantry Division . This unit trained at Fort Jackson , South Carolina . They created patches showing a wildcat , so that they could identify each other quickly in combat . Some officers questioned this , but General John Pershing decided it was a good idea , so the army started to implement it for all units . The first commendation ever used by the US armed forces was the original Purple Heart , designed personally by George Washington . It was originally a medal for valor , and at the time was the only one issued by the US Army . It fell out of use after the American Revolution , but was later revived and became the modern commendation for wounds in battle , which is how it is used today . World War One was the first time that the army began to award a variety of medals and decorations , except for the Medal of Honor , which was first awarded during the Civil War . The combat infantryman badge and the expert infantryman badge were created in 1943 by the United States Secretary of War . The combat infantryman badge was originally awarded for valor in combat . In 1947 , every soldier who earned it was given a Bronze Star , and since then , it is awarded for having participated in ground combat . Current and recent service uniforms . Green Service Uniform . The main current service uniform is known as the green service uniform or " class A ' s . " The Army reviewed various ideas in the late 1940s in order to create a distinctive uniform . Many civilian workers were mistaken for Army personnel , due to massive use of army surplus clothing after World War II . Army commissions reviewed various factors of design , durability and appearance . Blue was considered because of its acceptance in men ' s clothing , but it would then have been too difficult to distinguish it from Air Force and Navy service uniforms and the Marine Corps and Navy dress uniforms . Several colors were reviewed , and finally green ( shade 44 ) was designated the basic color for new dress uniforms . The distinctive green color of the uniform led to its being referred to pejoratively by troops as the " pickle suit . " The green uniform has been worn with minor variations since its official adoption in 1954 . The green color was adopted in order to provide a color which was more military , and distinct from various uniforms of civilian service workers . It is scheduled to be discontinued in 2014 . It features a jacket with four buttons . Enlisted soldiers wear insignia denoting their branch of service on their collars . Officers wear two sets of insignia consisting of the letters " US " on their collars and their branch on their lapels . Proficiency badges , such as the marksman ' s badge , are worn on the upper left pocket flap . Above this are the ribbons for medals and commendations which have been earned for various actions , duties and training . Above the ribbons are qualification badges , such as the parachutist badges and combat action badge . A nametag is worn on the upper right pocket flap . Unit awards and foreign awards are worn above the pocket , with a regimental insignia above both . Special duty badges , such as the recruiter badge , are worn on the upper two pockets of the jacket ; the side on which they are worn varies by badge . On each shoulder of the uniform are unit patches . The left side will have the patch of the soldier ' s current unit assignment . The right shoulder may have the patch of a unit to which the soldier has previously been assigned while deployed to a combat zone ; soldiers with multiple previous combat assignments may choose which patch to wear . Tabs indicating ranger , special forces , or sapper qualification , if applicable , are worn above the unit patch on the left shoulder . A similar " airborne " tab is worn immediately above the unit patch if the command is designated as airborne , irrespective of whether the individual soldier is qualified as a paratrooper . As the shoulder sleeve insignia generally indicates merely the general - officer command to which the soldier is assigned , the soldier ' s immediate battalion or intermediate - level command may be indicated by distinctive unit insignia of metal and enamel , on the soldier ' s epaulets . The Army green service uniform ceased to be issued in the fall of 2010 . Only the new blue ASU is now being issued . The Army green service uniform will be withdrawn after July 2014 . White service uniform . Another uniform , the Army white uniform , was the army ' s equivalent to the dress white uniform worn by officers in the U . S . Navy , but unlike the navy , which mandates the owning and wearing of the white uniform throughout the summer months ( year round in tropical locations ) by all ranks ( E - 1 to O - 10 ) , the Army white uniform is an optional uniform , and is only required to be purchased by officers and sergeants major assigned to posts in the tropics and the southern United States . Introduced in 1902 as a summer undress uniform , its wearing , along with the dress and undress blue , was suspended during World War I and was reintroduced in its present form , along with the modern - day dress blue uniform , in 1938 . In its original ( 1902 ) form the white uniform included a standing collar and white flat braid trimming the coat edges . The 1938 model substituted a white coat without braid and with an open - fronted peak lapel worn with a white shirt and black tie . With the impending hostilities of World War II , production of both the blue and white dress uniforms were suspended , but the Army white uniform itself served as a model for the class " A " Army tan uniform , which was introduced in 1942 ( replacing a belted version designed around the Sam Browne Belt ) and discontinued in 1968 ( the shirt & trousers " class B " uniform was replaced with the Army green class " B " uniform in 1985 ) , the post - war belt - less Army blue uniform , and the present - day Army green uniform , which replaced the World War II " Pinks & Greens " and " Ike Jacket " uniforms in 1956 . Like the Army green uniform , the Army white uniform features a main jacket with four buttons , worn with matching white trousers and service cap , but unlike the Army green uniform , no unit patches , specialty tabs , or the black beret are worn . Officers wear their silver or gold - colored rank insignia pinned onto the shoulder epaulets , while enlisted personnel wear gold - on - white rank insignia and service stripes on both sleeves as that on the Army blue uniform . A white dress shirt and either a black bow tie or four - in - hand necktie , for formal and semi - formal functions , is worn . The Army white service uniform will be withdrawn after July 2014 . New service uniform . History . The Army currently has three service uniforms ; green , blue , and white . As of fall 2010 , enlisted soldiers receive the blue service uniform as part of their basic clothing bag issue when they enter the Army during initial entry training . The Army further provides active duty enlisted soldiers an annual clothing allowance to maintain proper fit and appearance of their basic clothing bag issue items . The Army includes a series of stipends in this annual clothing allowance towards the replacement of the green service uniform and all basic clothing bag items . For enlisted soldiers , the blue service uniform is an optional wear item , purchased if desired , and worn on appropriate occasions . Certain honor guards and bands wear the blue service uniform in the performance of duty ; enlisted soldiers assigned to such billets are issued the blue service uniform at no charge . Commissioned officers are given a one time stipend when commissioned to purchase their required uniform items . Officers then maintain proper fit and appearance of their uniform items throughout their career . The Army requires officers to purchase and maintain both the green and blue service uniforms . To streamline the number of uniforms soldiers purchase and maintain throughout their careers , the Army will phase out the green and white service uniforms and retain the blue service uniform as the army service uniform . Soldiers who currently have a blue service uniform can immediately begin wearing this uniform as their ASU . The ASU was announced in 2006 by then Army Chief of Staff General Peter Schoomaker , and will serve as the U . S . Army ' s dress , garrison , and ceremonial uniform . Once the new army uniform is phased in , the only green uniforms remaining in the U . S . armed forces will be the olive green Marine Corps service uniform . The new Army service dress made its " debut " at the 2007 State of the Union Address when General Schoomaker wore his army blue uniform . The new uniform uses the current " army blue " uniform as a model . Accordingly in terms of color the uniform will resemble the campaign uniforms worn by soldiers during the Mexican - American War , American Civil War , Indian Wars , and the Spanish - American War prior to the introduction of khaki uniforms in the 1890s ( phased out in 1985 ) and olive drab uniforms in 1902 ( phased out and replaced with " army green " between 1955 and 1957 ) , making the blue uniform a dress uniform . Dress uniforms of dark blue tunics and light blue trousers were worn by all ranks until 1917 and reintroduced in a modernized form ( with open collar and tie ) for officers and warrant officers in 1937 . Description . The new ASU will include a new coat and low waist trousers for male soldiers ; and a new coat , slacks and skirt for female soldiers . The new fabric for the ASU is heavier and more wrinkle resistant than previously manufactured uniforms and will consist of 55 % wool and 45 % polyester material . The new ASU coat will have a tailored , athletic cut to improve uniform fit and appearance . The ASU will include a new improved heavier and wrinkle resistant short and long - sleeved white shirt with permanent military creases and shoulder loops . The army encourages soldiers and leaders who own the current army blue uniform to wear it , when appropriate , as their dress , class " A " , or class " B " Uniform . The fielding of the new uniform policy establishes a class " B " uniform category for the current army blue uniform as part of its bridging strategy . The class " B " uniform category defines those ASU items worn without the service coat . Dress ASU . The dress blue ASU for males includes the blue coat and trousers and a long - sleeved white shirt with black tie . The dress blue ASU for females includes the blue coat , skirt , and a long - sleeved white shirt with black neck tab . Currently , females in army bands , honor guards , and female chaplains are authorized to wear army blue slacks in the performance of their duties . The black beret and service cap are authorized for wear with this uniform . Combat boots and organizational items , such as brassards , military police accessories and distinctive unit insignia are not worn . All other accessories and insignia authorized for wear with the class " A " service uniform are authorized for wear on the dress blue ASU . Evening social events . When the dress blue ASU is worn for social events in the evening ( i . e . after retreat ) , men may wear a black bow tie rather than a black four - in - hand necktie , and commanders may direct that headgear is not required . ALARACT 202 / 2008 specifies that the " dress blue ASU " for men includes a " black bowtie . " It makes no mention of the black four - in - hand necktie in connection with the " dress blue ASU . " Since , according to paragraph 10 of the same ALARACT and paragraph 27 - 19a of AR 670 - 1 , the bow tie is worn only after retreat , this text suggests that the " dress blue ASU " is not conceived of as a uniform order for the daytime , that the " dress blue ASU " for males is not an all - hours uniform including an evening variant with bow tie , and that the " class A ASU " is the highest order of dress for daytime wear . Class " A " ASU . The class " A " ASU includes the army blue coat and trousers / skirt / slacks , a short or long sleeve white shirt and four - in - hand necktie ( male ) / neck tab ( female ) . ( for accessories and other items authorized for wear on the class " A " ASU see ASU accessory items authorized for wear paragraph below . ) Class " B " ASU . The class " B " ASU includes the army blue trousers / skirt / slacks , a short or long sleeve white shirt . Soldiers will wear the four - in - hand necktie with the long sleeve white shirt when it is worn without the class " A " coat . ( for accessories and other items authorized for wear on the class " B " ASU see insignias , awards , badges and accoutrements worn with the dress blue , class " A " , and class " B " ASU paragraphs below ) . Until the new ASU items are available , soldiers who have the low waist trousers with belt loops , or slacks , have the option of wearing a commercial short sleeve white shirt with shoulder loops in the open collar configuration or with a four - in - hand necktie ( black neck tab for female soldiers ) . Soldiers have the option of wearing a commercial long sleeve white shirt with shoulder loops and a four - in - hand necktie ( black neck tab for female soldiers ) . Soldiers who have the current commercial white shirt without shoulder loops must wear as appropriate , the black wind breaker , black pullover or black cardigan sweaters with this uniform . Soldiers who have the high waist blue trousers worn with suspenders ( designed to wear with the blue mess uniform ) may wear these trousers with the current ASU during this transition period . These high waist trousers must be worn with the service coat , black wind breaker , black pullover or black cardigan sweaters . The mandatory possession date for the new ASU items is final quarter of Fiscal Year 2014 .