Can anyone tell me, with references, does an enlisted Soldier have to pay for his/her initial uniform issue?

1LT Brian Lareau — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 20:41:00 -0400

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 7 at 2017 8:46 PM

SSG Pete Fleming — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 20:46:16 -0400

https://www.goarmy.com/videos/play/do-i-have-to-buy-uniforms-basic-training-q-a.html

Do I Have to Buy Uniforms?: Basic Training Q&A

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jun 7 at 2017 9:24 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 21:24:51 -0400

**Soldier**
And no. I can reference my own experience, all uniforms issued during basic training are given to the SM free of charge. However, with the exception of additional issued equipment prior too and during deployment, all other uniforms a purchased by the SM out of pocket; even in the case of changing uniforms as was the case when the Army dropped the green class a uniform. This is why every year the soldier will receive a clothing allowance.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2017 10:13 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 22:13:06 -0400

I had to pay for my uniforms

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2017 10:23 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 22:23:43 -0400

Enlisted Soldiers are given an initial clothing issue IAW AR 700-84: Issue and Sale of Personal Clothing.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2017 11:09 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 23:09:44 -0400

We officers get a one time clothing stipend upon commissioning, but ALL basic issue items are just that, issued. One DOES NOT pay for their basic military OCIE.

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Jun 7 at 2017 11:30 PM

LTJG Richard Bruce — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 23:30:12 -0400

Each service is allow to determine initial uniform issue. USCG policy;

14 U.S.C. § 485 provides that: (a) the Coast Guard may purchase uniforms, accouterments, and related equipment for sale to officer personnel or cadets of the Coast Guard and; (b) the Coast Guard may purchase uniform clothing for sale to enlisted personnel of the Coast Guard. The actual cost of the clothing thus sold to enlisted personnel may be withheld from their pay. The cost of initial issue of enlisted uniforms is recovered from each member over time by way of a reduced clothing maintenance allowance.

US Code Title 37 §418. Clothing allowance: enlisted members
(a) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, may prescribe the quantity and kind of clothing to be furnished annually to an enlisted member of the armed forces or the National Guard, and may prescribe the amount of a cash allowance to be paid to such a member if clothing is not so furnished to him.
(b) In determining the quantity and kind of clothing or allowances to be furnished pursuant to regulations prescribed under this section to persons employed as National Guard technicians under section 709 of title 32, the Secretary of Defense shall take into account the requirement under subsection (b) of such section for such persons to wear a uniform.
(c) A uniform allowance may not be paid, and uniforms may not be furnished, under section 1593 of title 10 or section 5901 of title 5 to a person referred to in subsection (b) for a period of employment referred to in that subsection for which clothing is furnished or a uniform allowance is paid under this section.
(d)(1) In the case of athletic footwear needed by members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps upon their initial entry into the armed forces, the Secretary of Defense shall furnish such footwear directly to the members instead of providing a cash allowance to the members for the purchase of such footwear.
(2) In procuring athletic footwear to comply with paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense shall-
(A) procure athletic footwear that complies with the requirements of section 2533a of title 10, without regard to the applicability of any simplified acquisition threshold under chapter 137 of title 10 (or any other provision of law); and
(B) procure additional athletic footwear, for two years following the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, that is necessary to provide a member described in paragraph (1) with sufficient choices in athletic shoes so as to minimize the incidence of athletic injuries and potential unnecessary harm and risk to the safety and well-being of members in initial entry training.

(3) This subsection does not prohibit the provision of a cash allowance to a member described in paragraph (1) for the purchase of athletic footwear if such footwear-
(A) is medically required to meet unique physiological needs of the member; and
(B) cannot be met with athletic footwear that complies with the requirements of this subsection.

The words "the armed forces" are substituted for the words "the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Coast Guard" to conform to the definition in section 101(4) of this title. The words "the Naval Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, . . . the National Guard of the United States, the Air National Guard of the United States, the Army Reserve, the Air Force Reserve, and the Coast Guard Reserve" are omitted, since, under the definitions of the armed forces concerned in sections 3062(c), 5001(a)(1) and (2), and 8062(d) of title 10, and section 751a of title 14, those organizations, or their successors, are components of the armed force concerned.

Response by LtCol George Carlson made Jun 8 at 2017 12:03 AM

LtCol George Carlson — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 00:03:44 -0400

I can't speak to 2017 as I retired in 1990 and was last issued anything (other than a B-4 bag) in 1966! But while I was in -- enlisted got a monthly uniform allowance (which was reduced the first two years to cover initial issue) but intended to cover replacement. Whether it did or not was another story. Reserve officers got an initial uniform allowance (which covered maybe 15% of what a new Marine lieutenant was require to have) but was expected to pay for anything else out of BASE pay (no ongoing allowance). Some suggested that it went back to medieval knights who were expected to provide everything including mount and arms. I'm just glad I didn't have to pay for a vehicle or a weapon!

Response by CPO Mark Weber made Jun 9 at 2017 5:10 AM

CPO Mark Weber — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 05:10:08 -0400

When I went into the navy the entire uniforms peacoat, raincoat, dress shoes and safety boots were provided. As for or gear going through basic training or boot camp you were given chits/coupons for those items.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 9 at 2018 8:52 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 09 May 2018 20:52:34 -0400

No, initial issue is free and always has been for enlisted.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2018 9:18 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 May 2018 21:18:29 -0400

I can't give you a paragraph and line number of some army regulation; but I can tell you that when I enlisted in 1996, I got my initial uniform issue at basic training. Monetarily it was free, but got smoked a lot for it so I guess you could say I paid for it with sweat. Also, when I was enlisted every year I got a clothing allowance as well. Not sure if they do that anymore for the active enlisted folks. But even the guard enlisted guys don't pay for their initial issue (or at least I haven't seen them paying for it).

Response by SFC Joseph Behmke made Aug 15 at 2019 4:55 AM

SFC Joseph Behmke — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 04:55:07 -0400

I spent many years in the logistics field, from Unit Supply Sgt to DCSLOG G-4 Logistics NCO. In neither the NG, AR or the Reg Army does an enlisted person have to buy their initial issue. I served in both the AR and Active duty and a son served in the NG. An enlisted person is issued all of their required initial clothing at no cost based on a copy of their orders. But the supporting instillation's SOP at the CIIP tells units the 5 W's.

Response by SFC James Welch made Sep 19 at 2020 6:24 PM

SFC James Welch — Sat, 19 Sep 2020 18:24:10 -0400