Should each service branch have its own uniform pattern?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:02:53 -0500

What are the advantages of separate uniform patterns between (and sometimes within) the services?

What are the disadvantages?

What kind of uniform(s) would you like to see?

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 2 at 2015 9:57 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Mon, 02 Mar 2015 21:57:14 -0500

Field uniform should be the same across all branches, dress uniform unique, especially the branches that have history to the dress uniform.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2015 12:57 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 12:57:51 -0500

I think that we should have the same Combat uniform (NWU, ACU, etc) Perhaps change the color of the ink but same pattern and layout. On the dress uniform, e should all have different. As MAJ Oyler said, there is a lot of tradition in the dress uniform, especially in my service.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2015 12:40 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 00:40:00 -0400

Combat uniform should be attributed to environment. If for some reason I am going to be in aquatic based environments, please give me a Navy Working Uniform ( complete with U.S Army tape ) or if I going to be in forest based environments, hand me a Battles Dress Uniform
The uniform does not make the service member, the service member makes the uniform be what it is!

Dress uniforms should have their own unique service identifier, and for the army I think the new Army Dress blues look great!

Response by Cpl Michael Burns made Mar 17 at 2015 5:10 PM

Cpl Michael Burns — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 17:10:41 -0400

The combat utilities should all be the same and they should be made for the enviorment they are used in. Woodland cammies dont work in the snow. Now dress uniforms,should follow the branches traditions.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2015 8:06 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:06:57 -0400

Same combat uniform for all. If a combat platoon engages the enemy and 1 AF TACP is there in ABUs with comm equipment, who needs to die first? The guy who will call in CAS! The AF member is a target to be singled out. That's a no-brainer. If services want to embrace their "heritage", it's called the service uniform - not combat/utility uniform.

Response by SGT John Beardsley made Apr 7 at 2015 1:15 AM

SGT John Beardsley — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 01:15:02 -0400

For standard uniform of the day, no.

For dress uniform, ABSOLUTELY!

I would love it if the Army got rid of the dress greens and developed a dress blue uniform, possibly with slight but easily distinguishing style differences for each combat arms division {Infantry, Armor, Field Artillery and Special Forces} which would compare favorably with the Marine's dress, as well as the Navy's whites. I don't understand why there is need for any of the services to have more than two types of uniform; one standard duty and one dress. (The only exception being uniforms issued for extreme climates, ie. arctic or desert) I also like the idea of a standard design beret for garrison duty but with different colors for the combat divisions.

Having just one standard uniform would be more cost effective generally, savings that would be more than enough to cover the costs of having distinctive dress uniforms.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 30 at 2015 10:48 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:48:50 -0400

I feel that each should utilize the same combat or utility uniform, so as to save money for both the services and the tax payers, with subtle differences for each branch, ie, EGA for the USMC. As far as dress uniforms, keep the distinctive uniforms of each as is, separate and distinctive.

Response by SSgt Armen Mansouri made Jun 30 at 2015 10:54 AM

SSgt Armen Mansouri — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 10:54:42 -0400

The word UNIFORM practically means the same.

Any work utility uniform should be the same across the branches (Just like how the BDUs and DCUs were) Between the branches the pattern should be the same, the color should be the same, the only difference should be the branch distinguishing on the shirt, and the rank structure. Just like how the Army, the Air Force, the Marines, and even some of the Navy had it prior to the whole uniform changes a decade or so ago.

Now the dress uniform HAS to be different. And every branch should be PROUD of their dress uniform. With nothing but heritage and honor sown into it.

Granted I am Air Force, I think the Marines have it down with their dress uniform. The Air Force dress uniform is to "civilian business" attire. There is nothing wrong with military flare to make us stand out. There is a reason we are the 1% of the American population!

Sheepdogs, protect the herd!

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2015 8:14 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Jul 2015 20:14:05 -0400

I think that the Air Force service dress should change. I understand that changing it is a big deal to a lot of people, but looking like you're a flight attendant or a businessman instead of a military member bothers me a little bit. The regular uniforms though (i.e., ABU's, ACU's, etc.) look fine to me, but if you want to save money, like everyone else has said in the comments, going to a similar looking uniform would be ideal.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 5:16 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 05:16:04 -0400

I rememeber a time when we all wore the same duty uniform, the BDU. the only distinction was for Army, we wore our unit insignia and the navy and marines wore the funny hats..

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 9 at 2015 5:58 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 05:58:23 -0400

Simple. No! We are deployed in joint environments more and more.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2015 11:11 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 23:11:55 -0400

I agree with pretty much what everyone has been saying: Have same/similar combat uniforms adapted to the situation and environment and keep the dress uniform for the tradition of that branch.

Response by Sgt Dan Catlin made Apr 11 at 2019 7:08 AM

Sgt Dan Catlin — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:08:08 -0400

For dress uniforms absolutely every branch should follow their own tradition. Combat and work uniforms get a bit trickier. As much as possible using the same uniforms should be both more cost effective and help prevent things like friendly fie incidents. Still, some individuality should be maintained, especially the utility cover (hat). And some jobs require different uniforms altogether. So standardize where practical, but not as an absolute. And not on dress uniforms.