Should we bring back the greens?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:32:22 -0500

With all these uniform changes and well making us all pay for new uniforms every other pay day, should we bring back the greens? Every other service has multiple dress uniforms should the Army bring back the greens? They are used for different types of events to distinguish how formal of an event it is, with only one option to distinguish the difference now, the bowtie. One of the justifications given for going to one dress uniform, the ASUs, was to save Soldiers money. Which we all know now is @*!* as we had to buy new parts to get the ASUs, but now we have to buy new pts and soon new boots, belts, shirts, hats, and uniform instead of the government paying a little extra to stick with the multicams that many that have deployed since 2010 already have. While our garages continue to get filled with these military relics should we bring the greens out, dust them off, and have two types of dress uniforms?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 3 at 2014 10:35 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:35:55 -0500

Cpt Maurelli, I was never a Marine! The Corps wear the same uniform as when I enlisted in the US Army in 1953. I cannot recall the numerous soft caps worn during my service. The Corps has the same 'fatigue' cover as in 1953. Which uniform sets the standard?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2014 10:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:36:24 -0500

Sir, I wished this was a survey.

In short... NO.

Long answer, I do see your point about all the recent changes over the last decade-ish. The powers that be definitely seem to have a problem agreeing or making up their mind. Either way, it is costing Soldier money.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2014 10:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 22:57:15 -0500

sir, I never had the opportunity to wear the dress greens as they were phased out prior to the start of my enlistment but I always loved seeing that uniform. And when you wear the tropical version of the uniform white shirt with blue pants it doesn't look good in my opinion. My personal opinion is I'd like to see the greens again, it looked professional and was uniquely army.
I will admit to some confusion as to why we are creating a whole new pattern that looks very similar to one we are currently using. I've read the articles but it seems to me that it really didn't save the army any money at all

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2014 8:10 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 08:10:40 -0500

I have been the Army long enough to have been issued greens, had to purchase replacements, purchase dress blues, and then purchase ASUs. I don't like some of the changes that were made to the blues to make them ASUs; however, knowing the history of the blue uniform I prefer them to the greens. I don't care if civilians don't see it as an Army uniform; they Will in time. What I do care about is constantly having to pay out of pocket for New uniforms that cost 400-500+ dollars. The cost to the Army may be minimal, but it isn't for us Soldiers. If the Army wants to keep changing the uniforms they need to issue them to all of the Soldiers.
Overall, the ASUs when worn well look a lot more professional than the greens ever did.

Response by PFC Zanie Young made Dec 4 at 2014 9:25 AM

PFC Zanie Young — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 09:25:06 -0500

The first time I seen the blues worn on someone ranked below Sergeant, I thought to myself "why the hell is a private wearing blues?" I later learned they were the "new Class A uniform" ASU. When I was in, I wore green, blues were for noncoms and officers, and also had the dress mess, which were cool to look at. So, in my opinion, we should bring back the pink and green or just green to show that we don't look like everybody else. All services wear blue and it is too confusing if it wasn't for the insignia. Or in the Navy's case, the shoulderboards and stripes...

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2014 11:17 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 11:17:52 -0500

Khakis, or "Pinks and Greens" are iconic and look great. Furthermore, in every survey, we all want them back---which is why it won't happen (kind of like the survey that gave us all black PT uniforms; those should be great for PT at say Bliss, Stewart, Hood etc). Agree with all who say our Bs suck. Really, there is no better description. They suck. We don't look or feel like Soldiers. We could be mall cops, firefighters, bus drivers--anything but professional Soldiers. So here is a simple and perhaps cheap alternative: Let's go back a few decades and wear khaki shirts withe the B version. Khaki shirt, blue pants and khaki tie with the long sleeve option. It could even be a darker coyote khaki so as to keep it unique and honor the last conflict we have been in (a tradition in our service uniforms--usually mimics a precious era combat uniform). We could take it one step further and eliminate the white shirt all together by making the blue top return to a choker collar--so no tie and no shirt. In other words, when you go form B to A, you take off the khaki shirt and thrown on your blue top. Easy. Last, I would say NCOs return to sleeve chevrons. There is something traditional and comforting to see those full sized stripes on the sleeve rather than little glossy pins or shoulder boards.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 8 at 2014 9:18 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 21:18:44 -0500

The AF only has one service dress uniform and one mess dress uniform. There is a "formal" that is officers only which is just a modified mess dress and a semi formal for enlisted which is just a modified service dress.

Response by SFC John Gemmell made Apr 3 at 2015 7:51 PM

SFC John Gemmell — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 19:51:31 -0400

Hello Captain Maurelli.

Having the Soldiers maintain two uniforms will increase the individual cost, as opposed to maintaining one uniform. The dress greens, in my opinion, are wimpy and remind me of old 1980 class D movies. Movies when the actors couldn't wear the uniform correctly and appeared sloppy.

I have always preferred Ike's uniform still worn during the 1970s. And I adore the dress blues.

Cordially,
John

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Apr 4 at 2015 3:43 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 15:43:25 -0400

While you're at it, bring back the C-Rats and drill sergeants that will actually train recruits into warriors.

And stay off my lawn, you durn kids!

Response by SFC Michael Jackson, MBA made Apr 4 at 2015 4:19 PM

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:19:37 -0400

No, we shouldn't bring back. I have nothing against the greens. I just like the look of the ASU better.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2015 7:19 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 19:19:45 -0400

I'm in favor of going back to the world war 2 era uniform for a class A type uniform and then bring back the dress blues. Please don't bring back the green. I hated that uniform with a passion. It was so... monochromatic(?), boring, and green. It had no history, unlike the navy or the marine uniforms. The blues at least go back pre civil war.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2015 7:04 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 07:04:39 -0400

We should bring back the Greens, as many who have to pay out of pocket for the ASUs. Its really annoying, and quite frankly, if any further uniform changes are to occur, then maybe at the new fiscal year when the changes come into effect, we need a stipend or something to offset the costs. ASUs are not cheap, that, and the are a damn magnet that attract every forsaken lint and hair known to mankind. The Greens had more of a historical look, that set us apart from the other services. When they Air Force wear their uniform, it seems that we are trying to "imitate" them, and thus, have no diversity. That is my opinion.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2015 1:40 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 May 2015 01:40:20 -0400

Some of my thoughts on greens and Army uniforms in general....I was disappointed when the Army decided to drop the greens. I thought it was a sharp uniform. Blues are too dressy for daytime use. The class B blues look like an ice cream man! I say bring back the greens but also bring back the tan shirt but keep the current class B epaulets with it for class B. Also return of the full-khaki isn't a bad idea for class B. The Army very seldom uses class B because they always wear ACU in an office environment. The Army is the only service that wears the field/combat uniform routinely in an office environment. Im not a fan of that. I believe that recruiters should wear Class A or B in public except when doing things like field weapons or equipment demonstration.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2015 9:21 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Jul 2015 09:21:26 -0400

Greens....eh, maybe. I don't mind altering my old ones and rocking them again. I did like having the full color patches on the uniform. Added a bit of heraldry to the uniform which is missing now.

I vote for either the khakis, just because of the functionality of the uniform for daily use, or the "pinks and greens" which would actually work well in combination with a khaki class B. While we are at it, can we bring back the Sam Brown belt? I just think it adds a military level of sophistication and is traditional across the globe.

All I know is that I would like a Class B solution to the ASU. The white shirt is impractical. They show any dirt quick and are harder to maintain.

Does anyone have any opinion about bring back the Ike Jacket with the ASU? I think it looks a little off and doesn't seem to carry the same tradition forward. I know that I will have next to no use for it and probably would not purchase it unless required to.

Response by SFC Roger Bruce Walden made Sep 9 at 2016 3:32 PM

SFC Roger Bruce Walden — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 15:32:26 -0400

The problem is the generals that run the army are a bunch of pussies and nickel noses. Why do they want our soldiers to look like members of F Troop? The Blues are awesome, when worn like Blues, but they way they wear them now our guys look like a bunch of Zoaves from the Civil War, or worse, Custer's boys- not exactly our nation's proudest moment. What was our Army's proudest moment? Hmm. Maybe, what? World War Two? Maybe we should try dressing our troops like that and watch morale improve. The Marines, the Navy and even the Coasties pretty much dress as they always have, at least for the last 100 years. Get a clue, bean counters.

Response by SFC Roger Bruce Walden made Sep 9 at 2016 3:32 PM

SFC Roger Bruce Walden — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 15:32:45 -0400

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 9 at 2016 5:34 PM

SFC George Smith — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 17:34:24 -0400

The Rag Maker are Pushing all the Changes... and Congress Critters are Influencing The Commands... The Most functional Class B Uniform was the Kakis or TW's and the greens were great for all around Dress Uniform. and for Career Soldiers, they could afford the Dress Blues...
But I'm Old school so what do I know... The Morons running the show now are getting too well paid to change things every 10 years ...

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Dec 18 at 2016 11:42 AM

SGT Suraj Dave — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 11:42:58 -0500

I got very lucky in a way. The dress blue/ASU existed when I joined in 2009, but I was in the last basic training cycle before blues were issued out. I also managed to somehow make it to SGT/E-5 and get out of the Army without ever having to buy the ugly blue uniform. I have 2 main issues with the Blue/ASU. The first one is, most people cant tell its an Army uniform. You look like you are an airline pilot or in the Navy. Blue may have been our original color, but since the advent of camouflage we have been green. Green represents ground forces, blue represents Navy. Lastly, in the blues there is not unit patch. You cant tell what unit the soldiers in unless you memorize the DUI..... Which most people don't. I just don't understand why division patches aren't on them either.

Response by SPC Randall Eichelberger made Dec 18 at 2016 11:27 PM

SPC Randall Eichelberger — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 23:27:28 -0500

I was lucky. Enlisted in 05 and ETS'd in 2011 before the wear out date. So I didn't have to buy the ugly ASU.

I liked the way it was then. Jr. Enlisted wore the green Class A, NCO's/Officers wore Dress Blues to formal events when a bow tie was required. But the big colored patch is one of my favorite things about the Class A. And combat patches as well. It looks dumb having a badge on your chest when we wear the patch on our right sleeve on the ACU/BDU/Afghan theater camo/whatever the Army decides next week. Plus us MP's when on duty in Class A's and the Airborne folks tucked them into polished boots, looked very sexy.

The problem is the Army has gone away from wearing Class A/B in the office.

But I say move on to a tan uniform like back in WW2

Response by TSgt Tommy Amparano made Dec 19 at 2016 11:41 AM

TSgt Tommy Amparano — Mon, 19 Dec 2016 11:41:26 -0500

You already have an awesome uniform.

Response by SPC Daniel Perry made Jan 28 at 2017 1:37 PM

SPC Daniel Perry — Sat, 28 Jan 2017 13:37:02 -0500

I got out of the Army slightly before the Iraq War/OIF kicked off, and I was insisting back then that the Army Khakis should be brought back albeit a little more modern looking. It would be a big morale boost, would exude respect and look cool as f***.

Response by SFC Roger Bruce Walden made Feb 16 at 2017 1:47 PM

SFC Roger Bruce Walden — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:47:19 -0500

Go back to the long jacket pink and greens, and short sleaved khakis from WWII. The Khakis were invented for the Army first, and that happened in the desert South West in the cavalry days because the blue uniforms melted Joe in the saddle and the whites made him a target. Change it back to the uniform of the Army's greatest years and leave it the hell alone after that!

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Feb 16 at 2017 1:51 PM

SFC Jim Ruether — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 13:51:57 -0500

YES bring em back!

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Feb 16 at 2017 2:23 PM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 14:23:38 -0500

I am not a grunt so my opinion is this...I really liked the distinctive Army Green Uniforms. I thought they looked sharp and professional with the polished brass and yellow chevrons standing out. Every service has and needs to keep one distinctive uniform. This was it for the Army. When they went to the one they wear now it separates by branch thus negating the term "uniform".

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2017 6:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 18:17:49 -0500

I hope one day people in the military stop talking about useless stuff and instead focused on real problems.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2017 6:21 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 18:21:40 -0500

No.....wait....HELL NO!!! The greens were terrible. They looked like crap and fit like a potato sack.

Response by SGT Ron Egan made Mar 3 at 2017 7:11 PM

SGT Ron Egan — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:11:46 -0500

I was in from 1973-1979. What you whiners do not understand or know, the dress greens came about when my generation was coming back from Nam and getting spit on. The Army wanted a more civilian friendly looking uniform. Did you catch that? A more civilian friendly looking uniform. Designed to look more like a civilian suit. The Navy tried it for a few years with a suit looking uniform but ended up bringing back the old crackerjack uniform. (Smart move squids). The Khakis were great and we looked sharp in them also. So, pull up your big boy undies, wear the Blues with pride and quit you friken whining. That's an order.

Response by MSG Robert Waterhouse made Mar 3 at 2017 9:28 PM

MSG Robert Waterhouse — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 21:28:55 -0500

Hell yes! The class A’s have under gone minute changes over the last 20 years or so. That alone was not cost effective for a shade or two in difference. Not everyone wears the dress blue with the garrison belt. So that dress blue with a white shirt looks like something that was designed for the Army by the Air Force or JC Penny’s. From 2006 the Army has wasted billions of tax payer money by changing uniforms that were and are non- functional for combat and dress. PT uniforms that were functional were just fine. Why change to a new all black PT at someone’s whim? Now were changing to multicam to erase the ACU debacle and that at least 4 other countries have already adopted them because we did not make very good decisions when it was first offered to the Army. That’s going to a fun battle field in the future, hell one of those nation sporting Multicams now is Russia. Every time the Army leadership change some uniform policy it cost millions of dollars in just AR670-1 rewriting and reprint costs. Where the hell is the oversight Congress, SECDEF and Secretary of the Army? That’s my sniveling and yes bring back a Military looking uniform in the class A Greens and maybe a light khaki shirt.

Response by SPC Greg Burnett made Mar 3 at 2017 9:57 PM

SPC Greg Burnett — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 21:57:44 -0500

I don't remember if I've replied to this thread already or not...
Anywho, I like the looks of the ASU but think they need the unit patches and combat patches back on the sleeves.
I just had the potato sack as someone recently called the greens.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2017 10:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:04:29 -0400

No way. The blues are much sharper that the old greens in my closet.

Response by SSG Dave Smith made Jul 13 at 2018 8:48 PM

SSG Dave Smith — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 20:48:52 -0400

No. Pinks & Greens, Summer Khakis, 1902 Enlisted Dress Blues and Mess Blues.

Response by SGT Mathew Husen made Oct 13 at 2019 9:36 PM

SGT Mathew Husen — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 21:36:03 -0400

The Army is not about playing dress up. So stop with the Good Idea Fairy suggestions.

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Oct 14 at 2019 8:00 PM

CPT Tom Monahan — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 20:00:46 -0400

Gen G. Washington said the Army’s uniform was to be blue. Okay, go with blue. The class A and or B shirt can be a different color. It was good for over 100 years. Done.

Response by 1SG Nick Baker made Nov 6 at 2021 2:06 AM

1SG Nick Baker — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 02:06:50 -0400

Class A Picks and Green
Class B Khakis and Jump boots
Class C Slant pocket Jungle fatigues
When we looked like an Army
I agree with Col Jason rank on the sleeves