Military uniform history; how many different uniforms have you worn?

SSG Ed Mikus — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 13:32:18 -0400

With the new uniforms for the Army on their way to the shelf, what are your thoughts on the progression of military uniforms?

how many different uniforms have you worn?

were the migrations typically improvements?

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2014 2:37 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 14:37:01 -0400

The Navy has, amazingly, changed few of the uniforms I was wearing at the time. Summer Whites, Dress Whites, Winter Blues, and Dress Blues stayed the same throughout my junior Enlisted career. I did (very rarely) wear two different Utility uniforms. Since I made Chief I have worn Khakis, Summer Whites, and Dress Blues - none of those have changed in that time. On deployments or in training I have worn DCUs, ACUs, MarPats, Type IIIs, and OCPs. So I've worn 14 different uniforms - 5 of them different camouflage patterns while deployed or in training. Considering I've less than 3.5 of my 18.75 years in the Navy deployed, that's a pretty amazing ratio.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2014 5:33 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 17:33:10 -0400

I have only worn two BDUs And ABUs for the most part i believe that it was mostly an improvement but there have been a few bumps along the way i don't think they have ever got it perfect the first shot. Like when the ABUs first came out they didn't make a standard material type so there were a lot of different color variations that looked bad now they have that fixed and only making summer weights.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Aug 14 at 2014 5:42 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 17:42:29 -0400

For field use i've worn BDU, DCU and ACU.

For service uniforms I've worn Hospital Whites, Green Class A, Dress Blues/ASU, and Mess Dress.

I think the ACU should be considered a bad blip. I like the pattern of the uniform, the color works well in urban areas, but hardly "universal". I also totally support 1 field uniform for all services.

For service uniforms, Whites have gone the way of the Dodo bird for hospital use, as everyone pretty much wears ACU or scrubs. I liked having the seperation between a Class A duty dress and more formal uniforms like Dress Blue and Mess Dress. I find the ASU too formal for every day use.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Aug 14 at 2014 7:35 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 19:35:26 -0400

I've worn BDU's and DCU's, retired just before the mandatory possession date for ACUs. For dress I wore Class "A" (Green) and Dress Blue. That covered 23+years of service. My son has been in for less than 4 years and has worn more uniform variations that I did. Does seem a bit extreme to me.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2014 10:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Aug 2014 22:57:49 -0400

Well if we're counting the ones that are about to come out....

3 different PT uniforms (gray cotton sweats, the current, and the soon to be released)

2 different dress uniforms (greens and ASUs)

4 different duty uniforms (BDUs, ACUs, Multicam, and the soon to be released) ((actually, 5 if you count flight crew uniforms))

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2014 2:31 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 14:31:01 -0400

I'm at
-- 2 versions of the BDU (with and without the button flaps on the side)
-- 2 versions of the ACU (velcro vs. buttons for sleeves and cargo pockets)
-- 2 versions of the ASU (before and after the big change in ASU rules)
-- 2 versions of the PT uniform (all-grey sweats, and the current ones)
-- 1 version of the Army Greens (officially dead on 01 Oct this year)
-- 1 version of DCUs (only owned 1, became paintball clothes)
-- I have reason to think I will need to invest in the Mess Dress within a year

Now we're about to change over the ACU again, and the PT uniform. Each time I find a few things I like, and a few things I completely hate.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Aug 30 at 2014 2:10 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 14:10:05 -0400

SS and LS Khakis/TWs
Greens with taupe and green shirts
Dress Blues
OG Cotton, wash and wear and jungle fatigues
BDU fatigues hot and cold weather
That is all that come to mind.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Aug 30 at 2014 3:03 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 15:03:14 -0400

For me, BDUs, DCUs, ACUs, Multi-cams, current PT uniform, PTs from late 90s, Class A's, ASUs. Will wear the new uniform next year sometime in the fall of 2015.

Response by Sgt W Hibshman made Sep 17 at 2014 6:23 PM

Sgt W Hibshman — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:23:46 -0400

Marine Corps Service Green, Woodland Cammies, Dress Blues

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Dec 9 at 2014 8:09 PM

1SG Frank Boynton — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 20:09:12 -0500

I wore the original od green fatigues, and the old Jungle Fatigues, the Army BDU's, the Green Class A dress uniform, the khaki summer Class B uniform, the Army Dress Blues, before it was the standard dress uniform, back then it was for Formal and Dress affairs, and the Enlisted Mess Blues.

Response by SrA Andrea West made Dec 9 at 2014 8:13 PM

SrA Andrea West — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 20:13:00 -0500

We in the Air Force went from olive drab to BDU with Velcro name badges, and from all wool blues to a poly blend. Not sure about improvements...

Response by SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee made Dec 17 at 2014 7:22 PM

SSG(P) Matthew Bisbee — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 19:22:06 -0500

-1985 wide collar BDUs without the button tabs on the sides (issued at BT).
-The banana suit Yellow PT uniform.
-OG-107s (the green ones with the slant pockets) issued at Ft. Bragg.
-82nd Airborne Division Grey sweatsuit PT Uniform
-Before I ETS'ed, I had to buy the Hot weather BDUs.
-Then they revamped the Temperate weather BDU to more closely match their hot weather counterparts.
-the "chocolate chip" DCU
-the three-color DCU
-the OD green nomex flight suit
-the OD green cold-weather uniform w/parka
-the new APF uniform
-the ECW gortex uniform in both woodland and 3-color DCU pattern
-the velcro pocket ACUs
-the Class A dress greens
-the dress blues (with the huge service stripes)
-and the new ASU.
By my count, 8 combat uniforms, 3 cold weather uniforms, three PT uniforms, and three dress uniforms.
My favorite combat uniform was the old slant pocket OG-107s for the field and the "old style" dress blues. I do like the improvements that were made in the cold weather gear. I was glad to see the banana suit go away!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 5:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 17:51:23 -0400

PT - 3, The old gray on gray, the gray on black of the GWOT era, and no the the black on black of the whatever era we are going into.

Utilities - BDU, DCU, ACU, Multicam, and in the near future Scorpion or OCP. And yeah, there are some variations of those, but I feel they are still the same uniform.

Dress- Old Green Class A's, and the current ASU.

My personal opinion is that most of the changes are neither good or bad. Just changes for the sake of changing. Except the ACU. ACU's were a horrible decision and I'm happy to see a color/pattern that will actually work.

Response by 1SG Joe Messier made May 7 at 2015 6:55 PM

1SG Joe Messier — Thu, 07 May 2015 18:55:25 -0400

One, an Army uniform. It's pattern was irrelevant!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 7 at 2015 8:21 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:21:52 -0500

SSG Ed Mikus My first Fatigues were of cotton in a herringbone twill pattern w/ metal buttons large pockets and a 'gas flap' inside the blouse. My first boots were as the photo shows. Rough out leather clodhopper shoes and a smooth leather top with 2 buckle fasteners rather than laces.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 7 at 2015 8:29 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 20:29:14 -0500

1SG Joe Messier Here is the photo of those WW II leftover boots I was issued in 1953.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Feb 11 at 2018 8:49 PM

LTC John Griscom — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 20:49:59 -0500

TWs - Class A and B
Khakis
Dress Whites
Mess Whites
Dress Blues before the new ASU
Greens with various shirts
Fatigues, 2 versions
OG Winter wool
BDU/ACU
Tiger stripe
Khaki shorts
ASU
DCU - 2 verisions

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jun 1 at 2018 10:49 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 22:49:19 -0400

7 different uniforms- some were better than their predecessors, other were not. Miss my tiger strips and Khaki's

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Oct 28 at 2018 3:02 AM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 03:02:10 -0400

5 sets of uniforms.

- Green fatigues
-BDU’s
-DCU’s
-ABU’s
-OCP’s

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2019 11:56 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 11:56:33 -0500

TOTAL of 37 uniforms, 11 of which are discontinued
Navy: 25
Formal Dress (white tie tux, for my wedding)
Dinner Dress Blue Jacket
Dinner Dress White Jacket
Dinner Dress Blue
Dinner Dress White
Full Dress Blue
Full Dress White
Service Dress Blue
Service Dress Blue Yankee (never wore it before 2008 when it was discontinued)
Service Dress White
Winter Blue (wore it twice before 2008)
Summer White
Service Khaki
Winter Working Blue (never wore it before 2008 when it was discontinued)
Summer Working White (never wore it before 2008 when it was discontinued)
Working Khaki, both long and short sleeve (discontinued 2008)
Tropical White (never wore it before 2008 when it was discontinued)
Tropical Khaki (never wore it before 2008 when it was discontinued)
Summer BDU
Winter BDU (never wore it before 2008 when it was discontinued)
Coveralls
PT Gear (white and blue)
PT Gear (gold and blue)
Aviation Working Greens wore it ince before 2008 when it was discontinued)
Navy Working Uniform type I (since 2008, aka blueberries)
Navy Working Uniform type III (since 2018, aka guacamole)

Marine Corps (Navy Chaplains are attached to USMC units): 5
Service Alpha
Service Bravo
Service Charlies
Woodland MARPAT
Desert MARPAT

Coast Guard (Navy Chaplains are attached to USCG units): 7
Full Dress White
Full Dress Blue
Service Dress Blue (Alpha)
Service Dress Blue (Bravo)
Tropical Blue Long
Operational Duty Uniform
USCG PT

Add the Navy bridge coat, navy eisenhower jacket, navy sweater, navy all-weather coat, USMC tanker jacket, USMC green sweater, USMC trench coat, USCG windbreaker, USCG Bridge coat, USCG sweater, USCG trench coat and you have a closet full.