Generals in BDU’s on TV?

[longhuntr74]

I think that everything that's been posted here thus far is accurate. Marines, I know, still have the standards that utilities are only for work and field wear and that you aren't allowed to wear them out among the general public. The Army takes a much different view on uniforms. We want our soldiers to be seen out in public to tell the "Army story" and to humanize our Soldiers...they are American citizens just like any other person. ACUs are our standard duty uniform. We've all but cast aside our Class B, Class A, and Dress uniforms except for the one or two times per year that we wear them for an inspection or formal function. Some units / installations wear class As or class Bs the first friday of the month for "payday activities" still, but that tradition is another one that continues to get less and less commonplace. The one that really agitates me is the fact that we no longer even go to the trouble of putting on our Class A uniform for memorial services...apparently soldier deaths have become so common now that they no longer warrant the trouble of putting on your class A uniform...so we just attend in our standard duty uniform...the ACU. I know that the standard duty uniform in DC / the Pentagon used to be Class Bs at a minimum...and frequently class As. I haven't worked there, but I think that they have even transitioned to ACUs for daily wear.

[Sir William]

I know that the standard duty uniform in DC / the Pentagon used to be Class Bs at a minimum...and frequently class As. I haven't worked there, but I think that they have even transitioned to ACUs for daily wear.

You are correct. ACUs have become the standard uniform even in DC. Soldiers at my agency only wear the Class A or B uniform for ceremonies now.

[davedove]

I understand that the top Army General declared that all soldiers were to wear the field uniform in support of those in the combat zones, sort of a "We're all on the same team." gesture.

I don't know the validity of that; it's just what I've heard.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I understand that the top Army General declared that all soldiers were to wear the field uniform in support of those in the combat zones, sort of a "We're all on the same team." gesture.

I don't know the validity of that; it's just what I've heard.

That is, basically, correct. Wearing the ACU as the everyday uniform is to remind the American public that the military is engaged in combat, and to prevent the sort of disconnect between front line soldiers and the rest of the Army that the media was able to capitalize on during the Vietnam conflict. It's all about maintaining "soldier sympathy" on the home front.

My personal opinion (and I served ten years, almost all of it as a Public Affairs Officer) is that once the transition to the new Army uniform is completed (2010-12) you will see a lot more soldiers in the new Class A and Class B uniforms. Right now, in order to present a uniform appearance to the public, and remind that same public that our military is serving in several combat zones, the ACU is the uniform of choice.

[Foosinho]

I understand that the top Army General declared that all soldiers were to wear the field uniform in support of those in the combat zones, sort of a "We're all on the same team." gesture.

I don't know the validity of that; it's just what I've heard.

Correct. I worked at a USAF base for the first half of this decade, and the "uniform of the day" switched from blues to BDUs shortly after we went to war. The official directive from the chain-of-command that it was a bit of a "solidarity" thing with deployed soldiers during a time of war. It would not surprise me if other branches did the same thing.

And, to reinforce what JohnsonK noted, the USN khaki uniform is generally considered a "work" uniform, as opposed to the summer white dress uniform. Similarly, during the winter they've got the dark blue "work" uniforms to offset the black (or is it navy blue?) dress uniforms. The USN apparently has a new digital camo pattern (presumably in ACU cut), but that's a newer development than when I was in USAF ROTC 15 years ago, so I don't really know much about it.

When we did flag details at football and basketball games when I was in ROTC we wore our blues. I noticed at Ohio State's last football game I attended that the cadets were wearing BDUs/ACUs. Even the Navy cadets - they were either wearing MARPAT or the old Woodland (Navy and Marine cadets both drill under the auspices of the Navy, so I'm guessing future Navy officers wore the Woodland pattern, while future Marine officers wore the MARPAT).