New US Army ‘Pinks & Greens’ Available World-Wide by March

Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey wears the new service uniform at the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia. U.S. ARMY
Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey wears the new service uniform at the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia. U.S. ARMY

The second round of a phased implementation of World War II inspired green service uniforms for the US Army will start this month, when all drill sergeants at bases that are used for basic training, will receive their new uniforms.

A project manager from the Program Executive Officer Soldier, Army Col. Stephen Thomas, said that by March 2021, almost all US Army servicemen and women, irrespective of where they are serving, will be able to purchase the Army Green Service Uniform.

Dwight Eisenhower, at his desk, 1942.
Dwight Eisenhower, at his desk, 1942.

During World War II, officers wore a uniform, nicknamed “pinks and greens,” and these uniforms have been the inspiration used for the new issue.

The fresh green uniform will gradually replace the existing blue Army Service Uniform worn as daily wear for soldiers. It is anticipated that the current blue uniforms will be completely phased out by 2027 when the new green uniform will be mandatory.

The new uniform has already been distributed to several areas. These include all the members of the Army Band, the 3rd Infantry Regiment, the Old Guard as the ceremonial unit based at Arlington is known, and the Army Recruiting and Retention College in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

A female soldier attending the Army Recruiter Course at Fort Knox, Ky., has her pants hem measured. U.S. ARMY
A female soldier attending the Army Recruiter Course at Fort Knox, Ky., has her pants hem measured. U.S. ARMY

Additionally, for the past few months, many senior officers and senior enlisted soldiers have been wearing the uniform around the Pentagon and Senate Hearings and public appearances.

Col. Thomas said that the feedback received from those members who received the new uniform was extremely positive. He said that he had received many complimentary phone calls about the uniform, with many more asking when they can get it.

The new “Army greens” will be a general service uniform while the blue Army Service Uniform (center) will return to its former use as a ceremonial and parade uniform.
The new “Army greens” will be a general service uniform while the blue Army Service Uniform (center) will return to its former use as a ceremonial and parade uniform.

The answer to the question of when you can get the uniform depends mainly on where the soldier is stationed and in what role he is employed.

In the next few weeks, the Basic Combat Training and One-Station Unit Training  Drill Sergeants, stationed at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, Fort Sill in Oklahoma, Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, and Fort Benning in Georgia, will be issued with the new kit.

By the end of this year, the Army plans to have the new uniforms issued to recruiting personnel across the USA and all new recruits.

By early 2021 the new uniforms should be available for purchase at the Army and Air Force Exchanges situated at all bases. The Exchanges across the continental USA will be the first to receive the uniforms, then those in Alaska and Hawaii, and eventually to all bases worldwide.

Those wishing to purchase the new uniform immediately will have to pay a premium for the pleasure. Daniel Koglin, a military clothing manager, employed by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, said that the standard uniform costs $500 at this time.

That excludes any special requests made by the soldiers. These include items such as the so-called ‘Ike’ jacket, made famous in World War II by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower.

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As the Army ramps up production of the new uniforms, the price should decrease. Col. Thomas said that enlisted soldiers would be encouraged to use their annual clothing allotment to help pay for the new uniforms, but officers would have to purchase the clothing themselves.

Ian Harvey

Ian Harvey is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE