Army Service Uniform (ASU) Wear Policy
What is it?
The Army has officially adopted the new Army Service Uniform or ASU as its new dress uniform replacing the Army Green. The ASU is steeped in historical significance and is a major part of the Army's heritage since colonial times.
What has the Army done?
With the adoption of the ASU, the Army has consolidated and streamlined its uniforms for ease of wear and care, providing simplified options and solutions for Soldiers. The move to a new uniform was not arrived at quickly but is a product of many years of coordination, consideration and testing and Soldiers played a key role in the design process. The decision to transition from the green to blue ASU was originally announced in June 2006 and during that 2-year period additional improvements were made based on feedback from Soldiers and leaders in the field. Senior Army leaders took the pulse of the force regarding the ASU, considered their input, and made refinements to the uniform to better reflect and honor Soldiers for their service in an era of persistent conflict.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?
In 2004, the Army reduced the number of battle dress uniforms from three to one when it adopted the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in place of the winter and summer versions of the woodland pattern Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) and the Desert Combat Uniform (DCU). No future uniform changes are anticipated since the adoption of the ASU completes the transformation of all the Army's uniforms.
Why is this important to the Army?
The result will be one ASU uniform that is grounded in tradition, attractive, professional, of high quality and of which Soldiers will be very proud to wear. In addition to providing the best equipment and training available to prepare them for the fight, the new ASU instills pride, tradition and connects our Soldiers to warriors past. The entire uniform complement possesses the attributes of utility, simplicity and quality and will cost less than the current set of uniforms. Streamlining various service uniforms into one reduces the burden on Soldiers as the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) did for the field utility uniform.
The Army traces its uniform roots to a congressional resolution in 1779, when it directed General George Washington to prescribe the uniform. The resolution "authorized and directed the commander in chief, according to circumstances of supplies of clothing, to fix and prescribe the uniform, as well with regard to color and facings as the cut or fashion of the clothes to be worn by the troops of the respective States and regiments." Washington issued a general order
from his headquarters that prescribed blue coats with differing facings for the various state troops, artillery, artillery artificers and light dragoons.
Resources
ASU Web site
Related article: Army releases message announcing new service uniform
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