Can anyone identify this?

HeavyArty

Looking sharp Rob.  Personally, I would have liked to see a new version of the Pinks and Greens come back.  

Yes it is a beautiful uniform. And no one will wonder what service the wearer come from. Plus when worn with an "Ike" jacket it is less formal, more functional usage such as office wear. It can dress up or down and look just as sharp.

Like I said and showed above...

"It is based on the historical cavalry uniform from the 1870's."

stikpusher

... And no one will wonder what service the wearer come from ...

I probably shouldn't say this, but that has never stopped me in the past, so ...

When confronted by the idea of a blue Army dress uniform, the first image that leapt to mind was of Army greens, only blue like an Air Force uniform.  That's mainly why I reacted like I did to the thought.  I haven't watched much TV for years (just sports, mainly, when I do watch), and don't pay much attention to the news anymore, so I didn't have a clue.  Yesterday, I asked a buddy who is my age, and also served in the Navy (he was a Gunner's Mate on a can on the gunline about the same time I was on Yankee) if he knew the Army dress uniform is blue these days, and he had the same reaction I did at first, visualizing a USAF uniform and all ... (it made me feel a little less out of touch, but not much).  He and I would both have to drive fifty miles to Wright-Pat to see active duty military personnel of any branch in uniform (I see reservists and Guardsmen in Walmart or Krogers once in a while, but they are always wearing utilities).

Anyway, the new Army blues do look sharp, just a bit different to old eyes.  (And I Iove the exploded view of the kepi in the old cavalry example, LOL!).  Give it twenty more years, gentlemen ...

Again, thank you all for your service.  Hand salute.

The blue Army uniform is not new. It has been around in that exact format for generations. What is new is that the dress blue uniform is now the standard service uniform with a few changes in material and regulations about what is worn on the uniform. Really the biggest change was when it was the dress blues, you could not wear it without the jacket. As the service uniform, you can wear it without the jacket and it becomes the Class B uniform, hence the changes from a plain white shirt to one with epaulettes, name tags, ribbons, etc.

All active duty officers have been required to own a set of dress blues since I've been in, probably earlier (1982). It was optional purchase for enlisted soliders except for ceremonial units like the Old Guard in Washington. They had it issued to them as did many Army band units. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been guarded by a soldier in this uniform for half a century or more.

When they made the dress blue uniform the standard service uniform, they actually made it easier because we (officers) no longer need to maintain the green uniform. Enlisted had the new uniform issued to them or were expected to purchase it with their annual uniform allowance.

Bottom line, the only thing really new about the dress blue uniform is that it is now the everyday service uniform instead of just our traditional formal uniform.

Rob Gronovius

Enlisted had the new uniform issued to them or were expected to purchase it with their annual uniform allowance.

Which was never very much for an EM. I know when I was Regular Army way back when, and it was a small amount paid monthly,  at AAFES Clothing Sales it  barely covered the cost of getting patches put on a new set of BDUs. If you saved your clothing allowance all year it would just cover the cost of a new set of BDUs. I hope that times have changed beyond adjusting for inflation since then. I seriously doubt it would cover the base cost of buying a set of Dress Blues. 

Rob Gronovius

Bottom line, the only thing really new about the dress blue uniform is that it is now the everyday service uniform instead of just our traditional formal uniform.

So, the blue uniform has existed for a long time, and been like a tux is to a civilian, but is now more like a Sunday go-to-meeting or business suit?  That would explain why I can't recall having ever seen one (not saying I've never seen one before, just that I can't recall - Aviation Ordnancemen are widely understood to be strong of back and weak of mind, and to glory in it, and I guess I haven't shaken that off in all these years, LOL!).  I wasn't career, just four years active in the Regular Navy and two years Fleet Reserve (1967-73), then done, and I've never been to a formal officer's function of any branch of service in my life.  There was a dress uniform issued to us enlisted swabbies up front, and that was it - nothing more to buy in the dress uniform category, unless you made chief.

Anyway, like I said, it's a sharp uniform and I'm glad all y'all like it, and I'm glad you're all proud of it, because you should be -  we're all proud of you.  This has been an informative thread.  I'll have to keep a more open eye in the future where modern military uniforms are concerned.

Yes, with a bow tie instead of a neck tie after 6 it is like a tux, although there is a slightly more formal short waisted jacket with branch colored lapels. It is called the mess dress and akin to wear at white tie functions.

With the jacket, the Blues look pretty good. I had a set for the once-a-year formal dinner. I was still on activ duty when the khakis were phas'd out. I sad to see them go. But the Class B greens look better than the Class B blues.

Without the jacket (Class B), the guy looks like a TSA worker … or a Walmart manager.