Can anyone identify this?

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Like I said and showed above...

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

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.

I can't help wonder if the blue uniform is meant to hearken back to the 19th century blue US army uniform.

If so, the army of the Indian war era was poorly trained and woefully underfunded for the tasks it was assigned.

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

I just don't think the new ASU class B uniform looks Army at all. The white shirt and blue pants don't do it for me. Yes, I own two white shirts, a long sleeve and short sleeve, but never wore the blue class B. If I needed to be in class B, I put on the old green one.

I don't know if this photo will show, but it is from July 2010 on my daughter's wedding day.

It's a shame that the khakis are history... compare for yourself. Khaki says Soldier.

The dark blue saucer cap has been around for generations. I first had one in 1985 or 86 prior to commissioning. Officers have a colored piping around the band to denote branch, Enlisted used it without the hat piping.

Even during the beret debacle, the blue saucer cap was still in play while wearing the dress blues or mess dress.

HeavyArty

It is actually not a bad looking uniform and is pretty popular with those of us who wear it. 

Heavyarty,

Now that I've seen it, I think it's a sharp-looking uniform.  I was raised on visions of WWII uniforms, which is pretty much what the military was still wearing twenty years later during my era, give or take a cut or shade.  Old guy culture shock set in there for a moment at the idea of no more Army greens, but I'm feeling much better now .  Thanks for the photos.  A picture really is worth a thousand words.

Like I said, sharp looking uniform.  Many thanks to you and all who wear it.

Ordie

If I understand correctly, the Army now wears a blue service uniform?  Like Air Force blue?    I'm stunned ... say it ain't so!

Yes, it is a "Blues" uniform, but it not USAF blue.  It is what we used to wear as our Dress Blue uniform.  It is based on the historical cavalry unifrom from the 1870's.

Current Army Service Uniform (ASU), a.k.a. Blues.

1870's US Cavalry uniform.

It is actually not a bad looking uniform and is pretty popular with those of us who wear it. 

stikpusher

Don't get me wrong Ordie, I love my berets because I earned the privlege of wearing those by serving in units that were assigned them. Anybody who messes with it and they gotta be ready to back it up. But in most cases it is not a practical piece of headgear. At least I have seen photos of your "Dixie Cup" cap  where the brim is turned down like a fishing hat to keep the sun out of your eyes. I know its not regulation, but it has a function ...

Yeah, the dixie cup can be used to keep rain out of your collar, and sun out of your eyes, LOL!  I wore a navy blue baseball hat with my dungarees, though, which was what I wore 90% of the time at Miramar, Yuma, Fallon, El Centro and elsewhere when working on land.  On deck, it was the old cloth aviator style cap with the high-impact plastic shields snapped on it (or whatever they were made of - seemed like plastic to me).  But there was just no way around putting on the old dixie cup from time to time (I disliked the neckerchief even more ... but had to wear it even less, so that was good, anyway).

I got no beef with the berets aesthetically, especially the red, black (I mean tan now days, I think) and green ones.  I always thought they were distictive, which is what they were intended to be.  I did think putting one on everybody's head was demeaning to the guys who had earned them, though.  Just one citizen's opinion.  Wrote 'W' an email about it at the time, but it didn't help, LOL!  They just never seemed very functional, as you and Rob pointed out.  Like I said, having worn the dixie cup, I have nothing to say about berets otherwise.

As far as the blue uniform goes, it is what it is, I guess.  I must be getting old ...

tcepilot - Hang on to that hat.  Not only is it an antique, but it's got beaucoups style and class.

Don't get me wrong Ordie, I love my berets because I earned the privlege of wearing those by serving in units that were assigned them. Anybody who messes with it and they gotta be ready to back it up. But in most cases it is not a practical piece of headgear. At least I have seen photos of your "Dixie Cup" cap  where the brim is turned down like a fishing hat to keep the sun out of your eyes. I know its not regulation, but it has a function. Now those old Donald Duck sailor caps with no brim or bill...

But yes, the Army went to their Dress Blue uniform for all Soldiers and phased out the Green Class A's. It's a two tone blue with a darker blue jacket and medium blue trousers. Supposedly to be a homage to the19th Century uniforms, or something like that. We had the Dress Blues before, but they were not issued to any ranks and had to be purchased. Usually only Officers and NCOs bought them. Personally I would rather have seen the old OD and Khaki uniforms come back for dress uniforms.

Rob Gronovius

... The garrison cap became obsolete when the recruits stopped getting the green uniform issued. Recruits get issued the blue Army Service Uniform in basic along with a beret since the fall of 2010.

The Green Class A uniform is still authorized for wear for a few more years (2014?), but the only head gear for it now is the beret, whether maroon, blue, green or tan (or a drill sgt hat). The only ones who could have worn the garrison cap were recruits and they don't get the uniform issued any longer.

If I understand correctly, the Army now wears a blue service uniform?  Like Air Force blue?    I'm stunned ... say it ain't so!

Having worn a dress service hat thought by many to resemble a dixie cup, I have nothing to say about the all beret Army, but I am not surprised to detect something less than love in the tenor of your and Stik's comments about it (the beret).

Blue uniforms, really?

When I was in the Boy Scouts in the 60's we did a lot of hiking trips. Frank and John Porcella's dad wore one of these...

Overseas or stateside, my old LRS unit always wore the boonie hat in the field.  In Group, we bounced back and forth between PCs and Boonies. Both units issued  boonies. And yes I agree about the beret, aside from keeping the top of your head warm and looking pretty, it has no other functions as a hat. It does not keep the sun or rain out of your eyes.  My ears are brown most of  the time so I never worry about the sun, but cold... Too bad about the old black wool watch cap... that was a favorite.

The standard old black wool watch cap was replaced a few years ago by a sage green fleece cap that matches the sage green fleece jacket we wear with ACUs. Being bald, I wore the heck out of that thing.

Other than "in country", I don't think the boonie hat is worn stateside. I do know that the beret was horrible to wear outdoors in parades; it was a heat magnet literally cooking your skull and provided no sun protection for the left ear or eyes. I'd rather wear the Kevlar than the beret during an outdoor ceremony. At least the Kevlar had some ability to circulate air around your head and kept the sun out of your eyes and off the ears.

Manstein's revenge

So it sounds like the beret is the cap of choice/mandatory in all instances where "soft" head-gear is worn?  Except for the BDU cap???

dont forget the boonie hat and the watch cap/PT cap

The ACU patterned soft cap is called the Patrol Cap. It is the standard headgear for the ACU.

So it sounds like the beret is the cap of choice/mandatory in all instances where "soft" head-gear is worn?  Except for the BDU cap???

No, the Garrison cap did last longer than the service cap though, but is now obsolete.

Recruits going through basic training had not earned the "right" to wear the beret until after graduation. It was supposed to be a right of passage trading in the garrison cap for the beret, but in reality, they didn't want to issue berets to recruits until they were sure they made it through training because of the expense of the beret. And there was a ton of garrison caps still in the supply system.

The garrison cap became obsolete when the recruits stopped getting the green uniform issued. Recruits get issued the blue Army Service Uniform in basic along with a beret since the fall of 2010.

The Green Class A uniform is still authorized for wear for a few more years (2014?), but the only head gear for it now is the beret, whether maroon, blue, green or tan (or a drill sgt hat). The only ones who could have worn the garrison cap were recruits and they don't get the uniform issued any longer.

Rob, is the Garrison cap stil in use?

Scarmbled eggs are made on the brim of the cap, you can't add them yourself. I made major on Jan 1, 2000 and had to get a new hat with scrambled eggs. I sold my company grade one at the thrift shop on post. If he was like me, he just took the service device off the old cap and used it on the new cap.

I still own my field grade hat and wore it for the Christmas party in December 2000. That was the last time I wore a green saucer cap. GEN Shinseki authorized the the beret for wear in Jun 2001, making both hats obsolete shortly afterwards. I know there was a short period of time for the Guard and Reserves, but I am pretty sure that by the end of the summer of 2001, the saucer caps were not authorized for active duty personnel.

Of course, when 9/11 hit, there were bigger fish to fry than to worry about hats, but I believe the wear out date was pushed back for the Guard and Reserves because some of the leather trim used on the berets came from Taliban cows.

Lol I know that!

The previous owner of that cap...