Uniforms of the United States Armed Forces

Summary

Each branch of the United States Armed Forces has its own uniforms and regulations regarding them.

A U.S. Armed Forces Joint Ceremony at the D.C. National Guard Armory in April 2008

Combat uniforms overview edit

Service dress uniforms overview edit

Current camouflage patterns edit

List of current camouflage patterns and uniforms
Branch Camouflage pattern Image Notes In use since
 
U.S. Army
Operational Camouflage Pattern, used for the Army Combat Uniform (ACU)
  The Operational Camouflage Pattern was first issued to deployed soldiers in 2015. OCP uniform uses black thread for rank and tapes.[1] In October 2019 the U.S. Army fully switched to Operational Camouflage Pattern (which is very similar to MultiCam) as the main camouflage for its units. OCP: 2015
 
U.S. Marine Corps
MARPAT pattern, used for the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU) in two variants, woodland and desert.     The USMC's MARPAT pattern was the first digitalized (pixelated) pattern in the U.S. military, unveiled in mid-2001.[2][3][4] It was first available in January 2002 and was mandatory by late 2004.[5][6] 2002
 
U.S. Navy
Navy Working Uniform (NWU)     There are two variants of the camouflage. Type II desert variant authorized only for Naval Special Warfare units in desert environments; Type III woodland variant, initially authorized only for specific land based units but subsequently announced as the standard ashore working uniform for all navy sailors from October 2019 onward. Type II and III are similar in hue to MARPAT, with the former lacking the brown hues of MARPAT. 2009
 
U.S. Air Force
Operational Camouflage Pattern, used for the OCP uniform   Air Force replaced prior Airman Battle Uniform in 2018.
Air Force OCP uniform uses spice brown thread for rank and tapes.
2018
 
U.S. Space Force
Operational Camouflage Pattern, used for the OCP uniform (OCP)
  OCP uniform uses space blue thread for rank and tapes. 2019[7]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Tan, Michelle (3 April 2015). "Army chief shares update on new camo rollout". Army Times.
  2. ^ Jontz, Sandra (February 24, 2001). "Marines' followed Canadians' example in use of digitally-designed 'cammies'". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on June 6, 2002. Retrieved June 6, 2002.
  3. ^ Starr, Barbara (June 20, 2001). "From Cammies to Pixies?: Marines Dump Old Wrinkled Duds for Permanent Press and Pixel Patterns". ABC News. Archived from the original on June 25, 2001. Retrieved June 25, 2001.
  4. ^ Oliva, Mark; Childs, Jan Wesner (July 3, 2001). "Officials went to the source to ensure new Marine uniform pleased troops". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on July 25, 2001. Retrieved July 25, 2001.
  5. ^ United States Marine Corps. "U.S. Marines Combat Utility Uniforms 2003" (PDF). United States Department of the Navy. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2008. The woodland pattern combat utility uniform was first made available to selected commands on 17 January 2002.
  6. ^ "New uniform debuts today". Around the Fleet. Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. January 17, 2002. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  7. ^ "Space Force Offers First Peek at Camouflage Uniform". 21 January 2020.