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Army Service Timeline

An Evolution of a uniform

  • 1779 - Blue Continental Army coat, with state facing colors, and white waistcoat and breeches or overalls.
  • 1782 - Red facings only with branch of service (BOS) white (infantry) or yellow (artillery) metal buttons.
  • 1810 - French uniform coat with cut-in skirt fastened in front; sleeved roundabout jacket for fatigue and field service.
  • 1813 - Uniform coat devoid of buttonhole lace and facing colors.
  • 1821 - Congressional confirmation of Army wear of National Blue; practical gray wool pantaloons for the winter mud, a tradition of contrasting shades.
  • 1829 - Undress frock (full round skirt) coat in place of officer's civilian clothes.
  • 1832 - BOS cap insignia, gold or silver officer grade insignia on epaulettes and sky-blue trousers for all but staff and generals.
  • 1835 - Shoulder straps, used to hold fringed epaulettes, with undress officer grade.
  • 1851 - French frock (full skirt) coat only uniform, trimmed in system of BOS colors.
  • 1854 - New waist-length uniform jacket for mounted troops
  • 1872 - Blouse for garrison and field, uniform coat for dress, with epaulettes for generals.
  • 1881 - Dark blue flannel overshirt often in place of blouse on field service.
  • 1885 - Sky-blue kersey trousers, aniline dye richer shade than original vegetable dye.
  • 1895 - Officer's undress sack coat, with black trim; BOS insignia and national cypher “U.S.” on collar,with national eagle on cap.
  • 1902 - Olive drab wool and khaki cotton service uniforms; blue only for dress, full dress, mess dress and special evening dress, trimmed with BOS color.
  • 1928 - Return of pre-war uniforms, with new visor cap, optional.
  • 1938 - Officer's roll-collar coat with BOS-color trim and dress belt (from full dress coat).
  • 1940 - No blue uniform required during Emergency (end of saber).
  • 1947 - President Truman note on lack of dress uniform and return of pre-War pattern; Evening Dress uniform cuff with single gold lace and insignia of grade.
  • 1952 - Women's Evening Dress uniform with tiara, princess jacket, and floor-length skirt.
  • 1953 - Post-War officer and EM pattern with patch pockets; no traditional BOS color trim on EM uniform and officer's trousers stripes.
  • 1956 - Distinctive uniform for bands and honor guards.
  • 1957 - Women's Army Blue uniform same cut as 1951 Taupe-121 uniform.
  • 1959 - Army Blue uniforms for year-round wear.
  • 1962 - Women's Army Blue same as Army Green uniform, with new service hat.
  • 1963 - Mandatory possession of Army Blue uniform.
  • 1972 - Officer's mess jacket cuff ornamentation same as evening dress in 1947.
  • 2006 - All of U.S. Army transition to blue service uniform.