The U.S. Army is set to issue new retro-style service uniforms that harken back to World War II later this month, Stars and Stripes reports.
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey, the Army’s chief enlisted soldier, said on a podcast from the Association of the U.S. Army that the service plans on making 200 uniforms to be used by recruiters traveling “hometown America,” and could be out as early as this month.
The Army Service Uniform was inspired by the uniform that American troops wore during World War II, according to Dailey.
“If we look at what they wore during that period, it was much less than what we wear today ... and I think what you are going to see in the future is a change,” he said.
This uniform, which has been called “pinks and greens” in the past, was officially adopted by the Army last year, and is now called simply, “Army Greens.” New soldiers who finish basic training will receive Army Greens by 2020, and it will become required for all servicemembers by 2028. The Army will continue using its blue dress uniform at formal events, as the Army Greens are intended to be worn more casually, such as in an office, where servicemembers have worn camouflage since 2001.
“I do want to put our soldiers back in a professional uniform,” Dailey said.
“Even though we got away from [Army Greens] the American people still clearly identify this uniform with the greatest generation,” he added.