The Army is going retro.
That’s the news from the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference in Washington, where Bradleys and Strykers aren’t the only chassis getting a fancy makeover: Soldiers, it turns out, may be next to receive a new, old coat — specifically, an olive coat with a khaki blouse, reminiscent of the service’s World War II-era “pink and green” service uniform.
The Army strategically deployed a few soldiers donning the uniforms, with combination covers and garrison caps, on the AUSA convention floor:
https://twitter.com/USArmyReserve/status/917756983196995587
And the internet, predictably, freaked out:
https://twitter.com/barefootboomer/status/917449405699166209https://twitter.com/BlondsOvrBaghd/status/917729226157166592https://twitter.com/MichaelStahlke/status/917808079776792576https://twitter.com/PagePagenyc/status/917487490457534464
Sgt. Major of the Army Dan Dailey has been personally spearheading the push for the new uniform, a possible “alternative to the blue Army Service Uniform for official events,” Defense News reported Oct. 10.
“And you won‘t have to pay them for them,” Dailey said to reporters at AUSA. Which is true of the enlisted soldiers who receive a clothing allowance, at least. But officers are unlikely to be thrilled — not just at the potential expense, but the confusing and constantly expanding Army wardrobe for upscale social events:
https://twitter.com/ArmyStrang/status/917459962372280320
Of course, some denizens of the naval service had opinions:
https://twitter.com/cdrsalamander/status/917588597527719936
While at least one sailor feels that, in the race to look cool in uniform, the sea service is stuck in a stern chase:
https://twitter.com/spooknine/status/917745412785737728
It’s natural to want to go for the nostalgic, movie-ready look of the World War II, “greatest generation” Army. Beyond aesthetics, those guys wrapped their war up in less than four years! Maybe there’s some of that martial magic left in those military pink slacks.