Results for uniform

Uniforms, Awards & Customs

Wear and appearance standards, rank and insignia, the order of precedence for awards and badges, and the customs a board expects you to know.

Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia

DA PAM 670-1 is the illustrated guide to wearing the uniform: placement measurements, insignia layouts, and how awards and badges are arranged. AR 670-1 says what is authorized; this pamphlet shows exactly where it goes. It is the reference for uniform inspections and board preparation.

Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia

AR 670-1 is the policy for uniform wear, grooming, and appearance. It says what is authorized; DA PAM 670-1 shows how each item is worn and where it is placed. Grooming and appearance standards have been changed by Army directives since the 2021 edition, so check for current directives before enforcing a detail.

The Army Green Service Uniform

What the AGSU is made of, the configurations it is worn in, and the transition that made it the Army's everyday service uniform.

The Army's uniforms and when each one is worn

The utility, service, dress, and mess uniforms, what each is for, and who decides which one you wear on a given day.

Wearing the Army Combat Uniform in OCP

The complete OCP uniform, where the flag and the patches go, what commanders may and may not authorize, and the wear rules Soldiers get corrected on most often.

How are ribbons arranged on the service uniform?

Ribbons are worn in order of precedence, reading from the wearer's right to left and from the top row down. Rows are built so that no row contains more ribbons than the row beneath it. Placement measurements for the coat and shirt are in DA PAM 670-1.

What are the three principal Army uniforms a Soldier will encounter, and what is each used for?

The Army Combat Uniform in the Operational Camouflage Pattern, or OCP, is the utility and field uniform. The Army Green Service Uniform, or AGSU, is the everyday service uniform for office duty, travel, and most official business. The Army Service Uniform, or ASU, the blue uniform, is worn for dress and formal occasions.

What courtesies do you render outdoors, in uniform and not in formation, during retreat?

At the first note of retreat, come to attention and face the flag, or face the music if the flag is not in view. At the first note of To the Color, render the hand salute and hold it until the last note.

What courtesies do you render outdoors, in uniform and not in formation, during reveille?

At the first note of reveille, come to attention, face the flag, and render the hand salute. If the flag is not in view, face the direction of the music. Hold the salute until the last note.

What do you do during the national anthem when you are indoors and in uniform?

Stand at attention and face the flag, or face the music if no flag is present. Do not salute unless you are under arms.

What is prohibited while walking in uniform?

Soldiers do not walk while engaged in activities that would interfere with rendering the hand salute and the proper courtesies. That includes eating, drinking, smoking or vaping, and using a cell phone. Hands stay out of pockets except momentarily to place or retrieve an object.

What is the overall order of precedence for wearing awards on the uniform?

U.S. military decorations, U.S. unit awards, U.S. nonmilitary decorations, the Good Conduct Medal, U.S. campaign and service medals, U.S. service and training ribbons, U.S. Merchant Marine awards, foreign military decorations, foreign unit awards, and non-U.S. service awards.

What is the Uniform Code of Military Justice?

It is the federal law that establishes the military justice system, enacted by Congress in 1950 and effective in 1951. It defines military criminal offenses, sets out the types of courts-martial, and provides for nonjudicial punishment.

What jewelry may a Soldier wear in uniform?

No more than two rings at one time, and a wedding set counts as one ring. One conservative wrist watch and one conservative identification bracelet, along with authorized medical alert or prisoner of war and missing in action bracelets. Necklaces may be worn but must not be visible. Body piercing that is visible in uniform is not authorized, and ear gauging is prohibited.

What regulation governs the wear and appearance of Army uniforms and insignia, and what is its companion pamphlet?

AR 670-1, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, is the policy. DA PAM 670-1, Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, is the illustrated companion. AR 670-1 tells you what is authorized. DA PAM 670-1 shows you exactly where it goes and how far from the seam.

Where is the U.S. flag insignia worn on the Army Combat Uniform, and which way does it face?

The full color or subdued U.S. flag is worn on the right shoulder. It is worn in the reverse field orientation, with the star field toward the front of the wearer, so the flag appears to be streaming backward as the Soldier moves forward.

Military Justice

AR 27-10 is the Army's implementing regulation for military justice: nonjudicial punishment, courts-martial administration, and the Army's policies under the Manual for Courts-Martial. Leaders reach for it most often for Article 15 procedures and filing decisions. It is revised frequently -- always confirm the current edition with your servicing judge advocate.

Personal Clothing Request

Requests replacement or initial issue of personal uniform items through military clothing sales.

The four weeks before the board

A week-by-week plan that fixes the record first, then the uniform, then the knowledge, then the performance.

AGSU

Army Green Service Uniform

APFU

Army Physical Fitness Uniform

ASU

Army Service Uniform

UCMJ

Uniform Code of Military Justice

Are beards authorized in the Army?

No. Soldiers keep their faces clean shaven when in uniform or in civilian clothes on duty. The exceptions are an approved religious accommodation and a shaving profile issued by a medical provider. Shaving profile policy has been tightened by Army directive since the 2021 edition of AR 670-1, so check the current directive and the Soldier's profile before you correct anyone.

Describe the insignia for sergeant first class, master sergeant, first sergeant, sergeant major, and command sergeant major.

Sergeant first class wears three chevrons over two rockers. Master sergeant wears three chevrons over three rockers. First sergeant wears the same as master sergeant with a diamond in the center. Sergeant major wears three chevrons over three rockers with a star in the center. Command sergeant major wears the star inside a wreath.

How do you apply a tourniquet during care under fire?

Apply it high and tight on the injured limb, over the uniform, well above the wound. Tighten until the bleeding stops, secure the windlass, and note the time of application. Refine the placement later during tactical field care.

How do you tell the warrant officer grades apart by insignia?

Warrant officer grades use a silver bar with black squares. Warrant officer one has one square, chief warrant officer two has two, chief warrant officer three has three, and chief warrant officer four has four. Chief warrant officer five wears a silver bar with a single black stripe running lengthwise through the center.

How is the beret worn?

The stiffener or flash is centered over the left eye. The headband is straight across the forehead, about one inch above the eyebrows. The excess material is draped over the right ear, between the top of the ear and the top of the head. The beret is not blocked, shaped, or cut.

List the commissioned officer grades from second lieutenant through general and their insignia.

Second lieutenant, one gold bar. First lieutenant, one silver bar. Captain, two silver bars. Major, a gold oak leaf. Lieutenant colonel, a silver oak leaf. Colonel, a silver eagle. Brigadier general, one star. Major general, two stars. Lieutenant general, three stars. General, four stars.

List the enlisted grades and ranks from private through sergeant major of the Army.

Private E-1, private E-2, private first class E-3, specialist and corporal E-4, sergeant E-5, staff sergeant E-6, sergeant first class E-7, master sergeant and first sergeant E-8, and sergeant major, command sergeant major, and sergeant major of the Army at E-9.

On the enlisted service or dress coat, which collar carries the U.S. insignia and which carries branch insignia?

Enlisted Soldiers wear the U.S. insignia disc on the right collar and the branch insignia disc on the left collar. Both are centered on the collar as prescribed in DA PAM 670-1.

What are the standards for a mustache?

A mustache is kept neatly trimmed, tapered, and tidy. No portion of it may cover the upper lip line, extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from the corner of the mouth, or extend above a line parallel to the lowest portion of the nose. Handlebar mustaches, beards, and goatees are not authorized.

What do service stripes and overseas service bars represent, and where is each worn?

Service stripes, often called hash marks, are worn on the lower left sleeve of the service and dress coat. One stripe represents three years of honorable service. Overseas service bars are worn on the lower right sleeve. One bar represents six months of federal service in a designated hostile fire or imminent danger area.

What do you do during the national anthem when you are in civilian clothes?

Stand at attention facing the flag and place the right hand over the heart. If you are wearing headgear, remove it with the right hand and hold it over the left shoulder so the hand is over the heart. Service members and veterans not in uniform may render the hand salute instead.

What is a SALUTE report?

The standard format for reporting information about the enemy. Size, activity, location, unit or uniform, time, and equipment. Report it accurately and fast, and keep facts separate from your assessment.

What is M9 paper and how does it differ from M8 paper?

M9 paper is adhesive-backed tape worn on the uniform or attached to equipment. It turns red, pink, or reddish purple when it touches a liquid chemical agent droplet. Unlike M8 paper, it detects that an agent is present but does not identify which agent it is.

What is the difference between a specialist and a corporal, and which is the first noncommissioned officer grade?

Both are E-4. The specialist wears the eagle device and is not a noncommissioned officer. The corporal wears two chevrons, is a noncommissioned officer, and is the entry grade of the NCO corps with the authority and responsibility that come with it.

What is the difference between the patch worn on the left shoulder and the patch worn on the right shoulder?

The left shoulder carries the shoulder sleeve insignia of the Soldier's current organization. The right shoulder carries the shoulder sleeve insignia for former wartime service, commonly called the combat patch, which is the insignia of a unit the Soldier deployed with in a designated hostile fire or combat zone.

What is the male hair standard in AR 670-1?

Hair on the top of the head is neatly groomed and tapered. Bulk does not exceed two inches. Hair does not fall over the ears or eyebrows and does not touch the collar. Sideburns are neatly trimmed, not flared, and do not extend below the bottom of the ear opening.

What is the tattoo policy in AR 670-1 as amended by Army directive?

Content is the hard line: tattoos that are extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist are prohibited anywhere on the body, regardless of size or location. For placement, tattoos on the head and face remain prohibited, with an exception for permanent makeup. A 2022 Army directive opened limited placements, including small tattoos on the hands, behind the ears, and on the back of the neck within size limits, and tattoos between the fingers that are not visible when the fingers are closed. Because these limits have changed by directive, verify the current directive before you counsel a Soldier.

What regulation governs Army awards and decorations?

AR 600-8-22, Military Awards. It sets the criteria, the approval authorities, and the order of precedence. DA PAM 670-1 then shows how those awards are arranged and worn on the uniform.

When is headgear worn, and when is it removed?

Headgear is worn outdoors while in uniform unless the commander or the situation directs otherwise. It is removed indoors unless the Soldier is under arms in an official capacity. It is not worn inside a privately owned vehicle, and it is not required while in or on a military vehicle when the vehicle is enclosed.

Where are combat and skill tabs worn, and in what order?

Tabs are worn on the left shoulder above the shoulder sleeve insignia. When more than one is authorized the order from the top down is Special Forces, Ranger, then Sapper. A Soldier may wear no more than three of these tabs at one time.