B5 Systems

AUSA – Prototype Pinks and Greens

At AUSA PEO Soldier is demonstrating a prototype World War Two Pinks and Greens-style service dress uniform.

SGT Schacher and SFC Johnson wear prototypes of male and female versions of the uniform. This is only a prototype, intended to solicit feedback and there is currently no requirement for a new Service uniform. However, if this concept is adopted by the Army, the final uniforms will be different.

Here, SFC Johnson shows us the Class B Shirt. I’m very impressed by the work the uniform’s designers have done to research historical uniform items and adapt the styles to reflect modern tastes and materials.

What do you think?

292 Responses to “AUSA – Prototype Pinks and Greens”

  1. Eddie says:

    Brace for the incoming flood of “OMG FINALLY WHY DID THEY EVER STOP WITH THESE.” guys. I know, I love it too. I can’t have too high hopes though

    • Daniel says:

      I find the “how many new uniforms will we have to buy omg army stop!” Crowd to be annoying. I will buy a uniform if it doesn’t look like shit.

      • Nate says:

        You will buy whatever uniform the Army tells you to buy!

        • Mike says:

          I laughed at an e-6 who asked me why i didn’t buy dress blues yet. He was new to our unit, we had just redeployed, and I was deep in the throes of ACAPping. Still had my class A’s, and they were much better than the blues.

          • Jerry says:

            I wore my dress greens for my retirement ceremony. I had been hoping we would change to the “pinks and greens” before I retired. Will still buy them for ceremonies (I attend the ROTC commissioning ceremonies at my my old ROTC unit and Veterans Day ceremonies). I’m excited. I remember asking the troops what they thought about the “dress blues” service uniform. They laughed and called it the band uniform or security guard. Normally, I bash the CSM of the Army, but I like this guy. Also, Mark Milley and I went to IOBC and IOAC together. Glad to see he is supporting this.

    • Josh says:

      Could you explain the label “pinks and greens”? I get that it’s a WWII throwback uniform and I see a fair bit of green, but where’s the pink? An uninformed sailor is curious.

      • SFC John A Badger says:

        It’s a reference to the manufacturer of the uniform, not anything to do with color. I forget the name of the company, but that’s the answer

        • Angelus Irae says:

          Always a confidently wrong NCO out there when you don’t need one.

          • Patrick Farnon SFC Ret says:

            So if this the ‘confidently wrong NCO’ what is the correct answer to the question? Or do you just like to open your mouth with nothing to back it up?

            • Patrick Farnon SFC Ret says:

              As and added piece of wisdom… it should be remembered that NCOs and enlisted didn’t wear the “Pinks & Greens”. Their uniform was of lesser quality fabric and cut.

              • Alex Dade (USAF Retired) says:

                Take a look at the Texas Aggie uniforms — they never went away from “pinks and greens” – the most beautiful uniform the US military ever wore — I love it!

                NCO uniforms were “green and green” with trousers that matched the blouse.

        • S. Craven says:

          Wrong. The name was a GI derisive name given to this officer-worn uniform. The beige shirt was wool and looked like a Salmon tint..or a rose-shade, thus the “pink” name. The greens, of course, were colors of the “blouse” or coats. The green olive drab Army Service Coat, when worn with the rose shade wool slacks, were called the “Pinks and Greens” the combination used for dress (center officer, top photo). Other trousers could be worn, in a color matching the coat, for a full green olive drab winter uniform. I wore this uniform in ROTC but by 1964, the all-green class A dress uniform was slowly phased in. Later, the TW (tropical-worsted material) uniform, the most popular uniform of all with enlisted and officers because although light wool, it dried quick looked smart, and held a crease better. Best of all, it was cooler in the summer and resisted wrinkling, a better alternative to the standard-issue khaki uniform. TW’s, as they were called, were authorized for wear, but were not an Army issued uniform. The soldier absorbed the cost.

        • Robert Tidwell says:

          Pinks refer to the color….sort off. They’re taupe with a very slight pinkish hue to them. Think the Brits started them is WW One

      • troneill says:

        “Pinks and greens” were an officers’ uniform in WWII. They were made from wool gabardine. Like most such outfits, there was a problem making top and bottom look the same color unless they came from the same fabric/dye lot–which was not practical unless a uniform was custom made. The trousers were “gray taupe”, a tan shade that looked slightly pink in some light.

        • Paul says:

          Correct. A lot of officers had their uniforms tailor made as well, so the colors may be a bit off depending on the fabric and dye lot the tailor was able to acquire. If you ever look at color photos from WW2, you’ll see a wide range of color shades for the officer uniforms.

      • charlie says:

        I’m guessing the pants are a chambray type fabric with both pink and green threads woven in, that’s why the color looks a bit funky.

      • Tim says:

        The shade of green is a result of a pink bread woven in with the green threads.

      • Wes says:

        It’s the pants… the originals had a more pinkish hue to them. So pinks and green were a reference to the pants and jacket. It might be the lighting in the area, but these look a bit more gray. Google the original uniform and it should give you a better idea.

      • Pete says:

        Pink is a reference to “pink tan”, which is the color of the slacks. That was just the common color palette description of the time.

        The brown shoes are the most impressive part for me – a great combo compared to the terrible shiny black shoes. Real men went to war in natural color boots and shoes that resembled natural colors. Breathable shoes and breathable wool blend would be reinforce what my grandparents knew actually worked. I have my granddad’s overseas cap – sterling silver insignia, brilliant bold threads and breathable wool.

        The Army of None patch needs to take a hike.

      • Paul says:

        The real shades are Olive Drab for the jacket and khaki for the pants. However, in certain types of light, the jacket looks more green than OD and pants can take on a pinkish hue. Hence “Pinks and Greens”.

      • Rick Green says:

        Look at the color of the trousers. They are a dark shade of pink.

      • Will says:

        Yeah it was only a private purchase officer thing back in the day. And the “pink” im pretty sure is referencing the khaki trousers as they had a light pinkish color to them. Im looking at my Grandfather’s right now and they do look pink/tan. Correct me if Im wrong though

    • Jake says:

      I’m just here like, “Please stop changing uniforms.”

    • Seamus says:

      BROWN JUMP BOOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      • 10thMountainMan says:

        Hellz yeah, but that beggs the question, would we still wear the black ones with the blues? That’s a lot of extra crap for Joe to buy.

  2. Torch says:

    I’d prefer this over the ASU blues anyday and appreciate the historical throwback w/brown leathers, etc. Was there a short jacket included as well? So I’m guessing the Army’s interpretation of “modern” materials still means non-breathable polyester?

  3. Strike-Hold says:

    Well, just about anything would be better than the ASU Bus Driver uniform… BUT I’m not entirely convinced that a throwback to the WWII style is the right way to go either.

    Seeing quite a few military school / cadet types roaming around AUSA in similar style uniforms, and there’s the fact that CANSOFCOM also just recently adopted a very similar style….

    What was wrong with the Dress Greens?

    • straps says:

      Dress Green uniform looked fine. After you had Gone Places and Done Things you could commemorate on the uniform.

      Anyone who didn’t (Privates out of AIT, etc.) looked like the most depressing corporate drone.

      • S Wilson says:

        I disagree with you straps. Look at the very similar USMC dress green uniform. Many times less is more.

        • straps says:

          The Marine uniform is a more pleasing palette–more organic shade of green, black buttons, red rank over tan shirt/tie. You can walk off the grinder after Basic and look like Somebody. You guys got it right and kept it that way and I give you credit for that.

          Over in the Army we stack bad decisions one over top of the other (first the hideous shades of green, then the slightly improved blue) only to come full circle to what we wore while beating back fascism…

    • Joe says:

      I never took to the light green shirt (white would have been preferred for my taste), the plastic shoes were one-scuff-and-done, material wasn’t great, headgear looked awful regardless of rank/grade/gender, and when compared to Dress Blues they were very unattractive.

      Still, Class B ASU looks like a turd sandwich.

    • Doc Glynn says:

      Yes! What was wrong with the Dress Greens? I wore them for over twenty years, and other than being an old design, they looked great if you had pride enough to keep them sharp and up to regs. With that said, this new idea, even though it’s old, looks a million times better than the abortion that Odierno created by transforming a perfectly lovely FORMAL uniform into a Service uniform.

    • Ken Benway says:

      The Marine Service Uniform is the only uniform remaining among the Military branches that has ‘Warrior’ written all over it. The closer we can come to a ‘warrior’ uniform and the further we can get away from the Bus Driver style, the better we’ll be. The past Forty years of Uniform
      Baords, you’d think Mahomar Kadafi was the pemanent presiding officer.

  4. Joe says:

    The pickle suit sucked, so the Army took the well-regarded Dress Blues and redesigned/ruined it into the ASU.

    If pinks and greens are eventually adopted, and they don’t make OCP ACU any worse, I don’t think my mind could take it, too… much… common… sense…

  5. squidmatty says:

    As a Navy guy I wish we had these! Those are sharp AF.

    • Daniel says:

      I like the Navy Black and Tan uniforms.

      • Baldwin says:

        Black and tan may be what sailors are required to wear today, but I’m here to say black and tan IS NOT a NAVY uniform! And don’t get me started on blueberries!

        • Laqueesha says:

          Agreed. Khakis should be for officers and chiefs only. The NSU concept is fine, just the color of the shirt is wrong. White or blue would be better.

  6. 230grainball says:

    They look like extras from “Captain America”. Kind of cool, better than the current choice. There was nothing wrong with Dress Greens.

    • Bill says:

      Agreed. The “dress blues” with all that crap pinned to them are a shit abomination of stupidity. Dudes look like some cast off North Korean general with all that shit.

  7. Brendan says:

    Well hell if they do that then I’m staying past 20!!!!!

    • Bob says:

      Finally! I’m hoping this is it. I’m retired and even I WILL buy one of these for special occasions!

  8. Kris says:

    Good looking uniform I wish they would have went with this during the last uniform change. That being said in the past 15 years I have worn no less than seven distinct standard uniforms, I would like to quit wasting cash changing to a new style every couple of years.

  9. straps says:

    I have 5 years max left in service but if this is adopted I will fly myself to a Marlow White fitting.

    They teased this concept before the ASU. I can imagine a bunch of officer types beefing this to Congress–partly because they’ll be on the hook to purchase ANOTHER dress uniform, partly because issuing new clothing to enlisted is gonna get into some money. Either way, the concern is well-founded.

    Not feeling the patches. Going away from that was a good call. You can PCS out of Hood without needing a new jacket and those with multiple tours can pick & choose depending on audience. We need to stay like that.

    • SFC John A Badger says:

      This will be an OPTIONAL uniform per the SMA. Not a required purchase.

      • Phil Lester says:

        Why not have khakis (TW’s) as OPTIONAL uniform?

      • d says:

        I’m not sure I understand the purpose of an optional uniform. When would you wear it?

      • straps says:

        Thanks for the gouge. This is an OPTION I will exercise. ESPECIALLY with this SMA. I’m with the unit I hope to retire from and our patch has history so I’m even cool with that…

        • SSG L says:

          If it is in fact optional than it will only exist in certain places meaning on a typical BA your not going to have a formation of 3/4 OCP and 1/4 new service uniform hence uniform(ity). Same with the recent sleeve rolling reg. Either all or none. This all stinks of big contractor dollars.

          • SSD says:

            No one in industry went to the Army and said, “hey, push this uniform we created.” In fact, it was exactly the opposite. This is a project which began with the Sergeant Major of the Army.

    • d says:

      The SSI is an Army tradition on the service uniform that carried over to the field uniforms.

      If I were king for a day, the khaki service uniform would be worn almost everyday in office environments; Soldiers wearing ACUs in garrison would wear full-color SSI, flags, and badges; and the ACU would be almost completely sterile in the field.

      A good portion of the issues we’ve had with the BDU and ACU stem from trying to make a combat uniform look “sharp” in garrison.

      • Buckaroomedic says:

        Concur! I’ve been thinking the same thing for years.

      • Taco Suave says:

        THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! ever since The Army began its unnatural obsession with Velcro a dozen years ago, I have been saying that they need to let Soldiers in garrison wear full color SSI patches. They have full color flag patches and just take them off and use subdued for field/deployed environments, why not the SSI? You know, Velcro and all…

  10. Jack Griffin says:

    Show me the brown jump boots.

    /hopesanddreams

    • d says:

      Yes and no.

      I’m not that far from getting my original black pair through a 20yr career.

    • DaveB says:

      My basic drill sergeant (1968) told us he was glad when the army went to black boots and shoes because guys got so many gigs from dark spots and uneven color to the brown boots and shoes during inspection. The black boots and shoes could be easily polished to an even color.

  11. patrulje68 says:

    I began when Khakis were still in the inventory and got out just before I had to adopt the Ralph Crandon bus driver look. Anytime there at the end I needed to wear dress blues, I wore mess dress instead. I understand and sympathize with the no sew on insignia, but feel that it missed something in implementation.

  12. Aaron says:

    So how do you mess this up? Well they did. The Colors are off. The Cut is off. Ugh.

    • straps says:

      I’m thinking that’s a combination of convention hall lighting (the worst for everything) and possibly some one-off fabric.

      The cut is the cut. There are tailors out there who can make a well-conditioned Soldier look good (and in-reg) in that uniform.

    • Kevin Rice says:

      what is wrong with the color and cut?

  13. Aaron says:

    Also, the green jacket had a cloth belt.

    • Josh daily says:

      Yup, needs the external belt. The Marine Class A’s have a belt. And it makes it look sharp.

  14. Joe says:

    I loathe the cheap, 70’s throwback, plastic name tags on Army dress uniforms. It ruins the look. If they have to have a name tag, make it bright brass the same as the buttons.

    Dear Designers,
    Please make the tie the same color as the shirt. The black tie looks ridiculous here.

  15. Top Hall says:

    Should have gone from greens to this. Excellent vision of the modern Army’s heritsge. Dress Blues should have NEVER become the class A uniform.

  16. Crusty MSG says:

    Ike jacket please! Oh, also strip that shit down to Badges and name tag. Simplify it.

  17. Travis says:

    Do it! Do it!

    This is the best looking uniform I’ve seen in my almost 20 years of service… a throwback to better times and better men (and women).

  18. Will says:

    These look amazing, therefore will never see the light of day. One can always hope though

  19. Marc says:

    This should be the service uniform, and the ASU Blue should be returned to ‘Dress Blue’

  20. Matthew says:

    Please bring these back! We need a nice service uniform that isn’t formal. This is the best uniform the Army has ever had!

  21. Bert says:

    They look great. This is long overdue.

  22. Chris G says:

    I would be all for going back to this. Lets stop all this getting with the new crap and stick with something traditional, that looks professional and has some history behind it and STAY WITH IT.

    I hope to God, that army patch on his shoulder is just to identify him as US Army at this conference and NOT part of the uniform, it’s a uniform, we are not NASCAR drivers, take it off if it is part of it.

    Dress Blues should have been left alone. ASU looks like a uniform Christmas Tree. We are a military, you establish your reputation through your service and actions. Privates who have gone no where are due to where a uniform that has little on it, seeing others tabbed out and with badges is motivation for them to strive for more, to challenge themselves, to want to deploy. We need THAT brought back more than anything.

    I approve of the uniform, just not with that Black Army patch on the shoulder. We know who the uniform belongs to.

    • d says:

      That’s an SSI, and I’m glad they’re bringing it back. One of the (many) things I disliked about the ASU vs the greens was removing the SSI and tabs.

  23. Gray Tesh says:

    I like the look, but I also think an IKE Jacket would look better. I think the rank on the Class B uniform shirt should be on the collar, not the sleeve. I don’t see any reason to reinvent the wheel. Simply going back to the original style Pinks and Greens would suffice. New, more comfortable, material should be the only real upgrade.

  24. Bob says:

    I’ll preface it by saying that since I will be retiring in less than a year none of it affects me personally. With that out of the way I actually prefer the way the old Pinks and Greens look far more than the ASU, Blues, or Class A’s (pickle suit). They look professional and functional rather than the mess we are forced to wear these days. You can’t wear them without having a lint roller nearby. The last time I wore them to the office it looked like I stopped off at the local humane society for adoption day and I don’t even have a dog or cat at home.

  25. Cool Arrow Kicker says:

    These would look awesome with a pair of blouses brown Corcoran jump boots and beret (Green, Tan or Marrion only though)

  26. B M says:

    As an M Day soldier I don’t relish buying yet more dress uniform items I will wear once a year.

    However,

    I will buy that today if they return to the WW2 cap and kill the beret.

    • tcba_joe says:

      I hate wearing the garrison cap.

      I don’t mind the beret, and I fully believe it would have not been as harshly received if Shinseki hadn’t stolen the traditional Ranger/SF black beret for everyone and chosen something like a tan beret which at the time didn’t have any history to it.

  27. mike lee says:

    Looks good, they have been trying to find something every since they did away with the khaki as the class B uniform

  28. JM Gavin says:

    The perfect ensemble to wear whilst rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic…

  29. Hooligan says:

    Why the fuck is this even a thing?! We need shit that will win wars on the battlefield! Why the fuck are we outfitting POGs with “new old” uniforms?!

  30. Tazman66gt says:

    Agree with others, lose the plastic name tags and the Army patch on the shoulder. Granted, I have no skin in the game but these are quite sharp.

  31. Stacie Pease says:

    Stop spending money on changing uniforms! Just STOP IT!

  32. Warrenson Matthews says:

    No, not another uniform. Just no. It was sharp, in WWII, leave it there.

  33. pbr549 says:

    Originally, this was the officers uniform and the Ems uniform was one color. I wouldn’t be displeased if they went with that idea.

  34. joe08 says:

    a simple solution is to take stuff off the current ASU uniform. Get rid of half the pins and badges so it looks simple and traditional.

  35. Tanya Estes says:

    Please provide top pockets for women or at least a sewn seam to align ribbons and name tag. Wasn’t this supposed to be be an Ike style jacket? I like the real tie for women instead of the tab. Please have same headgear for men and women.

    • James Roberts says:

      Good feedback, Tanya! 🙂

    • Buckaroomedic says:

      I agree with Tanya, why do the services feel they have to have different head gear for women? Doesn’t make sense to me. Seems a little sexist.

      Great comment on the seam! Would definitely help.

    • Nicole says:

      Agreed. Top pocket flaps are a must. IF the female coat must be different, the pocket outline itself does not need to be seen like the male coat and a slit pocket for the bottom pockets would be sufficient and still look sharp. The coat should also be longer. Both males and females should have the additional outside belt and same headgear.

  36. 12A54 says:

    Yes. But get rid of big plastic name plates. Get rid of unit awards unless you were in the unit when it was earned – ad only retain the ones with real meaning. Merge awards so they’re the same (ribbon) across all the services. Get rid of joint awards. Get rid of stand alone ribbons – no medal no ribbon. Get rid of redundant and meaningless state medals/ribbons. Limit the number of badges / clutter. Bring back shoulder patches. Get rid of meaningless “regimental” badges. Should I keep going?….

  37. Ryan says:

    Wanted these from the start when they surveyed everybody before everybody told me rhey voted for the Pinks and Greens. Not quite sure how we got the ASU.What was done to the Dress Blues turning them into the ASU’s was horrible. Maybe we will get them after all

  38. Brendan Barclay says:

    I’d wear this all day everyday if I could. Except during PT. I wish the Army would never have gone away from this. Best uniform the Army ever had.

  39. Tim S. says:

    I have always favored this look to the service greens and the controversial conversion of the Dress Blues to the ASU. My only comment is that to go as far as they did to recreate the “Pink and Greens” and not include the waist belt with the service jacket is just wrong.

  40. Chris says:

    Show the officer version and make sure it has the belt on the coat. Also, ensure it is a material that can wear well. That is to say, make it comfortable for daily use, unlike the current ASU. Looks good!

  41. Matt says:

    Soooooo…… Attempt to look more like Marines. Got it!

  42. ED says:

    Finally these plus the blues would be awesome!!! Just get rid of the short sleeve shirt for the blues that looks horrible!

  43. Paul says:

    I love this throwback but would also like to see the all khaki version of the uniforms used for daily wear in jobs that require it. I am not a huge fan of the black tie. I wished they would have brought back the old khaki colored tie we saw with the old uniforms from WWII. I would be proud to wear this and always remember the greatest generation.

    • Paul says:

      Looks like the tie in this concept is the same color as the jacket. I agree that the khaki tie would look good too….but then we’d be accused of trying to be too much like the Marines…..

  44. Josh daily says:

    I like it. They just need to make sure it is a military cut and tailored. Nothing looks worse than the new air force uniform modelled after commercial clothes. All l, bring back the Like jacket in this color!

  45. Brent says:

    Sweet. I’d love nothing better than to be forced to drop another $500-$600 that I don’t have on another uniform that I won’t wear but once or twice a year, for some general I don’t know who needs a good bullet point on his OER.

  46. 230grainball says:

    Ditch the beret and bring back the overseas cap. Model it after the 1960’s Air Force type it the USMC type. The old dress green one looked too square and stupid… like someone with no imagination, or a CSM, designed it.

  47. Cody says:

    Ok guys this was a great joke at first but it’s not funny anymore can we please stop the madness. The North Korean uniform looks better than this and they’re broke. Can we not? Please and thanks – Management

  48. Cody says:

    Please stop the madness

  49. Jon Meyer says:

    They look great. Now they need to use these to replace those ugly ass ASU’s instead of making them a separate class.

    • I like it…i like the traditional aspect. I’m retired now so I won’t get one. The bad thing is the soldiers will have to pay for them. Since now all troops have to pay for all their uniforms now…that part is sad…and disheartening.

      • Bob from Tagab says:

        We all get a clothing allowance. I don’t see the problem with it at that point – unless of course you’re blowing your allowance on beer and video games.