One of the main reasons I attend CANSEC each year is to see what Logistik Unicorp is up to. They have a long history of innovation as well as working on some great projects. Case in point are the concept uniforms for a new Canadian Army Service Dress.
From a design standpoint, the cut is mindful of World War II dress uniforms with the belt and pleated patch pockets. This falls in line with the nostalgic direction the US Army has taken as well as well as the CANSOF dress uniform which debuted at CANSEC 2017.
Both male and female versions have been created, including skirt options for the ladies. The fabric is an Olive polywool twill with Khaki polycotton for the shirts.
The proposed new color takes the Canadian Army away from the current Rifle Green and returns them to a Lovat hue which reminds me of their Commonwealth membership. It’s decidedly a more martial color as well.
There are loads of features on these garments. One of them that I hope makes it into the final garment is the inclusion of the stable belt, another uniform item long associated with Commonwealth armies. Additionally, they currently foresee buttons for each Regiment.
It’s important to note that these are still concepts at this point and we hope to follow up soon with more information on this project.
Those are nice, sharp-looking uniforms. Would be a very nice change from the current ones.
I hope they go one step further and also bring back distinctive uniforms for the different services as well.
No one caught me out on it, but I have to amend my first comment – the Canadian DND did in fact revert back to separate dress uniforms for the services some years ago.
Changing the Canadian Army Dress uniform ought not to be a priority for Canada. Changing the uniform will cost a lot of money. New badges, protoypes and project work will cost money to develop and implement change. This dress uniform is used for mainly office work and ceremonies. This kit will not benefit the working troops.
Our focus must be implementing new operational kit and expanding the military.
For example the canada military has a significant noise induced hearing loss problem. The new prototype rifle c8a4 is supposed to come with a suppressor: https://ssdaily.tempurl.host/2024/05/28/colt-canada-to-showcase-new-c8a4-carbine-during-this-weeks-rampart-range-day-cansec/
Also the government plans to both increase and decrease the budget.
Buy more operational kit like firearms and hearing protection and less clothing for office wear and ceremony dress. Use the existing uniforms.
They still haven’t locked in the configuration for the new rifle, nor selected a suppressor or optic. The problem with DND is that it can’t make a decision.
These comments regarding “priorities” are not helpful.
Firstly – The CA is constantly buying dress uniforms, it may as well buy the right one.
Secondly – There’s very few people working on this program. It’s not like the entire Army has been distracted with developing a new service dress.
Lastly – The current DEU is made from an obsolete fabric, and we pay an astronomical amount for that textile. The new uniform will be less expensive, look better, and represent a significant step in our Army presenting itself as an Army, not a league of 1970’s bus drivers.
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/corporate/reports-publications/north-strong-free-2024.html
ASSERTING CANADIAN SOVEREIGNTY
The top priority of the Canadian Armed Forces is the defence of Canada and Canadians. We will be guided by the overall objective of ensuring our military has the people, equipment, training and infrastructure needed to detect, deter and defeat threats in, over and approaching Canada—in the air, on land, on and under the sea, and in space and cyberspace.
I’ll have to look up what they have at the moment, because seeing them going to an aesthetically almost exact copy of British Army 2s/RAF No1s that we just never stopped wearing is pretty interesting/surprising.
Sadly, it doesn’t look like the RCAF is moving in a similar direction, love the legacy visor caps.
The booth personnel told me that they had many requests from RCAF personnel to make it in Blue as well.
Have these new khaki DEUs been officially selected to replace the old CF greens?