Short answer
The US Army does not use one name for its uniform. It names uniforms by purpose and class, such as everyday service dress, formal dress, and combat or field uniforms. The names and the rules for wearing them are set in Army Regulation 670-1, which is revised from time to time. Check the current edition before relying on any name for a specific uniform.
Common current Army uniform names
These are the broad categories, as commonly described. Confirm exact names and uses against the current regulation:
- Army Green Service Uniform. The everyday service uniform, in green, which replaced the blue dress for daily wear.
- Army Service Uniform. The formal dress uniform, which includes the blue dress option kept for ceremonial use.
- Army Combat Uniform. The field and training uniform, which comes in camouflage patterns.
Uniforms are sometimes referred to by pattern as well. A camouflage pattern name, for example, describes the fabric rather than the uniform’s purpose.
Why the names change
Uniform names and rules change when the Army adopts new items, retires old ones, or revises its regulations. A uniform’s name can therefore differ depending on the year it was issued. When you’re matching a uniform to a name, the year of the regulation matters as much as the item itself.
Historical names
Earlier Army uniforms used different terms. In the 19th century, the Army generally divided dress into full dress for ceremonies, service dress for everyday wear, and undress or fatigue dress for work. Those categories are not the same as the modern names, so a Civil War or Spanish-American War uniform should be described using the terms of its own period. WWII items have their own names too, often model designations such as the M1941 field jacket; see US WWII standard issue uniforms and equipment for the wider set.
For example, the Army’s blue dress uniform was kept for years after 1902, while khaki and olive drab were adopted for field use. See Spanish-American War US Army uniforms for that transition.
How to check a uniform’s regulation name
- Use the regulation for the right period. Find the edition that was in force when the uniform was issued, not the current one.
- Check labels and contract marks. These often name the item or the contract that produced it.
- Compare with period photographs. Documented photographs show how a uniform was actually worn.
- Ask a specialist for items of value. Naming an item by its regulation can affect its description and price.
Related reading
Earlier Army uniforms are covered in Spanish-American War US Army uniforms. For rank devices, which also change over time, see what is the insignia shape of major in the Army. The Civil War version of rank insignia is covered in Civil War military insignia and rank identification.