Army Retires Classic Green Uniform

The dark green Army service uniforms—the standard for soldiers and generals alike from the Vietnam War to the war in Iraq—received their dishonorable discharge Thursday, the Army Times reports. The "Green Class As" were increasingly unpopular with the troops, not least because they were made of stiff polyester that had gone unchanged since the 1970s. But don't worry; the Army isn't shaking things up too much. Blue uniforms, which became standard issue in 2010, will now permanently replace the greens.

The Green Class As—dark green jacket and pants, light gray undershirt, black tie—were introduced in 1954 to give the Army a "sharp, classic, and dignified look" following WWII, the Army Times reports. The dark green color was a recommendation from scientists and fashion experts. The Army hoped the new uniforms would return "dignity and prestige" to the military after every Tom, Dick, and Harry started wearing the previous olive and tan uniforms in the years after WWII. The new blue uniforms are a callback to those worn by the Army between the Revolutionary War and the Spanish American War. (More US Army stories.)