Wear of the ACU Uniform

General Uniform Policies

• Jewelry– One wristwatch (AR 670-1, para 1-14a, ALARACT 140/2007)

– One wrist ID bracelet (Medical alert, MIA, POW, KIA) – opposite wrist from watch (AR 670-1, para 1-14a, ALARACT 140/2007)

– Up to two rings (wedding set counts as one ring) (AR 670-1, para 1-14a, ALARACT 140/2007)

– Religious (AR 670-1, para 1-7b)

– Piercings prohibited, except earrings (AR 670-1, para 1-14c)

– Earrings – females only, < 1/4 inch spherical, but not with class C uniform (ACU) (AR 670-1, para 1-14d)

General Uniform Policies

• Attaching items to uniform (AR 670-1, para 1-9a(2))

– Keys• May be attached to belt, loop, or waist if authorized for duties

– Electronic devices• Black pager or cell phone may be worn on belt• Bluetooth devices and ear pieces are only authorized while driving

(ALARACT 140/2007, para 5)

– ID badges• Commander may authorize wear (AR 670-1, para 1-16b)

General Uniform Policies• Glasses and contact lenses (AR 670-1, para 1-15)

– May not have initials, designs, or other adornments– Lenses must be clear, gray, brown, or dark green– No chains or bands– May not be hung off the uniform when not worn– Prescription eyeglasses

• May be worn with any uniform– Sunglasses

• May be worn in a garrison environment, except when in formation and while indoors

• May be worn in the field when authorized by the Commander for high glare environments

– Contact lenses• May not be tinted or have designs

General Uniform Policies

• Umbrellas (AR 670-1, para 27-27)

– Plain black with no logos or designs– Females only– Only allowed with service, mess, or dress uniforms; not allowed with

utility uniforms• Hands may not be placed in pockets, except momentarily to

place or retrieve items (AR 670-1, para 1-9a(3))

ACU Uniform Policies

• All fasteners fastened (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5B)

– Velcro– Buttons– Zipper

• No starch, sizing, dry-cleaning, or steam press (ALARACT 078/2005, para 4)

• No modifying for fit (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5A)

• Digitized fabric covers for Velcro patches are not authorized (ALARACT 007/2006, para 2O)

Headgear

• Patrol cap (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5D2)

– Wear• Bottom parallel to ground• Fit without distortion or gaps• No hair below band on forehead

– Rank• Pin-on or sew-on (ALARACT 140/2007, para 10)

• Centered vertically and horizontally on the front

– Nametape• Centered on Velcro patch on back

• Boonie cap (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5D3)

– Not authorized for TXSG

Coat

• Wear– Collar down unless wearing body armor or authorized by commander

for inclement weather (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5B)

– No rolling sleeves (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5B); no rolling sleeve cuffs inside sleeves (ALARACT 140/2007, para 19)

– Length – between bottom of side pocket and top of cargo pocket of trousers (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5B)

– Pens may protrude from the left sleeve pen slots but must be black (ACC)

– Infrared feedback squares (if equipped) will be covered by insignia or the attached tabs (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5B); if not equipped with IR squares, the attached tabs will be fastened behind the pocket flaps (ACC)

Coat• Insignia

– Nametape / TXSG tape (ALARACT 007/2006, para 2F)

• Embroidered tape, 5 inch long, worn immediately above top of pocket flaps

• Digitized background• Nametape above right chest pocket• TXSG tape above left chest pocket• May be sewn on (Army Directive 2011-11)

– SSI (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5Q)

• Subdued• Centered on Velcro pad on left sleeve (not including the pocket flap); 1

inch below flap (ACC)

• Tabs that are part of SSI will be worn on pad with SSI, not on pocket flap

Coat• Insignia

– SSI-FWTS (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5Q)• Subdued• Centered on Velcro pad on right sleeve (not including the pocket flap)• Tabs that are part of SSI-FWTS will be worn on pad with SSI-FWTS, not on pocket

flap– Skill tabs (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5S)

• President’s Hundred, Special Forces, Ranger, Sapper• Centered on left shoulder pocket flap• Max 3 tabs

– TXSG tab• Centered on bottom edge of left shoulder pocket flap

– Texas flag• Subdued (off-color), reversed• Centered on right shoulder pocket flap• Blue field toward front, white at top

Coat• Insignia

– Identification badges (ALARACT 007/2006, para 2N)• Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier; Drill Sergeant; Career Counselor on

right chest pocket• Recruiter badge on left chest pocket (AR 670-1, para 29-18)• Pin-on subdued or sew-on (Army Directive 2011-11)• Centered on coat pockets, one per pocket

– Chaplain insignia (ALARACT 283/2009)• Black embroidered on 2x2 digitized Velcro• Pin-on authorized (ACC)• Centered 1/8 inch above nametape

– Rank (ALARACT 007/2006, para 2A)• Embroidered black or bronze rank centered on front pad• Digitized background• May be sewn on (Army Directive 2011-11)

Coat• Insignia

– Combat and special skill badges (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5L)

• Pin-on subdued or sew-on (ALARACT 007/2006, para 2C) (Army Directive 2011-11)

• May not mix pin-on and sew-on (Army Directive 2011-11)

• Maximum of 5 badges at one time• Centered 1/8 inch above TXSG tape• 1/4 inch vertical spacing between badges• 1/2 inch horizontal spacing between badges• In order of precedence from top to bottom, then right to left

Combat and special skill badge order of precedence (AR 670-1, para 29-17a)

• Group 1– Combat Infantryman badges; Expert Infantryman badge

• Group 2– Combat Medical badges; Expert Field Medical badge

• Group 3– Army Astronaut device; Army Aviator badges; Flight Surgeon badges; Aviation

badges; Explosive Ordnance Disposal badges• Group 4

– Glider badge; Parachutist badges; Parachutist badges with combat jump device; Pathfinder badge; Military Freefall Parachutist badges; Military Freefall Parachutist badges with combat jump device; Air Assault badge; Sapper, Ranger, and Special Forces tab metal replicas

• Group 5– Diver badges; Driver and Mechanic badge; Parachute Rigger badge

Combat and special skill badge patterns (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5L)

1

1

2

1

2

3

1

3

2

4

3

5

2

4

1

Trousers (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5C)

• Tucked into boots or bloused• No peg leg• No round cuff inserts• May not extend below third eyelet of boot

Boots (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5E)

• Issued or commercial• 8 to 10 inch height• Tan leather, rough side out• Plain toe• Tan rubber outsole• No zippers (ALARACT 140/2007, para 18)

• No sneaker-type• Shall be brushed clean

Belt

• Black or tan rigger belt (ALARACT 140/2007, para 15)

Socks

• Black, tan, or green (ALARACT 140/2007, para 16)

T-shirt

• Moisture-wicking tan (ALARACT 078/2005, para 6B)

• Tucked into trousers (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5B)

Dog tags

• Worn at all times when in uniform

Fleece (ALARACT 007/2006, para 2P)

• Black– No insignia authorized (ALARACT 140/2007, para 23)

• Foliage green (ALARACT 302/2008 para 5, 6)

– Nametape on right– TXSG tape on left– Rank above TXSG tape (old) or nametape (new) – both are authorized

until stocks exhaust

Field jacket (AR 670-1, para 3-2)

• Same accessories as ACU coat• Has no shoulder pockets or flaps. Wear flag and tabs in

comparable position on Velcro shoulder pad

Gortex (AR 670-1, para 7-7a(1)(b))

• Nametape (ALARACT 140/2007, para 17)

– 5-1/2 x 1/2 inch embroidered digitized– Sewn centered 1/4 inch above bottom of left sleeve pocket flap

• Rank– Pin-on or embroidered cloth loop worn on front center tab (ALARACT

007/2006, para 2L)

– Velcro not authorized

Gloves

• Black only (AR 670-1, para 27-12a)

• Work gloves may be tan (ACC)

Female only accessories

• Handbag (ALARACT 078/2005, para 5H)

– Only in garrison

Wear policy

• Personnel will not wear the ACU in off-post establishments that primarily sell alcohol. If the off-post establishment sells alcohol and food, soldiers may not wear the ACU if their activities in the establishment center on drinking alcohol. (AR 670-1, para 3-3a)

• See TXMF policy dated 18 FEB 04.

Appearance

Hair (AR 670-1, para 1-8a)

• Must allow proper wear of headgear and protective mask or other protective equipment.

• Extreme, eccentric, or trendy haircuts or hairstyles are not authorized.

• Dyes, tints, or bleaches must result in natural hair colors.• May cut a part into the hair if it does not part naturally. The

part will be one straight line, not slanted or curved, and will fall in the area where the soldier would normally part the hair. Soldiers will not cut designs into their hair or scalp.

Hair - Male

• No excessive bulk, ragged, unkempt, or extreme appearance.• Must present a tapered appearance - the outline of the hair

conforms to the shape of the head, curving inward to the natural termination point at the base of the neck.

• Must not fall over the ears or eyebrows, or touch the collar, except for the closely cut hair at the back of the neck.

• No braids, cornrows, or dreadlocks.• May be clipped closely or shaved.

Hair - Male• Sideburns may not be flared; the base of the sideburn will be a

clean-shaven, horizontal line. Sideburns will not extend below the lowest part of the exterior ear opening.

• Face must be clean-shaven.• Mustaches are permitted, but will not present a chopped off or

bushy appearance, and no portion of the mustache will cover the upper lip line or extend sideways beyond a vertical line drawn upward from the corners of the mouth

• Medical exceptions must state required length of beard. Beard may not be shaped.

• No wigs or hairpieces, except to cover natural baldness or physical disfiguration caused by accident or medical procedure.

Hair - Female• Neatly groomed, length and bulk of the hair are not excessive,

and hair does not present a ragged, unkempt, or extreme appearance.

• No shaved portions of the scalp (other than the neckline) or designs cut into the hair.

• Braids and cornrows must be conservative and lie snugly on the head. No dreadlocks (unkempt, twisted, matted individual parts of hair).

• May not fall over the eyebrows or extend below the bottom edge of the collar. Long hair will be neatly and inconspicuously fastened or pinned, so no free-hanging hair is visible.

Hair - Female• Not lopsided or distinctly unbalance.• Extensions, weaves, wigs, and hairpieces must have the same

general appearance as the individual’s natural hair.• Hair will not extend below the bottom edge of the front of

the headgear, nor will it extend below the bottom edge of the collar.

• All hair-holding devices must be plain and of a color as close to the soldier’s hair as is possible or clear. Authorized devices include, but are not limited to, small, plain scrunchies (elastic hair bands covered with material), barrettes, combs, pins, clips, rubber bands, and hair bands. Devices that are conspicuous, excessive, or decorative are prohibited.

Cosmetics (AR 670-1, para 1-8b)

• Males are prohibited from wearing cosmetics, to include nail polish.

• Females are authorized to wear cosmetics with all uniforms, provided they are applied conservatively and in good taste and complement the uniform and their complexion.

• Females will not wear shades of lipstick and nail polish that distinctly contrast with their complexion, that detract from the uniform, or that are extreme (e.g., purple, gold, blue, black, white, bright (fire-engine) red, khaki, camouflage colors, and fluorescent colors).

Nails (AR 670-1, para 1-8c)

• Males will keep nails trimmed so as not to extend beyond the fingertip.

• Females will not exceed a nail length of 1⁄4 inch, as measured from the tip of the finger.

Hygiene (AR 670-1, para 1-8d)

• Soldiers will maintain good personal hygiene and grooming on a daily basis and wear the uniform so as not to detract from their overall military appearance.

Tattoos (AR 670-1, para 1-8e)

• Tattoos or brands anywhere on the head, face, and neck above the class A uniform collar are prohibited.

• Tattoos or brands that are extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist are prohibited, regardless of location on the body, as they are prejudicial to good order and discipline within units.

• Existing tattoos or brands on the hands that are not extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist, but are visible in the class A uniform (worn with slacks/trousers), are authorized.

• Soldiers may not cover tattoos or brands in order to comply with the tattoo policy.

Religious exceptions (AR 670-1, para 1-

7b(3))

• Exceptions or accommodations based on religious practices will not be granted, except those granted before 1 Jan 1986.

References• AR 670-1, 3 FEB 2005, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and

Insignia• ALARACT 078/2005, 202200Z APR 05, Subject: ARMY COMBAT UNIFORM

(ACU) ENSEMBLE• ALARACT 007/2006, Subject: ARMY COMBAT UNIFORM (ACU)• ALARACT 140/2007, 192130Z JUN 07, Subject: AR 670-1, 3 FEB 05, WEAR

AND APPEARANCE OF ARMY UNIFORMS AND INSIGNIA• ALARACT 302/2008, 171425Z DEC 08, Subject: WEAR POLICY FOR THE

GENERATION III EXTENDED COLD WEATHER CLOTHING SYSTEM (ECWCS)• ALARACT 283/2009, 141347Z OCT 09, Subject: CHANGES TO THE WEAR

POLICY FOR THE CHAPLAINS BRANCH INSIGNIAS WORN ON THE ARMY COMBAT UNIFORM (ACU)

• TXMF Policy Letter, dtd 18 FEB 04, Subject: Policy for Wearing of the Texas State Guard Uniform

• Army Directive 2011-1, Subject: Changes to Wear of the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) Items