Soldiers will see a 7 percent increase, on average, in their clothing allowance for fiscal year 2016, the Army announced this week.
The Army also is adding new items in the Operational Camouflage Pattern to its clothing bag, which is the set of clothing items issued to soldiers in basic training. See the itemized clothing bag list here.
The changes and additions are outlined in an All-Army Activities message released by the Army G-4 (logistics).
Some highlights:
- Male enlisted soldiers with six to 36 months of service will receive a basic annual clothing replacement allowance of $327.60. Male enlisted soldiers with 37 months or more of service receive $468.
- Female enlisted soldiers with six to 36 months of service will receive a basic annual CRA of $349.20. Female enlisted soldiers with 37 months or more of service receive $496.80.
- Army officers overseas and enlisted soldiers worldwide who are directed to wear civilian clothing during a permanent duty assignment are authorized an initial civilian clothing allowance of $1,022.40.
In the clothing bag, the new items include four sets of Army Combat Uniforms in the new camo pattern. Also new are:
- A tan riggers belt.
- Hot-weather combat boots in coyote color.
- Temperate-weather combat booths both in coyote color.
- OCP patrol cap.
- OCP coat.
- OCP trousers.
- Coyote glove inserts.
- Tan moisture-wicking T-shirt.
Soldiers in basic training will start getting ACUs in the new camo pattern later this month, according to the Army. Soldiers already in the force can wear the Universal Camouflage Pattern ACU until Sept. 30, 2019.
Clothing bags issued to new soldiers are almost identical, according to the Army. Male soldiers are issued about 83 items, while female soldiers receive about 74. More than 60 of those items are the same regardless of the soldiers' gender. The remaining items are gender-specific. For example, the male neck tie versus the female neck tab; and male soldiers are issued seven tan underwear briefs and two white cotton T-shirts, while female soldiers receive a larger cash allowance to buy their own underwear, according to the Army.
In addition to the clothing bag, soldiers in basic training get a small cash allowance for additional clothing items, such as running shoes and socks for physical training.
Once the soldiers leave training and enter the Army, they will receive the annual clothing replacement allowance. This allowance, to help them maintain serviceable uniform and clothing items, is provided to soldiers once a year on the anniversary month in which the soldier joined the Army, according to information from the Army.
