Soldiers can now wear the Army Combat Uniform while traveling on commercial planes, trains or automobiles.
The change is effective immediately; the Army has lifted a restriction that was included in the last revision of the service's uniform and appearance regulation.
Last March, the Army released a much-anticipated update to Army Regulation 670-1. In it were stricter rules governing tattoos and hairstyles as well as a provision requiring soldiers to wear the service uniform or appropriate civilian clothes while traveling on official business by commercial means.
Before Wednesday's announcement, soldiers were allowed to wear the ACU on commercial flights only when deploying, redeploying or on rest and recuperation leave to and from the combat theater. In addition, commanders could authorize service or utility uniforms for soldiers traveling commercially for emergency leave or casualty assistance duties.
"The Army's commitment to the uniform and appearance standards is vital to our professionalism, which is why we continue the long-standing practice of conducting perpetual reviews of Army Regulation 670-1," said Paul Prince, an Army spokesman, told Army Times on Wednesday.
The decision to lift the ACU restriction was made during the latest review of AR 670-1, Prince said. He did not immediately have information on why the change was made or what prompted it.
"Today, the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, communicated this change to senior noncommissioned officers across America's Army to begin informing soldiers and leaders of the most current uniform standard relative to commercial travel," Prince said.
The new version of AR 670-1 will be available "in the near future" after it completes the Army publishing process, Prince said.
Michelle Tan is the editor of Army Times and Air Force Times. She has covered the military for Military Times since 2005, and has embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Haiti, Gabon and the Horn of Africa.
