Army leadership has been saying for months that a decision on bringing back the World War II-era pinks and greens uniform was due this spring, but with May underway, officials say a decision is still forthcoming.
In the meantime, Marlow White has been building excitement about the prospect of a new service uniform, creating a prospective rollout timeline it last updated on May 2.
The release pegs Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley making a final decision on the uniform and its fielding plan by Nov. 11, with several events leading up to that.
One is a wear test during spring or summer of this year by a recruiting battalion, followed by ― if Milley approves ― an initial rollout next June, to coincide with the 75th anniversary of D-Day.
“No decision on the [pinks and greens uniform] has been made by Army leadership, so any timeline in reference to fielding of the uniform is speculative,” PEO Soldier spokeswoman Debra Dawson told Army Times.
And currently, she added, no units are wearing any pinks and greens prototypes.
“This calendar is our own estimates based on some different public briefings we have attended,” Marlow White president Kevin Harrington told Army Times. “The Army is pushing the wear test a few months.”
Marlow White’s pinks and greens site will get an update, Harrington added.
“We anticipate the Army making the final decision either in October to coincide with AUSA or in early November for the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI,” he said.
After a final decision, according to the site, it could take 18 or more months to manufacture and ship enough uniforms to have them available on every post.
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Milley’s guidance is to “make the uniform as functionally comfortable as possible without giving up a sharp, military appearance,” according to the site. “Make the female uniforms as close as possible to the male uniforms without compromising female anatomical fit. Reduce the ‘bling’ on the uniform by limiting pin-on items, perhaps incorporating subdued buttons, etc.“
While there has yet to be a final decision on whether to bring back the pinks and greens, things look promising so far.
This includes, Sergeant Major of the Army Dan Dailey told Army Times in March, approval from the chief on the design of the prototypes he’s seen so far. Milley has since tasked Dailey with creating a fast, cost-effective fielding plan for his consideration.
Meghann Myers is the Pentagon bureau chief at Military Times. She covers operations, policy, personnel, leadership and other issues affecting service members.
