MEMORANDUM FOR SFC Davis, B Co., 2nd Bn, 189th Regiment (RTI), Oklahoma Army National Guard, 6500 N. Kelley Ave., Oklahoma City. Ok 73111-7853
SUBJECT: History and Importance of Uniformity as a Leader
1. References:
a. AR 670-1 Paragraph 1-7a, Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Isignia 03 February 2005
b. FM 7-21.13, Chapter 3-1, 15 October 2003
c. FM 7-21.13, Chapter 3-45, 15 October 2003
d. FM 6-22, Chapter 5-5, 12 October 2006
2. History of Uniformity-
a. The Continental Army was created 14JUNE1776 and was primarily made up of civilians. They endured hardships but they had little organization. General Washington enlisted the help of the Prussian officer Baron Friedrich Von Steuben through Benjamin Franklin to teach the men drill. Discipline became a part of military life for these selected individuals as they learned to respond to command without hesitation. As the Americans mastered the art of drill, they began to work as a team and to develop a sense of pride in themselves and in their unit.
b. Regulations published in 1779 establish the Army uniform as blue with colored facings based on region: white for New England; red for the Mid-Atlantic; and blue for the South. Musicians wore uniform coats in reverse colors. In 1782, blue coats faced red became standard for everyone except generals and staff officers.
c. The Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU) started replacing the Battle Dress Uniform(BDU) and the Desert Camouflage Uniform (DCU) as the combat and garrison uniform in early 2005.
d. In 2010, the MultiCam ACU was approved to wear for soldiers deploying to Afghanistan.
3. Importance of Uniformity as a Leader-
a. The Army is a uniformed service where discipline is judged, in part, by the manner in which a soldier wears a prescribed uniform, as well as by the individual’s personal
NGOK-RTI-GSO
SUBJECT: History and Importance of