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)

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

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 (ALARACT 007/2006, para 2F)
Embroidered tape, 5 inch long, worn
immediately above top of pocket flaps
Digitized background
Nametape above right chest pocket
Tape above left chest pocket
May be sewn on (Army Directive 2011-11)

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

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
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
US Army tape on left
Rank above US Army 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 offpost 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)

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 individuals 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 soldiers 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
14 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)
Army Directive 2011-1, Subject: Changes to Wear of the Army Combat
Uniform (ACU) Items