The Army’s black and gold PT uniforms are here to stay

Rumors of the demise of the Military’s black and gold bodily coaching gear have been enormously exaggerated, and a redesign isn’t within the works, regardless of latest management feedback suggesting in any other case.

The Military on Monday clarified feedback made by its high enlisted soldier finally week’s Affiliation of the U.S. Military’s Annual Assembly and Exposition in regards to the service’s authorised PT uniform.

“We’re redesigning the Military PTs,” Sergeant Main of the Military Michael Weimer stated final week. “We’re not going to get locked into the identical T-shirt, [where] all people is simply going out and shopping for a brand new T-shirt anyway for his or her unit.”

However on Monday, Weimer informed reporters he was referring to the Military offering extra choices for soldier exercise clothes, not a wholesale revamp of the enduring soldier PT gear.

As an alternative, the Military desires to present troopers extra snug choices in the event that they want them with out spending Military cash redesigning or issuing a brand new PT uniform, he stated.

These choices will probably be introduced to Military senior leaders by the top of 2025, the service clarified.

Both manner, Weimar stated, the black and gold design is right here to remain.

Weimer stated the aim of offering extra choices emerged after frequent soldier suggestions concerning the consolation and match of the present PT clothes.

“It actually comes down to suit,” Weimer stated. “It’s about efficiency and performance.”

Sgt. Maj. Rob Haynie, senior enlisted soldier on the Workplace of the Assistant Secretary of the Military for Acquisition, Logistics and Expertise, started main the service’s evaluation of choices about two months in the past and can proceed that by way of subsequent 12 months.

To date, Weimer and Haynie stated, a few of the largest complaints are about how the shorts match, together with issues with cloth bunching.

Small options additionally imply rather a lot, and troopers griped a couple of lack of shorts pockets for stowing ID playing cards.

As Haynie gathers soldier suggestions, his workforce will evaluation current, out there choices from the clothes business, he stated. A finalized record of varieties of PT clothes that meet the Military’s laws and requirements and keep uniformity among the many troops will then be delivered to Military senior leaders for evaluation.

Troopers will nonetheless get their PT uniforms issued at primary coaching and use that clothes by way of their Superior Particular person Coaching, Weimer stated. However as soon as they be a part of their unit, they might have the choice to get some completely different gear.

The 2025 evaluation may wind up giving troopers extra choices for every of their primary PT gear clothes objects, officers stated.

The present primary gear consists of short-sleeve and long-sleeve T-shirts, shorts, pants and a jacket, all within the black and gold shade scheme, based on Military laws.

Moreover, troopers could put on calf or ankle-length socks, athletic sneakers, a fleece watch cap, a compression shirt, shorts and a reflective belt for inclement climate circumstances.

The service beforehand modified the PT uniform in 2017 when it switched from the black and grey design it had used for years to the present black and gold shade scheme, amongst different adjustments.

No matter gear will get authorised for troopers so as to add to their coaching wardrobe ought to present choices that better-fit troopers’ consolation and efficiency wants whereas sustaining a uniform look, Weimer stated.

The potential exercise clothes choices fall in step with a number of non-issue objects which might be authorised for put on. The Military permits troopers to pick from an authorised record of protecting eyewear, and to decide on between various kinds of fight boots to seek out one of the best match.

Some items additionally enable troopers to put on unit-specific, command-approved T-shirts that showcase the particular unit for his or her PT uniform.