Soldiers began wearing the “frock” coat, and colored accents distinguished among branches: blue meaning infantry and red for artillery, for example.Ĩ. In 1847, non-commissioned officers were authorized to display chevrons on both sleeves, above the elbow.ħ. There were significant changes to the uniform to come in 1851, which would stick with the Army for years to come. This is what a typical artillery sergeant would look like in 1836.Ħ. Also in that year, Army regulations introduced the use of epaulettes and shoulder wings, which were “generally used to designate the soldier’s rank or some other aspect of status,” according to the Army Quartermaster Museum.ĥ. The hole in the front was for a colored pompon, a feather-like device which would distinguish what branch of service the soldier belonged to, such as artillery or infantry. In 1821, the Army dropped the “tombstone” cap and replaced it with the “bell crown” cap for company officers and enlisted soldiers. These remained in service until about 1820, though a shortage of blue wool would lead some state militias and the service academies to use gray.ģ. Army began issuing blue coats such as the ones below in 1813. After a brief period of Army “ uniform confusion” during 1812, the U.S. Army History).ġ. Not surprisingly, the blue Continental Army uniform adopted during the Revolutionary War was similar in style to the British red coat.Ģ. For a full, in-depth history, check out this great paper from U.S. Here’s a look back at how Army uniforms have changed over time (This isn’t an exhaustive list. Today, they wear sophisticated digital camouflage patterns that help them blend into the mountains of Afghanistan. In 1775, soldiers put together makeshift hunting shirts to distinguish themselves from the British at the Siege of Boston. The Army has made substantial changes to its uniforms over the years, and this year is no exception.

Pictorial history of us navy uniforms