Army's New Uniform Policy Lets Soldiers Roll Up Sleeves

Soldiers just got a welcome break from summer heat with a recent uniform change that allows them to roll-up the sleeves on their Army Combat Uniforms.

Gen. James McConville, the Army G1, on Tuesday signed a memo that authorizes the uniform change.

"Effective immediately, Commanders may authorize Soldiers to roll-up the sleeves on the universal camouflage pattern (UCP) ACU, operational camouflage pattern (OCP) ACU or operation enduring freedom camouflage pattern (OEF-CP) ACU," according to the memo.

The decision follows a 10-day pilot with soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas.

"We're going sleeves up, camo out," Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel Dailey said in an Army press release.

Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning, the service's newest top civilian official, was asked about the new policy at a public event on the day it was approved, but he decided to sidestep the issue.

"I think for any number of reasons, I'm going to stay away from uniform issues," Fanning told an audience at an Association of the United States Army breakfast.

"But I'm watching closely, and if successful, I think we need a pilot on the civilian side as well," he said.

When soldiers wear the sleeves of the ACU coat rolled up, the camouflage pattern will remain exposed, the memo states. Personnel will roll sleeves neatly above the elbow but no more than three inches above the elbow.

"Most senior NCOs today should remember how they used to roll their BDU sleeves and teach their soldiers," said Hank Minitrez, an Army spokesman.

In addition to the exposed camouflage roll, soldiers may cuff their sleeves above the wrist on the forearm during field training exercises or operations with their commanders approval, Daily said.

"It's often referred to as a Delta roll or SF roll," Dailey said.

There will be no time restrictions on the new policy, Dailey said.

"For instance, company commanders in Hawaii can make the decision to go sleeves up any time of year," he said.

The Army also posted a website with an instruction video on how to roll up the sleeves, along with several common questions about the new policy.

For example, the first question asked about whether the policy still applies to soldiers with arm tattoos.

"As long as the Soldier's tattoos are already in compliance with regulatory guidance, there is no issue with tattoos being displayed when sleeves are rolled up," the answer states.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

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