2.3 Wear of Combat Uniforms, Duty Accessories, and Body Modification & Tattoo Policies

Wear of Combat Uniforms, Duty Accessories, and Body Modification & Tattoo Policies

Board Primer: The Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) Army Combat Uniform is the daily working attire for most Soldiers. Promotion boards routinely inspect candidates on combat blouse zipper rules, proper boot blousing between eyelets, beret positioning, electronic device prohibitions, and the precise boundaries of HQDA tattoo authorizations.

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1. Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) ACU Wear Standards

The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) in the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) is designed as a functional tactical garment. Proper wear requires strict adherence to AR 670-1 (Chapter 4) and DA PAM 670-1 (Chapter 4).

ACU Blouse / Coat Configuration

• Fit and Closure: The ACU coat is worn outside the trousers. The front slide fastener (zipper) must be closed to the base of the collar opening, and the hook-and-loop neck tab may be closed only in tactical field environments or when wearing body armor. The coat will not extend below the top of the cargo pocket or higher than the bottom of the side pocket.
• Name and Branch Tapes:
  • "U.S. ARMY" Tape: Worn immediately above the left breast pocket, parallel to the ground.
  • Nametape (Last Name): Worn immediately above the right breast pocket, parallel to the ground.
  • Uniform Attachment Method: Tapes and badges must be attached using either all hook-and-loop fasteners or all sewn on. Soldiers are strictly prohibited from mixing sewn and hook-and-loop items on the uniform coat.
• Rank Insignia: Grade insignia is worn centered on the front hook-and-loop rank tab in the center of the chest. Enlisted rank may be embroidered hook-and-loop or sewn on (matching the attachment method of the name and branch tapes).
• Sleeve Insignia and Flag Placement:
  • Left Sleeve: Current organizational Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) centered on the hook-and-loop sleeve pocket flap.
  • Right Sleeve: Shoulder Sleeve Insignia for Military Operations in Hostile Conditions (SSI-MOHC), worn centered on the sleeve pocket flap.
  • National Flag Insignia: Worn on the right sleeve flap directly above the SSI-MOHC. In garrison and field training, the subdued tactical flag (coyote/black) is worn. The full-color U.S. flag (red, white, and blue) is worn when directed by the senior commander. The flag is positioned with the star field facing forward ("stars into battle"), simulating the national colors streaming in the wind as the Soldier advances toward the enemy.

Trousers and Blousing Standards

• Belt and Fit: Trousers are worn at the natural waistline, secured by an authorized 1.75-inch Coyote Brown rigger belt or web belt. The belt passes through all loops, with the excess length tucked into the first loop or extending no more than 2 inches beyond the buckle.
• Blousing Rule: Trousers must be bloused using blousing bands (elastic blousing straps) or the integrated trouser drawstrings. The bloused trouser leg must be secured between the second and third eyelet of the combat boot.
• Appearance: Trousers will not be tucked into the boots unless specifically directed by local safety SOPs (e.g., in tick- or snake-infested terrain). When bloused, trousers will not hang down past the third eyelet from the top of the boot and will present a clean, bloused appearance without bunching excessively.

                    COMBAT BOOT TROUSER BLOUSING ZONE

               +--------------------------------------+
               |          BLOUSED TROUSER FABRIC      |
               +--------------------------------------+
                                  | (Blousing Band)
               ===================v====================
               | [O] Eyelet 1 (Top Collar)            |
               +--------------------------------------+
  BLOUSD ZONE  | [O] Eyelet 2 (Upper Blouse Limit)    | <--- Bloused between
  ============ |                                      |      2nd & 3rd eyelet
               | [O] Eyelet 3 (Lower Blouse Limit)    | <--- Must not extend below
               +--------------------------------------+      3rd eyelet
               | [O] Eyelet 4                         |
               | [O] Eyelet 5                         |
               |                                      |
               |          LEATHER COMBAT BOOT         |
               +--------------------------------------+

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2. Headgear Configuration and Wear Protocols

Patrol Cap (PC)

• Fit and Positioning: The patrol cap is worn squarely on the head, with the headband resting parallel to the ground. The visor points directly forward, resting roughly 1 inch above the eyebrows.
• Insignia: Enlisted Soldiers wear subdued cloth or polished pin-on rank insignia centered on the front hook-and-loop pad. The Soldier's nametape is centered on the hook-and-loop pad on the back of the patrol cap. Hair will not extend below the cap band or protrude onto the forehead.

The Beret

• Headband Alignment: The headband is worn straight across the forehead, resting horizontally 1 inch above the eyebrows.
• Flash Positioning: The distinctive flash (unit flash or Army flash) is positioned centered directly over the left eye.
• Drape: The excess beret material is pulled down smoothly over the right ear, extending down at least to the top of the ear but not past the midpoint of the ear.
• Drawstrings: The adjusting ribbon drawstrings are knotted in a square knot, trimmed neatly, and tucked completely inside the headband ribbon at the rear of the head.

Fleece Cap (Watch Cap)

• Worn pulled snugly over the head, covering the top of the ears. It is authorized in field environments or garrison when temperatures dictate. The bottom edge may be folded once, but will not be rolled upward in a beanie style or bunched loosely.

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3. Undershirts, Belts, and Combat Boots Specifications

• Undershirt: Moisture-wicking or 100% cotton crew-neck T-shirt in Tan 499 or Coyote Brown. The shirt must be tucked completely into the trousers at all times.
• Combat Boots:
  • Height: Standard military combat boots must be 8 to 10 inches in height measured from the bottom of the sole to the top of the collar.
  • Material: Made of Tan or Coyote Brown rough-out cattlehide leather, with a plain rounded toe and non-mesh synthetic or leather upper.
  • Sole: Soles must be rubber or polyether polyurethane, measuring no more than 2 inches in thickness from the ground.
  • Prohibited Features: Boots with metal cleats, external zippers, patent leather, or open-mesh athletic ventilation windows are strictly unauthorized for uniform duty wear.

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4. Duty Accessories: Eyewear, Bags, and Electronics

Eyewear and Sunglasses

• Garrison Eyewear: Eyeglasses and sunglasses must have conservative frames in neutral colors (solid black, brown, silver, gold, or olive drab). Trendy, brightly colored, or designer logos across temples are unauthorized.
• Lenses: Mirrored, iridescent, yellow, or multi-colored lenses are prohibited in formation. Sunglasses are never worn in formation unless prescribed by a medical officer.
• Combat Eye Protection: In field exercises and live-fire training, Soldiers must wear ballistic eyewear approved on the Authorized Protective Eyewear List (APEL).

Backpacks and Bags

• Authorized Colors: Backpacks and gym bags carried in uniform must be solid black or match the authorized camouflage pattern (OCP).
• Carry Methods: Soldiers may carry bags in the left hand (leaving the right hand free to render military hand salutes) or worn secured across both shoulders. Carrying a bag slung over a single shoulder while walking in uniform is strictly unauthorized.
• Decorations: Bags must be plain, without commercial brand logos larger than standard manufacturer tags, hanging strings, or novelty patches.

Electronic Devices and Headphones

• Walking in Uniform: Talking, texting, emailing, or playing media on personal cellular phones while walking in uniform is strictly prohibited. Soldiers must stop, stand to the side of foot traffic, and step off pedestrian walkways to use handheld devices.
• Headphones and Earbuds: Prohibited outdoors while walking, running, or rucking in uniform. Headphones are authorized indoors inside physical fitness centers during individual physical training, provided they are conservative in size, black or white, and do not present a safety hazard.

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5. Tattoo, Brand, and Body Modification Policy (AD 2025-18)

Army Directive 2025-18 (12 September 2025) tightened the tattoo policy. The permissive neck-and-hand allowances published under the 2022 recruiting-driven policy are no longer in effect, and a candidate who quotes the "one-inch neck tattoo" rule is quoting superseded guidance.

Content prohibited anywhere on the body

Regardless of location, a Soldier may not have a tattoo or brand that is:

1. Extremist — advocating unlawful force or violence to overthrow the government, deprive others of civil rights, or support terrorism or supremacist causes.
2. Indecent — grossly offensive, sexually explicit, or violating common standards of decency.
3. Sexist — demeaning or degrading a person on the basis of sex.
4. Racist — advocating hatred, bigotry, or discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin.

Prohibited locations

Tattoos are prohibited on the head, face, neck, and hands, and anywhere below the wrist bone, with two narrow carve-outs:

• Permanent makeup on the face, applied within the conservative cosmetics standard.
• One ring tattoo per hand, worn on the finger below the bottom knuckle.

Attempting to bring a prohibited tattoo into compliance by covering it with makeup, a bandage, or a wrap is not authorized.

Authorized locations

Tattoos on the arms and legs remain authorized without size or coverage limits, including full sleeves, provided the content is not prohibited.

Body modification

• Prohibited alterations: tongue splitting (bifurcation), subdermal implants, intentional scarring or branding for ornamentation, and eyeball tattooing.
• Dental ornamentation: gold, platinum, or unnatural-color caps, jewels, initials, or designs on the teeth are prohibited, as is unnatural shaping of teeth for nonmedical reasons.
• Grandfathering: tattoos documented in the Soldier's record under a prior policy may be grandfathered by the chain of command, but content that is extremist, indecent, sexist, or racist is never grandfathered.

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6. Comprehensive Uniform Wear & Tattoo Compliance Matrix