Wearing Your Battle Dress Uniform

Guard members will spend the majority of their time in Battle Dress Uniform (BDUs), therefore we want to stress the proper wearing of that uniform, and instructions on properly caring for it.

When wearing BDUs, the following apply:

• Headgear – the beret is worn so that the headband (edge binding) is straight across the forehead, 1 inch above the eyebrows.
  1. No hair may be visible on the forehead beneath the headband. The flash is positioned over the left eye, and the excess material is draped over to the right ear, to at least the top of the ear, and no lower than the middle of the ear.
  2. A dip is formed in the wool directly behind the flash stiffener, and a slight fold is formed to the right front, next to the flash. Personnel will tie the adjusting ribbons into a slipknot, cut off the ends of the ribbons as close to the knot as possible, and secure the ribbon knot inside the edge binding at the back of the beret.
  3. When worn properly, the beret is form-fitting to the head; therefore, soldiers may not wear hairstyles that cause distortion of the beret.
  4. Officers and warrant officers wear non-subdued grade insignia centered on the beret flash, and chaplains wear their branch insignia.
  5. Enlisted personnel wear their Distinctive Unit Insignia (DUI) centered on the beret flash.
• Footgear – Black combat boots are worn with the uniform.
• Gloves – The standard Army light-duty work gloves are authorized for wear with the BDU.
•  Insignia and Accessories – Only the following items are authorized for wear on the BDU:
  
  
  1. Insignia of grade. Subdued only on uniform.
  2. Insignia of branch. Subdued type (officers only).
  3. Shoulder sleeve insignia, current and former wartime unit (subdued only).
  4. Ranger/Special Forces tab.
  5. Bib type branch of service scarves or camouflage scarf.
  6. Brassards.
  7. Nametapes.
  8. U.S. Army distinguishing tape.
  9. Special Military Police markings.
  10. Combat, Special Skill, Drill Sergeant and Career Counselor Badge to be worn on uniform (subdued only).
  11. The metallic unit crest will not be worn on the BDUs.
  12. Do not sew down pockets on BDUs.

Subdued insignia of grade will be worn centered on both collars, with the centerline of the insignia bisecting the points of the collar and positioned 1 inch from the collar point. Insignia of grade may be pin-on or embroidered.

The "U.S. ARMY" tape and the soldier’s nametape will be printed or embroidered on a strip of olive green cloth 4 inches long and 1 inch wide, with the inscription "U.S. ARMY" in black block letters 3/4 inch high. The "U.S. ARMY" will be centered and worn immediately above and parallel to the top edge of the left breast pocket, with no space between the pocket and the nametape.

Only brown undershirts may be worn with the BDU.

Jewelry — During training exercises, jewelry of any kind will not be permitted. This is a safety precaution, as jewelry may get caught in equipment or machinery.

Sleeves — The sleeves on the BDU are rolled to allow the camouflage pattern to remain exposed at all times; this allows quick recovery of the sleeve by simply pulling down the cuff. Follow these steps:

1. First, pull the sleeve all the way up to your armpit, so the sleeve is folded over on itself with the inside showing.
2. Next, make two folds upward toward your armpit.
3. Now fold the cuff down over the folds you have just made. The buttons and cuff flap should be showing. This presents a neat cuff, with the camouflage pattern covering the rolled-up sleeve.