The United States Army won’t be getting a new physical training (PT) uniform after all. Just days after Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer openly criticized the current PT uniform at the Association of the United States Army 2024 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington, D.C., the service’s top enlisted leader walked back his comments.
“The current PTs, they’re not going anywhere,” Weimer told reporters and said there would be a greater focus on uniformity.
“We’re looking at options,” he added. “We don’t want everybody showing up to a company formation and everyone’s wearing something that looks completely different. We have to make sure we maintain the standard.”
The current PT gear was rolled out in 2017, and instead of a complete revamp, the service will likely make minor tweaks that could include adding pockets to shorts.
In Step With New Footwear
While the PT gear likely isn’t going away, the Army could see soldiers given an additional option when it comes to footwear. At the Association of the U.S. Army conference, Weimer was spotted wearing Chelsea boots with his formal service uniform.
The close-fitting, ankle-length boots are noted for featuring an elastic side panel and low heel. The boots originated in the UK in the Victorian era and later became an iconic fashion element of the 1960s British “mod” scene. There have also been various work boots inspired by the design. In addition, the British military has used Chelsea boots for parades and ceremonial duties.
However, Chelsea boots have never been authorized footwear for the U.S. military, but the U.S. Army is now considering adopting the laceless ankle-high footwear for wear with the Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU), which was inspired by the World War II-era formal uniform and introduced in 2020.
“They’re comfy,” Weimer told Military.com when describing the Chelsea boots. “It’s something the Army is looking into.”
The U.S. Army has traditionally seen soldiers wear brown dress shoes with the service uniform, while airborne units had the option of wearing leather boots.
“We are experimenting with optional uniform items, testing wearability and evaluating appearance,” Christopher Surridge, an Army spokesperson, also told Military.com in a statement.
Boots on the Ground
While the U.S. Army could allow more options than the brown dress shoes that have been worn since the early 20th century, the service has no plans to change the boots worn with the Army Combat Uniform. The current Army Combat Boot (Temperate Weather) has been seen as far more practical than the “spit and polish” footwear that soldiers once wore.
The tan-colored, temperate weather boots feature moisture-resistant, rough-side-out cattle hide leather with a nylon duck cloth upper. This makes the boots both somewhat waterproof and breathable, and unlike the old leather boots the polyether polyurethane midsole provides cushion and slip-resistant rubber outsole that soldiers of the past would have envied.
Before the American Civil War boots were far less comfortable and not the least bit fashionable. Moreover, the first true U.S. Army footwear, the “Jefferson Boots,” which were introduced in 1816, was a lace-up style, ankle-high boot without a specific right or left. It was only after the American Civil War that a need was seen for left and right boots – and sizes were equally limited to just four options. If the boots didn’t fit, soldiers didn’t have many options but to buy their own boots.
In the latter half of the 19th century, the U.S. military boot evolved into a simple Service Shoe for both officers and enlisted men alike. These weren’t true boots, and instead, these low-cut shoes were worn with puttees or webbing gaiters. These were updated in 1904 as the Russet Marching Shoe, while the “Boots Combat Service” was introduced during World War II. These were essentially Service Shoes with a leather high-top cuff added, while the boots were closed using two buckles. It was a vast improvement over the gaiters or leggings that were worn by soldiers as the boots provided greater stability and these were used throughout the Korean War when the brown leather boots gave way to the shined black combat boots in 1957.
The Second World War also saw the widespread introduction of Jungle Boots, which had been tested in Panama prior to America’s entry into the conflict. The design was based on the idea that no boot could keep water out, so instead these were designed to allow jungle water as well as perspiration to drain from the boots to allow a wearer’s feet to dry. These featured cotton duck uppers that were later replaced by nylon canvas. Those boots were refined during America’s role in Vietnam, and this included outfitting the boots with stainless steel plates to protect the wearer from punji stake traps.
The Army Combat Boot was introduced just before the 1991 Gulf War, and it provides more comfort and support than past boots. Today the AR 670-1 compliant boots call for these to be 8 to 10 inches in height, made of tan or coyote flesh out of cattlehide leather with a plain toe and sole matching the color of the upper, with rubber or polyether polyurethane outsole and all leather or leather and nonmesh fabric. Such notable brands today include Nike, Oakley, and Garmont.
