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AR 670-1: Chapter 2: Responsibilities

Table of Contents:

2–1. Deputy Chief of Staff, G–1

The DCS, G–1 will—

  1. Under the authority of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs), develop policies regarding wear and appearance of Army uniforms and insignia.
  2. Function as a member of the Army Uniform Board, which is established in accordance with AR 70–1.
  3. Coordinate with Army and Air Force Exchange Service and the DCS, G–4, as required, to incorporate uniform changes or additions to this regulation and/or DA Pam 670–1.

2–2. Deputy Chief of Staff, G–4

The DCS, G–4 will—

  1. Be responsible for the life cycle management of clothing and individual equipment, in accordance with AR 70–1.
  2. Coordinate the Army Uniform Board meetings in accordance with AR 70–1.

2–3. The Institute of Heraldry

TIOH will—


  1. Monitor the Heraldic Quality Control Program in accordance with AR 672–8, to ensure heraldic items are manufactured according to Government specifications or purchase descriptions.
  2. Provide manufacturers with Government-loaned tools and specifications for heraldic items.
  3. Authorize the manufacture of heraldic items and issue certificates of authority to manufacture items in accordance with the provisions of AR 672–8.
  4. Approve designs for distinctive unit insignia (DUI), regimental distinctive insignia (RDI), shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI), flags, and badges, as authorized by this regulation.
  5. Prepare and maintain specifications, manufacturing drawings and purchase descriptions for insignia worn on the Army uniforms.

2–4. Program Executive Officer, Program Executive Office Soldier and U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center

PEO Soldier and Project Manager, Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment, in conjunction with the NSRDEC, are responsible for the Uniform Quality Control Program (UQCP). PEO Soldier and NSRDEC will—

  1. Prepare and maintain military specifications, purchase descriptions, and master patterns for optional uniform items, as recommended by the Army Uniform Board and approved by the Chief of Staff, Army in accordance with AR 70–1.
  2. Publish and disseminate periodic bulletins to industry that provide guidance and information regarding changes in military specifications, testing and certification requirements, uniform regulations, or adoption of new optional uniform items.
  3. Furnish specifications, purchase descriptions, master patterns, shade standards, and other information about optional uniforms to industry, when required.
  4. Receive and examine laboratory test reports, manufacturer certifications, and samples from commercial manufacturers, custom tailors, military tailors, and other suppliers of optional uniform items, as required. Require manufacturers to provide requested laboratory test reports, manufacturer certifications, and samples of optional uniform items at no cost to the Army.
  5. Issue certificates of authority to manufacturers whose samples meet or exceed standards established by specifications of purchase descriptions. Certificates will be supplemented by documents showing the specific optional uniform items that the manufacturer is authorized to produce. Provide a list of certified manufacturers and products that will be furnished to the U.S. Army and Air Force Exchange Service and posted on appropriate Army Web sites. Revoke or suspend certificates when the certificate holder has violated any of the expressed conditions under which the certification was granted, as determined by PEO Soldier.
  6. Conduct inspections and otherwise monitor manufacturers for compliance with certificate terms and conditions. Review optional uniform items to verify compliance with, or appropriate exemption/waiver from, applicable domestic source requirements as set forth in Section 2533a, Chapter 148, Title 10, United States Code (10 USC Chapter 148, Section 2533a).
  7. Coordinate with designated service points of contact to ensure that outside continental United States produced optional uniform items are evaluated and approved prior to being sold within theater to Soldiers. Outside continental United States Army service component commands will establish service points of contact to direct local textile and uniform producers desiring to sell optional uniform items to Soldiers to NSRDEC for coordination.
  8. Ensure manufacturers and suppliers of optional uniform items do the following:
    • Obtain certification required under the UQCP from NSRDEC or Project Manager (Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment) before manufacturing any optional uniform items for sale.
    • Affix a label with the following information certifying the optional uniform items were manufactured in accordance with the UQCP prior to offering the items for sale: This item is warranted to meet or exceed the standards of specification number and was produced under certificate number from basic material warranted by the manufacturer as having been produced in accordance with the sample under current certification. This item is not authorized for turnin to central issue facilities.
    • Familiarize themselves with Army specifications, purchase descriptions, testing/certification requirements, shade standards, and other pertinent information for optional uniform items, and submit required samples and information to NSRDEC or Project Manager (Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment) for approval.
    • Comply with all terms of the certification. Certificates may be revoked or suspended if the certificate holder has violated any of the expressed conditions of the certification.

2–5. Director and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Army and Air Force Exchange Service

Director and Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Army and Air Force Exchange Service will—

  1. Operate, manage, and supervise the Military Clothing Stores (MCS) Program worldwide, in accordance with the terms of a memorandum of understanding between DA and U.S. Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Dallas, Texas.
  2. Be responsible for the control, storage, and distribution of “issue” MCS inventories and optional-wear military clothing items from certified manufacturers, according to DA specifications and as developed by PEO Soldier, 5901 Putnam Road, Building 328, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060–5852, in conjunction with the textile technology team at the Natick Soldier Center, Natick, MA 01760. (Optional-wear items are those not considered “issue” items.) Responsibility does not include war reserve stock management.

2–6. Commanders

  1. Commanders of Army commands (ACOMs)/Army service component commands (ASCCs)/direct reporting units (DRUs) will thoroughly evaluate all submitted proposals (with a significant proposed change) to change or add uniforms, accessories, or wear policies for uniforms, insignia, and awards.
  2. Senior commanders may prescribe the uniform for wear in formations. When not prescribed by the senior commander, unit commanders will prescribe the uniform for wear in formation. Commanders will not establish seasonal wear dates for uniforms.
  3. Senior commanders, the Chief, Army Reserve for U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) and State Adjutants General for the Army National Guard (ARNG) may publish, in writing, restrictions on the wearing of utility and organizational uniforms off military installations.
  4. The commander in charge of units on maneuver may prescribe the uniform for wear within the maneuver area.
  5. Commanders of ceremonial units or with ceremonial details.
    • Members of honor guards, color guards, and similar details will wear the prescribed Army service, dress, or utility uniforms with authorized accouterments. These members may wear accessories authorized in CTA 50–900 (such as individual equipment, belts, white gloves, and slings) when authorized by the commander. Commanders will prescribe uniform wear policies for these items.
    • Only those units authorized to wear a distinctive uniform in accordance with CTA 50–900 for ceremonial duties, such as the Old Guard and the U.S. Army Band, are exempt from the policy to wear the Army service, dress, or utility uniforms in the performance of ceremonial duties. Commanders of special units will prescribe the wear policy for all distinctive uniform items and accouterments.
  6. Commanders will not require individuals to purchase optional uniform items. Likewise, they will not restrict or discourage them from wearing optional uniform items authorized by this regulation, except in those instances where uniformity is required, such as parades or formations.
  7. Commanders will ensure that the Soldiers assigned to their unit are aware of the grooming and appearance provisions of this regulation and will ensure compliance with the provisions of DA Pam 670–1 within their unit.
  8. Commanders will conduct periodic inspections to ensure that all personnel under their command comply with the following:
    • Uniforms must fit properly and be in serviceable condition (tables 1, 2, and 3)
    • Soldiers wear only authorized insignia and awards, as prescribed in this regulation.
    • Soldiers wear only uniform and heraldic items produced by certified manufacturers, and they meet the specifications for quality and design.
  9. Commanders will promptly submit quality deficiency reports on uniforms and individual equipment, in accordance with AR 702–7–1 regarding those items that do not meet the requirements in paragraphs 2–6h(1) through (3).
  10. Commanders will ensure that only those controlled heraldic items that are of quality and design covered in the specifications, and that have been produced by certified manufacturers or procured through the military supply system, are worn by personnel under their command. Commanders procuring controlled heraldic items, when authorized by local procurement procedures, will purchase only from manufacturers certified by TIOH. Commanders may forward a sample insignia to TIOH for quality assurance inspection if the commander feels the quality does not meet standards.

2–7. Soldiers

  1. Soldiers purchasing uniforms, uniform items, or heraldic items from establishments other than the MCS must ensure that the items are authorized for wear and that they conform to appropriate military specifications or are manufactured in accordance with the UQCP or the heraldic quality control system. When items appear deficient, Soldiers should submit a Standard Form (SF) 368 (Product Quality Deficiency Report) through their servicing MCS where forms are available. Commercially purchased items that are authorized for wear in lieu of military-issued items must conform to the basic specification of the military-issued item, unless otherwise specified in this regulation.
    • All Army uniforms, uniform items, and heraldic items procured by the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support and sold in the MCS are produced in accordance with appropriate military specifications and are authorized for wear. However, in those MCS with multi-Service support agreements, some items are sold that are authorized for wear by members of other Services, but not by Army personnel. Soldiers are responsible for verifying with their chain of command which items are authorized for wear by Army personnel. Uniform items with defects in workmanship or
      material should be returned to the MCS for replacement or repair.
    • Optional uniforms and other uniform clothing items sold in the MCS, in exchanges, or by commercial sources will contain a label, stamp, or certificate issued by the textile technology team at the Natick Soldier Center. Components of some optional uniforms (such as men’s commercial white shirts, studs, and cuff links) are not included in the UQCP.
    • All heraldic items purchased from an exchange, MCS, or commercial source will contain a hallmark or label certifying that the item was produced in accordance with the appropriate military specification by a manufacturer certified by TIOH, Department of the Army.
    • All individuals purchasing uniform or insignia items from commercial sources must ensure that the items conform to the requirements in paragraph 2–7a(1) through (3).
  2. All enlisted personnel will—
    • (1) Maintain their clothing bag items and any supplemental clothing items they are issued, as prescribed in AR 700–84 or CTA 50–900.
    • (2) Ensure that their uniforms and insignia conform to this regulation and DA Pam 670–1.
  3. All officers will—
    • Procure and maintain the uniforms and accessories appropriate to their assigned duties. See DA Pam 670–1.
    • Ensure that their uniforms and insignia conform to this regulation and in DA Pam 670–1.