All right, what’s going on, guys? Hope everybody’s out there staying high speed and motivated in accomplishing their goals, whatever they may be. Got some breaking Army news for you today.
It was just pushed out by Sergeant Major of the Army, Weimer, at the annual AUSA conference and exposition up there in DC, that the Army is going to be rolling out brand new PT uniforms over the next couple of years.
As we should know by now, uniforms in the Army are of major significance and are a major priority. And since it’s been so long since the last time we’ve changed our Army PT uniform, it is finally time for an update. But all saltiness aside, guys, at least for now, anyways, here’s the details.
Why the Change?
Sergeant Major Weimer made this announcement and stated that he didn’t think that the Army PT uniform, the current black and gold uniform, was a proper representation of the Army, not only the Army, but the warfighters of the Army.
A lot of soldiers throughout the years have been complaining about the black and golds, mostly in regard to the comfort or the wear of them, that they’re made of very thin materials so they can be very cold sometimes during the winter, even with the jacket and the pants.
Future Plans for the New PT Uniform
With all these things considered, he figured it was time to make an advance towards something new. Now, there was no mockup or prototype pushed out with this announcement, but the biggest thing that Sergeant Major Weimer really expounded upon was that he wanted to make sure that the uniform just shouted Army.
In all fairness, this announcement was actually grouped in with a bunch of other announcements to include the release of the Blue Book and the upcoming newly approved badges for wear. A lot of things on the priority list were hit.
Either way, though, honestly, I’m excited to see what it is that’s coming to the force here soon. I’m having a hard time actually creatively thinking about what an Army-esque PT uniform should look like as opposed to what we have now.
I mean, the only thing I can think of off the top of my head is like multi-cam RVPTs, but I don’t think we’re going to go in that direction. I don’t know, maybe.
Comparing the Current and Previous PT Uniforms
But I will say this, that when the new APFU uniforms are the newer ones, right, they are going to be the old ones here soon.
But the black and gold PT uniform, when those came out, they seemed to be a major upgrade against the old.
For me, the biggest improvement was just that we didn’t have to wear a PT belt anymore. Looking back on it now, I actually really did like the old APFUs, the grays, because they were a lot more comfortable and they were definitely more warm during the winter.
Then we advanced out of that material into some mixed material, like a plasticky, thin, sports-like material, but it’s very thin. It’s much lighter, but it’s thin. It’s just not very warm in the winter. You guys probably agree with me on that.
Issues with the Black and Gold PT Uniform
Then another issue with the new black and gold is with the shorts. There’s no pockets in the shorts. I don’t know who dropped the ball on that one, but we still never got pockets in the shorts.
And not only that, but have you guys noticed, and this might be just a problem for me, but have you guys noticed that with the shorts, the PT shorts, they seem to fit very wide?
They’re a little too roomy in the legs for me, at least for my own. I don’t actually like to wear the Army APFU shorts because they just feel like parachutes to me.
I don’t know. Maybe I just need to fill my legs out more. Maybe I need to go heavier on the squats. I’m not too sure, but that’s just something that I’ve noticed.
Fit Issues with PT Shirts
And for the regular T-shirts, the tops, if you just go to the regular Army clothing and sales and buy a T-shirt off the rack, the cheap ones, the cotton ones, they don’t seem to fit right in the arms.
They slope up or something. I don’t know if that’s a problem for me as well only, but you guys tell me, is that a problem you’ve noticed? I don’t know. I just don’t think they fit very well, to be honest.
So maybe Sergeant Major Weimer is on to something. If you’re a soldier and you’re not completely proud to wear the Army APFU the way it is, then maybe it’s time to make an adjustment.
What Comes Next?
But that’s the big announcement, guys. We’ll wait to see what happens here in the future. I’m sure we’ll find something out here within the next few weeks or coming months or something about what the new Army APFU is going to look like. Let me know your thoughts on that.
What would you prefer to see? What would you like to see the Army PT uniform look like? What colors do you think it should be? Should we have any reflectors on there?
What jacket, what material should it be? All those things. Let me know what you guys think because I’m having a hard time visualizing it myself in my own mind. I don’t know. I’m like a blank slate right now. I have no idea what a new Army PT uniform would look like. No clue.
But there’s the news, guys. Besides that, I’ve got nothing else for you, and I’ll see you on the next one.
UPDATE: No New PT Uniforms in 2025, But More Options on the Horizon
The Army will not be transitioning to new physical training uniforms, despite an announcement last week by the service’s top enlisted leader about new uniforms on the horizon.
Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer criticized the current PT uniform during the Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, D.C., saying it fell short of the service’s needs, as he pitched new training gear.
But on Monday, a week later, Weimer walked that announcement back.
“The current PTs, they’re not going anywhere,” Weimer told reporters. “We’re looking at options. 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.”
What’s Actually Changing?
Speaking to reporters, he clarified that rather than replacing the existing PT uniform, the Army is exploring ways to offer soldiers a wider range of workout apparel that keeps the same design of the current uniform, but potentially with some differences and a better fit.
“The Army won’t be outright designing or distributing new uniforms itself; instead, it’s opening the door for private-sector apparel companies to make their own gear.”
This new model would be similar to the Army’s practice of issuing soldiers boots, socks, and tan T-shirts as part of the camouflage uniform while allowing them to purchase approved uniform components from other brands.
“Additional uniform options are expected to be available to soldiers to buy toward the end of next year. The service will continue to issue the current PT uniform.”
Possible Future Adjustments
Currently, soldiers have few additional options for PT uniforms beyond what is standard-issue. Weimer said there would be space for minor adjustments, such as adding pockets to the shorts, a widely disliked shortcoming of the standard-issue PT uniform, something Weimer says he hears a lot of complaints about.
“I get constant feedback. Actually, maybe one of the top feedbacks I get … there’s no pockets in the shorts,” Weimer said. “I know it’s crazy we’re talking about shorts with no pockets right now and it’s almost 2025. But that’s where we are.”
Conclusion
The Army will not be issuing a new PT uniform, but rather allowing for more approved options from private-sector brands.
While the black and gold PT uniform will remain in place, soldiers may soon be able to purchase alternative workout gear with a better fit and potential improvements, such as pockets in the shorts.
Key Takeaways
- No new PT uniform, just alternative approved options.
- Current black and gold uniform remains standard.
- New workout gear may be available by late next year.
- Potential design tweaks, including pockets in shorts.
Soldiers will still be issued the standard PT uniform, but soon may have more choices.
Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, he graduated from George State University with an MBA in Actuarial Science. His hobbies include beach volleyball, hiking, fishing, and lifting weights
George is also a certified nutritionist with a passion for health and fitness.
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