Per the Department of the Army Pamphlet 670-1 (January 2021),
Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia, suspenders are optional items that may be of commercial design, and their wear is permitted with the “dress, mess, and evening mess uniforms, provided that the suspenders are not visible when worn.” (Precisely how they would be visible when
not worn is not addressed in the regulations.)
On occasions calling for wear of the Blue Mess Dress, officers of the Field Artillery (FA) and Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Branches and the Corps of Engineers (COE) have traditionally worn suspenders in their branch color of scarlet (cable 65006). (They typically choose white suspenders for wear with the White Mess Dress.) But NCOs have begun to follow their lead in increasing numbers, perhaps in recognition of the Army’s increasing emphasis on the leadership roles of Non-commissioned Officers as part of its NCO 2020 Strategy.
While the suspenders obviously can’t be seen when wearing all the components of the Blue Mess Dress, simply having them as part of the Mess Dress ensemble evokes a pride in service and an esprit de corps that in turn instills a sense of confidence and professionalism. At The Salute Uniforms, we offer both the button-style and clip-on versions of these branch-colored suspenders.
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