Uniforms of the United States Marine Corps

More likely, green cloth was simply plentiful in Philadelphia, and it served to distinguish Marines from the red of the British or the blue of the Continental Army and Navy.

[6] A year later, Marines were issued leftover uniforms from Anthony Wayne's Legion, blue with red facings.

[2] In 1834, President Andrew Jackson reinstated the green and white jackets of the Colonial Marines, with gray trousers.

[2] In the expeditionary period post Civil War, Marines began wearing a khaki field uniform, better suited to tropical and arid environments.

The garrison cap was introduced, originally to be worn overseas, as it could easily be carried when wearing the steel helmet.

Beginning with a prewar deployment to Guantánamo Bay in early 1941, a fiber pith helmet began to replace the campaign hat worn in tropical areas and by recruits in training, but was eventually phased out as field uniforms were eventually replaced with utilities and helmets in November of that year.

When the 1st Marine Division arrived in Melbourne, Australia, Australian battle dress was issued for the cooler climate.

Swagger sticks were once in vogue in the Corps, starting as an informal accessory carried by officers in the late 19th century.

The white trousers are not authorized for wear with either the long-sleeved or the short-sleeved khaki shirt, precluding the existence of "C" and "D" uniform versions.

NCOs and junior enlisted personnel may only wear white trousers for ceremonies and social events, if authorized and provided by the command structure.

The Marine Band also wears blue trousers that have a white line bisecting 2 scarlet stripes on each leg.

Should the condition warrant (e.g., summer heat), the band will wear a white shirt with the Blue Dress uniform trousers.

A green crewneck sweater (originally adopted from British Army and Royal Marines issue) in the same color shade as that of the trousers may be worn with the "B" and "C" uniforms.

The uniform consists of a camouflage blouse and trousers, green undershirt, and tan (specifically "olive mojave") suede boots.

The variety worn depends on the environment; deployed Marines wear whichever color is more appropriate to the climate and terrain.

[20] The desert MCCUU is only worn in appropriate field environments[21] During the summer months, Marines in garrison will roll the sleeves of the woodland blouse, tightly folded up to the biceps, exposing the lighter inside layer, and forming a neat cuff to present a crisper appearance to the otherwise formless uniform.

In the past, when Marines wore the same utilities as the Army and Air Force, this served to distinguish them from the other branches, who folded the sleeves in with the camo facing out.

[22] The approved headwear is the utility cover, an eight-pointed brimmed hat that is worn "blocked", that is, creased and peaked.

The physical training uniform consists of the following: In addition, Marines can wear a watch cap and gloves in cold weather, or a hydration pack to prevent dehydration.

One of the most notable adornments is the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor, found in some manner on most uniforms; it is even within the MARPAT digital camouflage pattern.

An older insignia, progenitor to the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor can be seen in modern dress and service coat buttons.

Enlisted Marines will wear chevrons on the sleeves of all uniforms but the Utility and other working uniforms: gold stripes on red for the Dress coat, green stripes on red for the service coat, green stripes on khaki for the khaki short and long sleeve shirts, and black metal or plastic pin-on insignia on the collar of the utility and other working uniforms and the all-weather coat.

Chief Warrant Officers who are designated "Infantry Weapons Officer" with an MOS of 0306 (also known as "Marine Gunner") (or historically those in a combat arms MOS, which included artillery and communications among others during the Korean War era) replace their left insignia with a gold or black bursting bomb.

Musicians in the United States Marine Band replace the crossed rifle in their insignia with lyres to denote their non-combat role.

Miniature medals are worn on the Evening Dress uniform, and are authorized for wear with civilian tuxedos when appropriate to the event.

Other dress and service uniforms are worn with ribbons and weapon qualification badges, though the unit commander may decide to forgo the latter.

The buttons on the dress and service coats are reminiscent of Marine insignia prior to the adoption of the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor.

The design is of French origin, and is a tradition from the pre-Civil War era when officers wore a rope cross on their caps to allow sharpshooters high in the rigging of a sailing ship to identify his allies in a battle.

Green cartridge belts or brassards can be worn by personnel in an authoritative or ceremonial duty status (such as drill instructors or fire watch sentries, wearing such items regards the individuals as "under arms" whether they are actually carrying a weapon or not.

These members of the Fleet Marine Force include doctors, dentists, nurses, medical service, hospital corpsmen, chaplains, religious program specialists, lawyers, legalmen, naval gunfire liaison officers, divers, and Naval Academy midshipmen who are selected for Marine officership.