DA PAM 670-1: Army Uniforms, Grooming, Insignia, and Tattoos

DA PAM 670-1 is the Army’s step-by-step guide for how soldiers wear uniforms, insignia, awards, and accessories, and how they groom themselves. It puts operational detail — hair bulk in inches, boot height, badge placement measured to the quarter-inch — behind the broader policy set out in Army Regulation 670-1.¹ Army Directive 2025-18 recently changed several grooming and appearance rules, so a few long-standing standards no longer match what soldiers remember.

Hair and Grooming

Male Hair

Male hair must be tapered or faded, starting at either skin level or a quarter-inch at the sideburns, and blended evenly around the sides and back. Hair cannot fall over the ears. Only shaved or closely cut hair on the back of the neck may touch the collar. Maximum bulk is two inches on top of the scalp and one inch on the sides.² A fully shaved head is fine. Edged or outlined cuts are authorized if they follow the natural hairline. Locs, braids, and twists are not authorized for men.

Sideburns must be neatly trimmed and cannot extend below the lowest part of the exterior ear opening. Male soldiers are expected to be clean-shaven unless they hold an approved medical or religious shaving profile.

Female Hair

There is no minimum length for female hair, a change from the previous quarter-inch rule.² Medium and long hair must be secured so it does not interfere with headgear. Ponytails are authorized in the ACU and the physical fitness uniform, but not in any variation of the dress uniform. A ponytail cannot exceed six inches from the top of the collar and must sit centered at the back of the head, in line horizontally with the top of the ears.

Up to two braids running down the center of the back are authorized. They must run parallel, no braid wider than two inches, and no braid falling more than six inches below the top of the collar.² Any hairstyle that distorts headgear, interferes with protective equipment, or creates a safety hazard is prohibited, even when the headgear isn’t being worn at the moment.

Hair Color

Coloring is permitted in natural shades only. The Army defines “natural” as any shade of hair that grows from the scalp without artificial coloring. Dye must be applied in a blended, subtle way, with no abrupt or extreme contrasts.² Unnatural colors and harsh two-tone effects will get flagged.

Nails and Makeup

Female soldiers may wear clear nail polish only. Nails must be square or rounded and cannot extend more than a quarter-inch past the tip of the finger.² Male soldiers cannot wear any polish, including clear, without a medical exemption, and their nails cannot extend past the fingertip.

Makeup for female soldiers must be conservative and complement the uniform. The practical test is whether it draws attention to itself rather than presenting a professional appearance.

Tattoos

Army Directive 2022-09 relaxed the tattoo rules significantly. There is no longer a limit on the number or size of tattoos on the arms, legs, or torso, and the old restrictions on visible tattoos below the elbow or knee are gone.³

Tattoos are still prohibited on the head and face (except permanent makeup) and inside the eyelids, mouth, and ears. The directive did open up areas that used to be off-limits:

One visible tattoo on each hand, including the palm, up to one inch in all directions. One ring tattoo per hand is allowed. Unlimited tattoos between the fingers are permitted so long as they aren’t visible when the fingers are closed.
One tattoo on the back of the neck, not to exceed two inches in all directions.
One tattoo behind each ear, up to one inch in all directions, without extending forward of the earlobe.

Content restrictions still apply everywhere on the body. Extremist, indecent, sexist, and racist tattoos are prohibited under AR 670-1 and can lead to adverse administrative action.³ Commanders run annual checks for body art above the neckline and on the wrists and hands.

The Army Combat Uniform

The ACU uses the Operational Camouflage Pattern and consists of the coat, trousers, and specific undergarments. A Tan 499 undershirt is worn tucked into the trousers, secured by a Tan 499 rigger belt.⁴ A cold-weather silk-weight moisture-wicking undershirt can substitute when conditions call for it.

The coat is worn outside the waistband, with the hem not extending below the top of the cargo pockets. Sleeves stay down and fastened by default, but commanders may authorize sleeve rolling in garrison. When rolled, sleeves go right-side out with the camouflage pattern showing, above the elbow, no more than three inches above it.⁵ Sleeves come back down for safety-sensitive work, such as around combat vehicles.

Trouser legs are bloused or tucked into coyote brown combat boots. Boots must be eight to ten inches tall, made of coyote-colored flesh-side-out cattlehide leather with a plain toe, and have a rubber or polyether polyurethane outsole. The outsole cannot exceed two inches in height, and the upper cannot contain mesh.⁴ The patrol cap sits squarely on the head, bill facing forward, parallel to the ground.

Service and Dress Uniforms

Army Green Service Uniform

The AGSU is the primary daily business uniform. It pairs a heritage green coat with khaki trousers or slacks, a heritage tan shirt (long or short sleeve), and a heritage green necktie tied in a four-in-hand knot.⁶ The coat should fit comfortably across the shoulders with a slight waist indentation. Trousers reach the top of the instep, breaking slightly at the front crease.

Army Blue Service Uniform

The ASU is the standard for formal events and social functions. It features a midnight blue coat with lighter blue trousers. Officers and NCOs from corporal through sergeant major wear a gold braid stripe on the trousers. Skirts, when worn, must fall between one inch above and two inches below the midpoint of the knee. Black unisex cardigans and pullovers are authorized with Class B service uniforms across the board.⁷

Army Physical Fitness Uniform

The APFU includes a jacket, pants, trunks, t-shirt, undergarments, socks, and athletic footwear.⁸ Socks must be white, between ankle and lower calf in length. The reflective belt goes around the waist in the summer configuration, and across the chest over the right shoulder when the PT jacket is worn. The fleece cap and gloves are cold-weather items commanders may authorize at their discretion. The APFU is also authorized for wear to and from fitness activities, not just during organized PT.

Maternity Uniforms

Pregnant soldiers switch to the maternity uniform once the standard ACU no longer fits properly, usually around the three-to-four-month mark. The maternity ACU uses the Operational Camouflage Pattern and mirrors the standard design, including all standard pockets.⁹ Maternity ASU and AGSU versions are authorized year-round when the commander prescribes them.

Soldiers who are breastfeeding or pumping may wear an optional t-shirt for that purpose and may unzip or remove the ACU coat as needed. In the ASU, AGSU, or mess uniform, they may remove the coat and unbutton the shirt to breastfeed. Under federal regulation, a soldier may breastfeed anywhere on federal property where they and their child are otherwise authorized to be, with no requirement to cover themselves.⁸

Insignia and Awards Placement

On the ACU

The shoulder sleeve insignia is centered on the hook-and-loop pad on the left sleeve. The U.S. flag goes on the right shoulder pocket flap, at the top of the hook-and-loop pad, star field facing forward. Subdued pin-on or embroidered sew-on rank insignia is worn centered on the front hook-and-loop pad of the coat, and on the front of the patrol cap.¹⁰

One detail trips people up: if you sew on rank insignia on the coat, you must also sew on the nametape and U.S. Army tape. All three go sew-on together, or all three stay hook-and-loop. This does not apply to the patrol cap.¹⁰

On the AGSU

Male soldiers wear up to two rows of ribbons (six total) placed a quarter-inch above the left pocket flap. Female soldiers place ribbons two inches below the left collar tip, centered on the body, with the bottom of the ribbons parallel to the bottom of the Regimental Distinctive Insignia.¹¹ Soldiers may wear one combat or special skill badge, or a metal tab replica, on the Class B AGSU. Worn above ribbons, the badge sits a quarter-inch centered above them; worn below, it centers on the left breast pocket flap for males or a quarter-inch below the ribbon bar for females.

Accessories

Jewelry and Watches

Soldiers are limited to one ring per hand, plus a wedding set. Wristwatches must be conservative in style and color, generally restricted to black, silver, or gold tones. Visible chains, pendants, and other jewelry beyond that are not authorized in uniform.¹

Eyewear

Conservative civilian prescription eyeglasses are authorized with all uniforms. Sunglasses, prescription or not, are authorized in garrison but not indoors. Frames cannot be trendy, feature conspicuous initials or designs, or be so large or small that they detract from the uniform’s appearance.¹²

Lens tints are limited to traditional gray, brown, or dark green. Red, yellow, blue, purple, bright green, and orange lenses are prohibited. Soldiers cannot attach chains or ribbons to eyeglasses, hang glasses from the uniform, or wear glasses on top of the head. Eyeglass restraint bands are authorized only for safety purposes.¹² Army-issued ballistic spectacle eye protection is exempt from these color and logo restrictions. Tinted, colored, or iris-contour-changing contact lenses are not authorized in uniform. The only exception is medically prescribed opaque lenses for eye injuries.⁸

Bags, Umbrellas, and Electronic Devices

Bags and backpacks must be carried over the left shoulder or in the left hand so the right hand stays free for saluting. They must be solid black or match the current camouflage pattern, with no decorative attachments. Umbrellas are authorized only with service, dress, and mess uniforms during inclement weather. They are not allowed in formations or with field or utility uniforms, and they must be plain black.⁴

Electronic devices must stay out of sight when not in use and cannot be attached to the belt in a way that interferes with the uniform silhouette. Headphones and earpieces, wired or wireless, are authorized in uniform only during individual physical training inside gyms or fitness centers, unless the unit or installation commander says otherwise. Ear pads cannot exceed one and a half inches in diameter, and the headphones must look conservative and discreet. You cannot wear headphones beyond the gym, drape them around the neck, or clip them to the uniform.¹³ Violating the headphone policy is punitive and can bring adverse administrative action or UCMJ charges.

Religious Accommodations

Soldiers with an approved religious accommodation may wear items like hijabs, turbans, and beards in uniform. A hijab must be subdued, non-patterned fabric, tucked into the uniform coat, and cannot cover any part of the face. Religious beards are limited to two inches measured from the chin and must be groomed so they do not interfere with the proper seal of a protective mask.¹⁴ Turbans and under-turbans must match the color of the uniform being worn: OCP with the ACU, matching solid color with service and dress uniforms. The head covering must present a neat, professional appearance and allow for standard headgear when required. These accommodations are not permanent entitlements; failing to meet the appearance standards tied to the accommodation can result in its revocation.

Civilian Clothing

AR 670-1 extends some standards past the uniform. Civilian clothes are authorized off duty unless the senior commander restricts them, but soldiers are expected to present a professional image at all times. When wearing civilian clothes on duty, or off duty outside the personal home, dress and personal appearance must reflect the standards associated with Army service.⁸ Hair, fingernail, and grooming standards apply in civilian clothes on duty as well as in uniform. Mixing civilian and military clothing is prohibited unless the regulation specifically authorizes it.

1
Department of the Army. DA PAM 670-1 – Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
2
U.S. Army. Army Directive 2025-18 – Appearance, Grooming, and Army Body Composition Program Standards
3
U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Army Directive 2022-09 – Soldier Tattoos
4
Army Publishing Directorate. DA PAM 670-1 – Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
5
The United States Army. Sleeves Can Now Be Rolled Up
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The United States Army. Army Uniforms and Grooming Guide
7
Army Publishing Directorate. DA PAM 670-1 – Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
8
U.S. Army Publishing Directorate. Army Regulation 670-1 – Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
9
The United States Army. Pregnant and a Soldier? Let’s Discuss Maternity Uniforms
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U.S. Army. DA PAM 670-1 – Guide to the Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
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Army.mil. AGSU Class B Slides
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U.S. Army. AR 670-1 – Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia
13
U.S. Army. Army Directive 2016-20 – Authorization to Use Headphones in Uniform
14
U.S. Army. IG Update 23-2 – Grooming Policies Armywide