WASHINGTON D.C (CNN) — Just in the nick of time!
The summer heat is here and soldiers can now cool off a little as the U.S. Army has approved a long-awaited policy allowing troops to roll up the sleeves of their uniforms.
“We’re going sleeves up, cammo out,” Sergeant Major of the Army Daniel Dailey, said in a statement on the Army’s website.
The policy, effective immediately, follows a 10-day trial program at Fort Hood, Texas, that ended Sunday.
At a commander’s discretion, soldiers can now roll up their sleeves, with few restrictions other than the camouflage pattern on uniforms must be facing out and sleeves must be rolled neatly to no higher than three inches above the elbow.
Dailey emphasized that there would be no time restrictions on the new policy, “for instance, company commanders in Hawaii can make the decision to go sleeves up any time of year.”
This is less restrictive than rules for marines and sailors, who must keep their sleeves rolled down in winter months.
Rolling sleeves was banned by the Army in 2005 in order to protect soldiers’ arms from the elements. Since then, there has been increasing demand from troops to be able to roll up their sleeves, especially during hotter months.
“The overwhelming support from Soldiers around the Army was a big factor in coming to this decision,” Dailey said.
