In a bid to promote a common identity and jointness, all Army officers of Brigadier rank and above from today onwards (1 August) will start wearing a common uniform.

Earlier, they used to wear distinctive insignia, headgear, shoulder and gorget patch, lanyards, shoes and belts of their respective regiments. They will now wear standardised ‘Olive-Green’ uniforms that do not display regimental identity.

One army officer confirmed, “the Army has decided to adopt a common uniform for the one-star Brigadiers, two-star, Major-generals, three-star Lieutenant generals and four-star generals and the chief, irrespective of their parent cadre and appointments from 1 August onwards”.

This decision will promote and strengthen a common identity, among the senior leadership and was taken by the senior commanders during the Army Commanders Conference.

They will wear a standardised black belt, with the Indian Army’s insignia instead if the regimental one, anodised golden-coloured stars, Ashoka lion and crossed swords as their shoulder rank badge.

The junior officers, from Lieutenants to Colonels, however, will wear the uniforms which display their regimental affiliations.

This is essential as it “strengthen’s camaraderie, esprit de corps and regimental ethos,” said another Army officer adding that, “At the unit or battalion level, a distinct sense of identity reflects a strong bond among officers and men in the same regiment”.