United States Marine Corps

==Uniforms==
{{main|Uniforms of the United States Marine Corps}}
[[File:USMC uniforms.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|An illustration of U.S. marines in various uniform setups. From left to right: A U.S. marine in a [[Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform]] with full combat load {{Circa|2003}}, a U.S. marine in a (full) [[Full dress uniform|blue dress uniform]], a U.S. Marine officer in a service uniform, and a U.S. Marine general in an [[Mess dress uniform|evening dress uniform]].]]

The Marine Corps has the most stable and most recognizable uniforms in the American military; the Dress Blues dates back to the early 19th century<ref name="ChenowethNihart"/> and the service uniform to the early 20th century. Only a handful of skills (parachutist, air crew, explosive ordnance disposal, etc.) warrant [[Badges of the United States Marine Corps|distinguishing badges]], and rank insignia is not worn on uniform headgear (with the exception of an officer's garrison service cover).

Marines have four main uniforms: dress, service, utility, and physical training. These uniforms have a few minor but very distinct variations from enlisted personnel to commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The Marine Corps '''[[Full dress uniform|dress uniform]]''' is the most elaborate, worn for formal or ceremonial occasions. There are four different forms of the dress uniform. The variations of the dress uniforms are known as "Alphas", "Bravos", "Charlies", or "Deltas". The most common being the "Blue Dress Alphas or Bravos", called "Dress Blues" or simply "Blues". It is most often seen in recruiting advertisements and is equivalent to [[black tie]]. There is a "Blue-White" Dress for summer, and Evening Dress for formal ([[white tie]]) occasions, which are reserved for SNCO's and officers. Versions with a khaki shirt in lieu of the coat (Blue Dress Charlie/Delta) are worn as a daily working uniform by Marine recruiters and NROTC staff.<ref name="uniform">{{cite web|title = Mco p1020.34g|publisher = United States Marine Corps|url = http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/mcub/PAGES/Uniform%20Regs%20Chapters/Uniform%20Regs%20Index.asp|access-date = 27 November 2005|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091008135448/http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/sites/mcub/pages/uniform%20regs%20chapters/Uniform%20Regs%20Index.asp|archive-date = 8 October 2009|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

The '''service uniform''' was once the prescribed daily work attire in garrison; however, it has been largely superseded in this role by the utility uniform. Consisting of olive green and khaki colors. It is roughly equivalent in function and composition to a [[suit (clothing)|business suit]].<ref name="uniform" />{{Failed verification|date=March 2021}}

The '''utility uniform''', currently the [[Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform]], is a camouflage uniform intended for wear in the field or for dirty work in garrison, though it has been standardized for regular duty. It is rendered in [[MARPAT]] pixelated [[camouflage]] that breaks up the wearer's shape. In garrison, the woodland and desert uniforms are worn depending on the marine's duty station.<ref>[http://www.marines.mil/news/messages/Pages/MESSAGES198.aspx ALMAR 007/08] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813032114/http://www.marines.mil/news/messages/Pages/MESSAGES198.aspx |date=13 August 2008}} directing seasonal uniform changes</ref>{{Better source needed|date=March 2021}} Marines consider the utilities a working uniform and do not permit their wear off-base, except in transit to and from their place of duty and in the event of an emergency.<ref name="uniform" />