Three-quarter-inch black braid had a very specific use on the Class A Army Green Uniform: It was worn on the sleeves of the coat worn by male Officers ranked Colonel and lower (including Warrant Officers). Specifically, the braid was to be sewn parallel to and three inches above the bottom of the sleeve. Although September 30, 2015 marked the final day that “Army Greens” could be worn by members of the Active and Reserve Components of the United States Army, demand for both the uniform and the various accessories and ornamentation associated with it has remained surprisingly high.
This all-black lacing contrasts with the braid worn in that location on the blue Army Service Uniform for male Officers which replaced the Army Green Uniform. The ASU lacing consists of two distinct parts: a pair of quarter-inch gold braids bordering a quarter-inch of silk material of the first-named color of the Officer’s branch.
Here at The Salute Uniforms, one of the main reasons we continue to carry the three-quarter-inch black braid and other ornamentation worn on the Class A Army Green Uniform is to accommodate the needs of veterans who wish to honor their service by keeping their old Army Green Uniforms in tip-top condition. Braids are particularly vulnerable to wear and abrasion because they’re sewn on in a location liable to come into contact with the environment.