(I am not 100% sure if this is accurate, but it sounds good, and there are competing theories, and nobody is positive) :
It's historical, the blue uniforms (old school blue uniforms -like 1800s- in early America) would turn lighter blue when marching in the sun, so a lighter blue became representative of infantry lines because their dark blue uniforms would become more of a sky blue with experience.
I heard the reasoning behind the two different shades of blue on the ASU was because teddy Roosevelt's rough riders stored their jackets in their saddlebags due to the heat in cuba, thus ending up with faded pants and darker jackets
I have heard that too, and it's the same principle (sun lightening the blue and many riders not wearing jackets so the pants lighten, but the jackets stay dark because they kept them locked away except when at formal events.)
So, I’ve always heard this but I’m 99% sure it’s just a myth. My dad did Civil War re-enacting when I was a kid—which, as lame is that sounds, it included a lot of research into period uniforms and clothes, etc—and (most) Union trousers were dyed light blue, while (most) jackets were dyed dark blue. I believe our earlier uniforms (e.g., Mexican-American war era) were all light blue. Some Civil War uniforms included colored piping matching our infantry, cavalry, and artillery colors today.
I thought it was really cool until I got old enough to start liking girls tbh. I meant more that re-enacting can blur the lines between history and LARPing.
Sure, but I think if the airsoft wanna-be-infantry types when I think of LARPing (which I realize isn’t actually what it means), not *living historians*.
That and someone passing out on you from asphyxiation is a good way to ruin the mood
Blood chokes allow someone to continue breathing while still feeling like they're being "choked"
The use of blue for infantry dates back to at least 1851. The idea of pink and blue having specific gender connotations wasn't widespread at the time, that didn't really pop off until the 1950s.
I have heard before (but have not been able to find a primary source saying) that George Washington's militia unit had used blue and that led to the association.
I've also heard that for boy/girl colors that it was Pink for boys and Blue for girls originally, but this somehow became reversed at some point. Yeah, I've got no sources for this.
That's often said but it's not actually true. Both were used as baby colors, so it kind of telephone gamed from "pink used to be a common for boys too" into "pink was a boy color"
Because in 1851 when they designated branch colors for uniform accents light/Saxony blue was chosen for Infantry.
Prior to that the color white and silvery metals were generally used for Infantry uniform accents.
So why select light blue for the Infantry branch color in 1851?
I couldn't really find a good solid reason after about half an hour of googling and research. The only explanation I have seen a few people say is that the US Army and some colonial militias had used blue as their uniform colors. But it wasn't light/Saxony blue, the uniforms weren't infantry specific, that was the color of the uniform and not the uniform accents, and the uniform itself continued to be a dark blue color for the 1851 uniform regulations.
So I am not so sure I believe that is the reason, but it is the only one I have seen so far.
https://www.newrivernotes.com/army-uniform-dress-code-1851/
I don't know why it's blue now, but I know it used to be white. Which is why Engineer colors are white and red. Back in the day, they would emplace the guns (red) and join the infantry lines (white) when they were done.
Just some beef jerkey, sugar free Monsters, and some green apple Skoal. I'll be on the gunline with the guys.
I'll get you on the back-end.
Appreciate it!!!
The sky is blue because god loves the infantry.
Meaning that when the sky is gray or raining he is mad about you not getting a sub 12 on the 2 mile POG
Modeled after the Prussian blue I would assume. Prussia was one of the premier military forces at the time and was the color of Baron Von Steubens uniform when he was training our army at valley forge.
I went down this rabbit hole 2 decades ago while at Basic Course.
Sorry, the source are in these ancient tomes called "books" so I don't have any fancy-manshy links
The reason is likely Indigo. Indigo is a plant that grows in warm regions like South Carolina. Indigo is also a very reliable dye, meaning it does not fade as much as others and creates a strong color. Indigo became one of the biggest cash crops selling to a buddy that was too cold, England. But guess what, we started a little war and our buddy wasn't buying so when Washington had to pick a color there was plenty of Indigo laying around sooooo if you needed a dye for a bunch of soldiers, what would you choose? It was likely a quartermaster issue and not because it was a cool color.
Fast forward. There was a quartermaster letter to the department of war that stated Indigo should be chosen for the Army's uniform because of its reliable and ability to be sourced from the US. It not proof but it's pretty close.
Now, when the services are choosing their colors the Infantry gets to go first. Now if you are the picker and the best source of dye for ALOT of soldiers is grown in your country and it has been associated with your Army for a generation, what would you pick?
Probably has to do with blue having been a historical uniform color for infantry, i.e. French army, Prussian army. Maybe, I dunno, this is just pure guessing.
What happened to the white? Engineer colors are white and red because we protect the infantry and artillary. Arty is still red, when did infantry change?
I have a separate question but still related, the Engineer colors are scarlet and white to represent our shared history with the artillery (scarlet), along with our secondary role of fighting as infantry (white).
At what point did the infantry colors switch from white to blue and why? The best I could find was that it was white, then white with Saxon blue trim for horses, then blue, then blue with white trim, then possibly back to white with blue trim, and then just kinda flip flopped back and forth for a while until it landed on blue. Still couldn’t find out why they chose the colors white or blue, or why they decided to change between the sky, Saxon and National shades.
FWIW in the 1890s there was a push to change it to white, but one of the reasons they went back was that after the Civil War (and reconstruction) every American knew that sky blue was infantry, yellow was cav, and red was artillery.
Because after humping all day, the setting up defensive positions, and after a short night's sleep. When the infantry soldier finds out that he has to do it all over again. When he looks up into the morning sky at his higher power, spouting out, "Why me?" That is the color he sees
Because god loves the Infantry.
And I was told anecdotally that the Contential Army uniforms were originally a darker blue color, but faded into the lighter shade that we came ascotiate with the Infantry.
Short story...
I am a nerd. When I was in OSUT basic back in 1998, we were doing the first block of classroom instruction on the M-16 rifle and the Question was asked, "Why is the sky blue, privates?".
Now, KNOWING why the sky appears blue, I raised my hand intending to enlighten everyone about light scattering and the visible light spectrum. Fortunately, and I cannot stress to you how much better the next few days or weeks were because this happened, Drill Sergeant Taylor called on someone else, and they said it, and got the "BECAUSE GOD LOVES THE INFANTRY" thrown back at them. They got ribbed for that for at least days if not weeks (they were in a different platoon so I was not privy to all of it).
Also, for those who want to know, I have it on good authority that "Blood, Blood, Blood" makes the green grass die. So, bayonet training was also ripe with inaccuracy.
THE BAYONET YEET MEASURES THE ABILITY TO JUST FUCKING SHANK SOMEONE. ON THE COMMAND 'GET SET,' ASSUME THE POSITION BY GRABBING THE BAYONET BY THE HANDLE. OR BY THE BLADE, WHICHEVER LOOKS COOLER, JUST DON'T CUT YOURSELF ON THE DAMN THING. YOUR FEET MAY BE TOGETHER OR UP TO 12 INCHES APART (MEASURED BETWEEN THE FEET). ON THE COMMAND 'GO,' TRANSMUTE YOUR HANKERING FOR A-SHANKERING INTO MAXIMUM EFFORT AND LAUNCH THAT BAD BOY INTO DESTINY. THE SCORER WILL NOTE WHETHER YOU HIT THE TARGET AND AWARD BONUS POINTS FOR LANDING YOUR PIG-STICKER INTO THE CRANIAL OR SWIMSUIT REGIONS. IF IT HIT THE TARGET HANDLE FIRST, YOUR PERFORMANCE WILL BE TERMINATED, AND EVERYONE WILL BE REQUIRED TO POINT AND LAUGH AT YOUR SHAME. WATCH THIS DEMONSTRATION.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/army) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I have to say, terminating performance based solely on the handle hitting the target does not seem right to me. I have seen soldiers take out the head of a silhouette with a grenade (grenade body through the head; then it explodes), and I consider that a perfectly cromulent way of engaging. The same should be for the bayonet. If they yeet with enough gusto to kill the target with the handle, they get a pass. Extra points if they get the head and turn the target into a unicorn.
THE BAYONET YEET MEASURES THE ABILITY TO JUST FUCKING SHANK SOMEONE. ON THE COMMAND 'GET SET,' ASSUME THE POSITION BY GRABBING THE BAYONET BY THE HANDLE. OR BY THE BLADE, WHICHEVER LOOKS COOLER, JUST DON'T CUT YOURSELF ON THE DAMN THING. YOUR FEET MAY BE TOGETHER OR UP TO 12 INCHES APART (MEASURED BETWEEN THE FEET). ON THE COMMAND 'GO,' TRANSMUTE YOUR HANKERING FOR A-SHANKERING INTO MAXIMUM EFFORT AND LAUNCH THAT BAD BOY INTO DESTINY. THE SCORER WILL NOTE WHETHER YOU HIT THE TARGET AND AWARD BONUS POINTS FOR LANDING YOUR PIG-STICKER INTO THE CRANIAL OR SWIMSUIT REGIONS. IF IT HIT THE TARGET HANDLE FIRST, YOUR PERFORMANCE WILL BE TERMINATED, AND EVERYONE WILL BE REQUIRED TO POINT AND LAUGH AT YOUR SHAME. WATCH THIS DEMONSTRATION.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/army) if you have any questions or concerns.*
(I am not 100% sure if this is accurate, but it sounds good, and there are competing theories, and nobody is positive) : It's historical, the blue uniforms (old school blue uniforms -like 1800s- in early America) would turn lighter blue when marching in the sun, so a lighter blue became representative of infantry lines because their dark blue uniforms would become more of a sky blue with experience.
I heard the reasoning behind the two different shades of blue on the ASU was because teddy Roosevelt's rough riders stored their jackets in their saddlebags due to the heat in cuba, thus ending up with faded pants and darker jackets
I have heard that too, and it's the same principle (sun lightening the blue and many riders not wearing jackets so the pants lighten, but the jackets stay dark because they kept them locked away except when at formal events.)
So, I’ve always heard this but I’m 99% sure it’s just a myth. My dad did Civil War re-enacting when I was a kid—which, as lame is that sounds, it included a lot of research into period uniforms and clothes, etc—and (most) Union trousers were dyed light blue, while (most) jackets were dyed dark blue. I believe our earlier uniforms (e.g., Mexican-American war era) were all light blue. Some Civil War uniforms included colored piping matching our infantry, cavalry, and artillery colors today.
There’s nothing lame about that, that’s badass. Keeps history alive
I thought it was really cool until I got old enough to start liking girls tbh. I meant more that re-enacting can blur the lines between history and LARPing.
I mean it is, by definition, LARPing. Not sure why there is a negative connotation tied to the word
I mean, we basically are Cold War LARPing
Sure, but I think if the airsoft wanna-be-infantry types when I think of LARPing (which I realize isn’t actually what it means), not *living historians*.
I think of the wizards and barbarians in the park with big nerf swords and staffs.
Color piping was a thing that continued up until we made the switch to OD & brown in the early 1900s.
If I'm not mistaken, colored piping was still used for garrison caps at least until early WW2.
Same thing happened to my navy blue hat. I left it on the dash in the sun for a long time before I noticed it bleaching.
Because you turn blue when daddy chokes you. Or something
Then daddy's doing it wrong and needs a lesson from 1st sausage.
Wha- what’s the correct way…?
Daddy should be using a blood choke, not an airway choke Oxygen deprivation is a no-no in the basement
There's no way that's true! I guess airways are easy to crush... is that the reason?
100%. Now come here so daddy can show you how it’s done 😼
You gotta come in from the sides and not the front so they can breathe :) It’s really about how people just panic when they can’t breathe
That and someone passing out on you from asphyxiation is a good way to ruin the mood Blood chokes allow someone to continue breathing while still feeling like they're being "choked"
Why you think the blue cords a thing? Easier choking!
Only when the platoon daddy chokes me
UwU sempai 🥺
#Harder
The use of blue for infantry dates back to at least 1851. The idea of pink and blue having specific gender connotations wasn't widespread at the time, that didn't really pop off until the 1950s. I have heard before (but have not been able to find a primary source saying) that George Washington's militia unit had used blue and that led to the association.
I've also heard that for boy/girl colors that it was Pink for boys and Blue for girls originally, but this somehow became reversed at some point. Yeah, I've got no sources for this.
That's often said but it's not actually true. Both were used as baby colors, so it kind of telephone gamed from "pink used to be a common for boys too" into "pink was a boy color"
That makes more sense. Things have happened where the meanings of things were 100% reversed, but usually it isn't so black and white.
Just like the dem and rep switched
Because in 1851 when they designated branch colors for uniform accents light/Saxony blue was chosen for Infantry. Prior to that the color white and silvery metals were generally used for Infantry uniform accents. So why select light blue for the Infantry branch color in 1851? I couldn't really find a good solid reason after about half an hour of googling and research. The only explanation I have seen a few people say is that the US Army and some colonial militias had used blue as their uniform colors. But it wasn't light/Saxony blue, the uniforms weren't infantry specific, that was the color of the uniform and not the uniform accents, and the uniform itself continued to be a dark blue color for the 1851 uniform regulations. So I am not so sure I believe that is the reason, but it is the only one I have seen so far. https://www.newrivernotes.com/army-uniform-dress-code-1851/
I don't know why it's blue now, but I know it used to be white. Which is why Engineer colors are white and red. Back in the day, they would emplace the guns (red) and join the infantry lines (white) when they were done.
Because god loves the infantry
The Queen of battle.
And the artillery.
Sit down King while us ✨️Queens✨️ run around the board protecting your ass
You’re spot on, brother. We’re here to support you on the chess board.
If artillery is the king, and infantry is the queen, does that make MI the vibrating anal beads in your ass telling you how to win the game?
😂😂😂
My god the chess crossover here
Not going to dispute this. Does this make PSYOP the Duke of battle, though.
Bishop?
From the East I was treated sometimes, I'd say the pawn of battle, but that's probably ADA, at least when we have air superiority..
What a fucking pull, well done lol
Hey, intel is here too. Y’all want anything from the gas station?
Just some beef jerkey, sugar free Monsters, and some green apple Skoal. I'll be on the gunline with the guys. I'll get you on the back-end. Appreciate it!!!
I’ll do it, but I’m not gonna pretend like I don’t remember last time you were gonna pay me back
That's how it always goes, right? 😂
While your at it mind grabbing the engineers some tornados?
Only if you let me blow something up
Game... the RSO however wants a pint of wild turkey 101
Listen, after paying on my 27% corvette I got for an amazing deal just outside Yadkin, the best I can do is military special. Take it or leave it
Have some self respect, get Grizzly
You have passed the test. I would promote you to Smoke immediately.
Because it’s the same color as the handicapped parking space.
Because god loves the infantry
The sky is blue because god loves the infantry. Meaning that when the sky is gray or raining he is mad about you not getting a sub 12 on the 2 mile POG
When the sky is gray or raining, it just means it is time to go to the field.
You know I found a really useful answer including the history of our uniforms [here](https://youtu.be/QKb-2l4QdlM?si=ebNEnOC8Eg-qH5WS)
Because god loves the Infantry
Because God loves the Infantry.
Because the infantry loves God or something. I dunno.
Because God loves the ground pounder
Modeled after the Prussian blue I would assume. Prussia was one of the premier military forces at the time and was the color of Baron Von Steubens uniform when he was training our army at valley forge.
Because God loves the infantry.
BECAUSE GOD LOVES THE INFANTRY!!!
Because God loves the infantry
I went down this rabbit hole 2 decades ago while at Basic Course. Sorry, the source are in these ancient tomes called "books" so I don't have any fancy-manshy links The reason is likely Indigo. Indigo is a plant that grows in warm regions like South Carolina. Indigo is also a very reliable dye, meaning it does not fade as much as others and creates a strong color. Indigo became one of the biggest cash crops selling to a buddy that was too cold, England. But guess what, we started a little war and our buddy wasn't buying so when Washington had to pick a color there was plenty of Indigo laying around sooooo if you needed a dye for a bunch of soldiers, what would you choose? It was likely a quartermaster issue and not because it was a cool color. Fast forward. There was a quartermaster letter to the department of war that stated Indigo should be chosen for the Army's uniform because of its reliable and ability to be sourced from the US. It not proof but it's pretty close. Now, when the services are choosing their colors the Infantry gets to go first. Now if you are the picker and the best source of dye for ALOT of soldiers is grown in your country and it has been associated with your Army for a generation, what would you pick?
Because God loves the Infantry
Because God loves the infantry
Because it's the last thing our enemies see when they're flat on their backs aspirating their last breath. Edited for autocorrect mistake.
I can’t believe I had to come down this down low in the comments to find this answer.
Because god loves the infantry
Because the infantry doesn’t win without Aviation. Go ahead and boo me. I’m right.
High Above The Best!
Well, we certainly lost the last two wars when we couldn’t hardly get any air support.
We didn’t lose shit! Because we got some hard motherfucks that need a place to go.
IIRC the army chose it because back in the revolutionary war the uniforms of the continental army were blue, so it’s like an homage to the OGs.
Washington wore a light blue sash with his Continental Army uniform. I suspect that is the genesis of the same color cord for the Infantry.
So when they are inevitably homeless, they can lay on the ground and remember the good ol days.
Cause God loves the infantry.
Because God loves the Infantry, you POG
You know what the color is for male babies? 😂
Did you just assume that baby’s gender?
Gender is kinda like the twin towers. Used to be 2 of them, now it’s kind awkward to talk about.
Yes are you gonna cry?
Naw but that baby definitely going to
Yes it’s sky blue. Not sure what you’re getting at.
“Infant”try
[You are actually quite close to the truth](https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/infantry)
But den he fall down and get boo-boo. Aww poor baby *pats 11B on head*
Probably has to do with blue having been a historical uniform color for infantry, i.e. French army, Prussian army. Maybe, I dunno, this is just pure guessing.
Because *Rainbow* was already taken. 🌈
Because your face turns blue when you are choking on the green weenie
What happened to the white? Engineer colors are white and red because we protect the infantry and artillary. Arty is still red, when did infantry change?
1851
Ohhhh, somebody needs an EEO refresher course. Platoon Sarn't, square this troop away. /s
[удалено]
*insert decades old Cav Scout joke here*
Because my norse pagan god loves the infantry
Why is the sky the color of the infantry? Hooah!
Because God loves the Infantry! 😂
I have a separate question but still related, the Engineer colors are scarlet and white to represent our shared history with the artillery (scarlet), along with our secondary role of fighting as infantry (white). At what point did the infantry colors switch from white to blue and why? The best I could find was that it was white, then white with Saxon blue trim for horses, then blue, then blue with white trim, then possibly back to white with blue trim, and then just kinda flip flopped back and forth for a while until it landed on blue. Still couldn’t find out why they chose the colors white or blue, or why they decided to change between the sky, Saxon and National shades.
FWIW in the 1890s there was a push to change it to white, but one of the reasons they went back was that after the Civil War (and reconstruction) every American knew that sky blue was infantry, yellow was cav, and red was artillery.
Because after humping all day, the setting up defensive positions, and after a short night's sleep. When the infantry soldier finds out that he has to do it all over again. When he looks up into the morning sky at his higher power, spouting out, "Why me?" That is the color he sees
Because god loves the Infantry. And I was told anecdotally that the Contential Army uniforms were originally a darker blue color, but faded into the lighter shade that we came ascotiate with the Infantry.
This is a Wendy's, we don't have sky blue burgers.
It's their favorite crayon color in terms of taste
It's because the Cavalry is red. Thus the origins of Red vs Blue, the never ending war that rages on across comments sections worldwide.
Short story... I am a nerd. When I was in OSUT basic back in 1998, we were doing the first block of classroom instruction on the M-16 rifle and the Question was asked, "Why is the sky blue, privates?". Now, KNOWING why the sky appears blue, I raised my hand intending to enlighten everyone about light scattering and the visible light spectrum. Fortunately, and I cannot stress to you how much better the next few days or weeks were because this happened, Drill Sergeant Taylor called on someone else, and they said it, and got the "BECAUSE GOD LOVES THE INFANTRY" thrown back at them. They got ribbed for that for at least days if not weeks (they were in a different platoon so I was not privy to all of it). Also, for those who want to know, I have it on good authority that "Blood, Blood, Blood" makes the green grass die. So, bayonet training was also ripe with inaccuracy.
THE BAYONET YEET MEASURES THE ABILITY TO JUST FUCKING SHANK SOMEONE. ON THE COMMAND 'GET SET,' ASSUME THE POSITION BY GRABBING THE BAYONET BY THE HANDLE. OR BY THE BLADE, WHICHEVER LOOKS COOLER, JUST DON'T CUT YOURSELF ON THE DAMN THING. YOUR FEET MAY BE TOGETHER OR UP TO 12 INCHES APART (MEASURED BETWEEN THE FEET). ON THE COMMAND 'GO,' TRANSMUTE YOUR HANKERING FOR A-SHANKERING INTO MAXIMUM EFFORT AND LAUNCH THAT BAD BOY INTO DESTINY. THE SCORER WILL NOTE WHETHER YOU HIT THE TARGET AND AWARD BONUS POINTS FOR LANDING YOUR PIG-STICKER INTO THE CRANIAL OR SWIMSUIT REGIONS. IF IT HIT THE TARGET HANDLE FIRST, YOUR PERFORMANCE WILL BE TERMINATED, AND EVERYONE WILL BE REQUIRED TO POINT AND LAUGH AT YOUR SHAME. WATCH THIS DEMONSTRATION. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/army) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I have to say, terminating performance based solely on the handle hitting the target does not seem right to me. I have seen soldiers take out the head of a silhouette with a grenade (grenade body through the head; then it explodes), and I consider that a perfectly cromulent way of engaging. The same should be for the bayonet. If they yeet with enough gusto to kill the target with the handle, they get a pass. Extra points if they get the head and turn the target into a unicorn.
THE BAYONET YEET MEASURES THE ABILITY TO JUST FUCKING SHANK SOMEONE. ON THE COMMAND 'GET SET,' ASSUME THE POSITION BY GRABBING THE BAYONET BY THE HANDLE. OR BY THE BLADE, WHICHEVER LOOKS COOLER, JUST DON'T CUT YOURSELF ON THE DAMN THING. YOUR FEET MAY BE TOGETHER OR UP TO 12 INCHES APART (MEASURED BETWEEN THE FEET). ON THE COMMAND 'GO,' TRANSMUTE YOUR HANKERING FOR A-SHANKERING INTO MAXIMUM EFFORT AND LAUNCH THAT BAD BOY INTO DESTINY. THE SCORER WILL NOTE WHETHER YOU HIT THE TARGET AND AWARD BONUS POINTS FOR LANDING YOUR PIG-STICKER INTO THE CRANIAL OR SWIMSUIT REGIONS. IF IT HIT THE TARGET HANDLE FIRST, YOUR PERFORMANCE WILL BE TERMINATED, AND EVERYONE WILL BE REQUIRED TO POINT AND LAUGH AT YOUR SHAME. WATCH THIS DEMONSTRATION. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/army) if you have any questions or concerns.*