Physical training uniform

A physical training uniform is a military uniform used during exercise, calisthenics, drills, and in some cases, very casual periods of time (off-duty time during Initial Entry Training in the U.S. Army, for example). Most militaries, especially The United States Armed Forces and their ROTC and JROTC components require use of a physical training (PT) uniform during unit exercise (including formation runs, calisthenics, and conditioning exercises). Some American military units produce unique T-shirts with their unit insignia and motto, and for special events, this shirt is part of the uniform. Occasionally, exercise will be conducted in that branch's utility uniforms, normally with the blouse removed and the undershirt exposed (also known as "boots and utes"^{[citation needed]} ). For unit runs, esprit de corps or special occasions, commanders may have personnel wear unique T-shirts with the distinctive unit insignia and unit colors.

A former Marine Commandant leading marines on a unit run

Physical Training Uniforms of the United States Armed Forces[]

Army[]

Minnesota Army National Guardsmen wearing the Army's former "Improved Physical Fitness Uniform"

The Army Physical Fitness Uniform (APFU) consists of:

• Shirts: Black long-sleeve and short-sleeve shirts with gold ARMY lettering on the front.
• Shorts: Black with same gold ARMY lettering on the left leg. Multipurpose: can be worn alone for swimming and exercise, or under the black pants.
• Pants: Black with Army Star logo and lettering on the left thigh.
• Jacket: Black with gold chevron across the front and back and same Army Star logo and lettering on the left chest. A Physical Fitness Badge may be worn for soldiers who excel at the A.P.F.T. (270 or higher, with a 90 in each event).^[1]
• Socks and Shoes: Commercial calf-length or ankle-length, plain white or black socks with no logos, and approved, well-fitting, comfortable running shoes with no color restriction; Five-toed shoes are prohibited.
• Inclement weather gear: Micro fleece cap, Compression shirt and shorts, and reflective belt.^[2]

Soldiers wearing special unit T-shirts

Marine Corps[]

Marines from the Wounded Warrior Regiment wearing the Marine Corps PT tracksuit

All items worn by Marines conducting PT as a group are subject to uniformity, at the commander's discretion. The Marine Corps PTUs consist of:

• Shirt: Plain olive-drab green short-sleeve shirt (logos can be authorized.)
• Shorts: Plain OD green shorts (logos can be authorized for this also, like the shirts.)
• Sweatsuit: OD green with black Marines logo and USMC lettering on the left chest of sweatshirt, and the same design on the left thigh of sweatpants.
• Tracksuit: OD green with reflective piping, reflective Marines logo on the left chest and MARINES lettering in red with gold outline centered on the back of jacket, and same logo on the upper left thigh and vertical USMC lettering in the same design on the lower right leg of pants.
• Socks and Shoes: commercial calf-length or ankle-length, plain white or black socks with no logos, and shoes with appropriate civilian design; excessively bright coloring or designs are prohibited.
• Hydration pack: green or coyote brown (or subdued colors if personally owned packs are authorized.)
• Inclement weather gear: Compression shorts, OD green thermal shirt and pants, and reflective belt.^[3]

The Marine Corps announced that changes to its PTU are in development, with the new uniform featuring a reflective design for the first time, and going through a testing period conducted by 500 marines before its planned release in 2022.^[4]

Navy[]

Sailors wearing the Navy's soon-to-be-retired gold-variant PTU

The Navy PTU's nylon moisture wicking and odor resistant Navy blue shorts come in six and eight inch lengths, providing standard appearance among different height sailors. It also has side pockets with a hidden ID card pocket inside the waistband.

The Navy PTUs consist of:

• Shirt: Navy blue short-sleeve shirt with gold eagle-and-anchor logo on the left chest and the statement "America's Navy: Forged By The Sea" in gold on the back.
• Shorts: Navy blue with gold NAVY lettering on the left leg.
• Tracksuit: Styled similar to the Marines' except black with same gold NAVY lettering on the left chest and on the back of jacket, only larger, and styled vertically on the lower right leg of pants.
• Sweatsuit: Navy blue with reflective NAVY lettering on the same areas on sweatshirt with optional hood, and on the left thigh of sweatpants.
• Shoes: Approved, well-fitting, comfortable running shoes with no color restriction.
• Inclement weather gear: Compression shorts and reflective belt.^[5]

The Navy announced that an additional standard navy blue uniform with a not-yet-known design is in development and is planned to be released in 2021, with a retirement date for the gold-shirt uniform pending.^[6]

Air Force[]

Airmen wearing the Air Force Improved Physical Training Uniform (IPTU), also historically the first PTU that has been issued to Space Force guardians

The Air Force Improved Physical Training Uniform (IPTU) consists of:

• Shirts and Sweatshirt: Light-grey short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts and sweatshirt with reflective Air Force logo and lettering on the left chests and logo centered on the backs.
• Shorts: Air Force blue with reflective stripes on the sides and the same AF logo and lettering on the left leg.
• Pants: AF blue with piping on the lower legs.
• Jacket: Styled similar to the Army's except AF blue with silver reflective chevron outlined by white piping across the front and back and same AF logo and lettering on the left chest but embroidered. An optional hood is hidden in the collar and can be pulled out during inclement weather.
• Socks and Shoes: Athletic-style shoes with no color restriction, and white and black socks; small logos are authorized.^[7]

The Air Force has finalized minor changes to its PTU, with the new uniform planned to be released in October 2022, and a four-year retirement period for the IPTU taking place until 2026, after 20 years of use.^[8]

Space Force[]

Throughout the United States Space Force‘s first year of its existence, guardians have borrowed the Air Force’s IPTU, however, the first Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force Roger Towberman announced in September 2020 that its first unique PTU will go through a testing period conducted by 60 guardians in 2021, around the same time as the test trial for the new Marine Corps PTU.^[9]

Coast Guard[]

The Coast Guard PTUs consist of:

• Shirt: Grey short-sleeve shirt with reflective Coast Guard logo with blue outline and lettering on the left chest and COAST GUARD lettering in the same design centered on the back.
• Shorts: Mesh-designed navy blue shorts with white COAST GUARD lettering on the left leg.
• Sweatsuit: Navy blue with COAST GUARD lettering in orange with white and dark reflective outline centered on the front and 7 dark reflective stripes on the back of sweatshirt, and USCG lettering in the same design on the sides of both legs of sweatpants.
• Swimsuits: Plain blue gender-standard swimsuits.^[10]
• Socks and Shoes: White and black socks (small logos are authorized), and athletic-style shoes; excessively bright coloring or designs are prohibited.^[11]

Non-military use[]

In many parts of the world outside of use in militaries, physical training uniforms are primarily used in schools, law enforcement academies, and in some cases, firefighter training and prison systems.

See also[]

• Uniforms of the United States Armed Forces
• Military uniform
  • Full dress uniform
  • Mess dress uniform
  • Service dress uniform
  • Combat uniform
• Casual wear
  • Work wear
  • Sportswear

References[]