Army Boot Socks Regulation – A670-1 Socks

When it comes to army dressing code, people often think about what they wear on their body, and not what they wear on their feet.

The Army Regulation on socks are outlined in the AR670-1 guidelines 2021 edition.

Uniformity is a huge part of military wear. This means that these regulations are meant to make sure what everyone wearing are uniform.

What are Army Regulations?

In total, there are 495 records of army regulations, which you can check out at the Army Publishing Directorate. Basically, the army regulations are authoritative directions that a military personnel has to comply with.

There are a wide variety of Army Regulations covering various titles such as the following:

Number	Status	Date	Title	Proponent
AR 1-1	Active	23.5.2016	Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution	ASA (FM&C)
AR 1-50	Active	7.2.2018	Army Conference Policy	AASA
AR 70-77	Active	6.8.2018	Program Protection	ASA (AL&T)
AR 500-5	Active	16.4.2015	Army Mobilization	G-3/5/7
AR 670-1	Active	26.1.2021	Wear And Appearance Of Army Uniforms And Insignia	G-1
AR 670-10	Active	9.7.2021	Furnishing Uniforms, Or Paying Uniform Allowances, To Civilian Employees	G-1

These are just a handful of the various Army Regulations.

What is the AR 670-1 Regulation?

The AR 670-1 Regulation was published on 26.1.2021, with the title: ‘Uniform and Insignia – Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia’.

This Regulation was published with a focus on how a military personnel should groom himself or herself.

Here’s a list of chapters in the AR 670-1 Regulation:

Chapter	Title
Chapter 1	Introduction
Chapter 2	Responsibilities
Chapter 3	Appearance and Grooming Policies
Chapter 4	Combat Uniform
Chapter 5	Maternity Work Uniform
Chapter 6	Aircrew Uniform
Chapter 7	Garrison Culinary Uniform-Male
Chapter 8	Garrison Culinary Uniform-Female
Chapter 9	Combat Vehicle Crewman Uniform
Chapter 10	Physical Fitness Uniform
Chapter 11	Army Service Uniform-Male
Chapter 12	Army Service Uniform-Female
Chapter 13	Army Service Uniform-Maternity
Chapter 14	Army Green Service Uniform
Chapter 15	The Army Green Service Uniform-Maternity
Chapter 16	Blue Mess Uniforms-Male
Chapter 17	Blue Mess Uniforms-Female
Chapter 18	White Mess Uniforms-Male
Chapter 19	White Mess Uniforms-Female
Chapter 20	Uniform Accessories
Chapter 21	Wear of Insignia and Accoutrements
Chapter 22	Wear of Decorations, Service Medals, Badges, Unit Awards, and Appurtenances
Chapter 23	Wear of the Army Uniform by Reserve, Retired, Separated, and Civilian Personnel

Clearly, the AR 670-1 Regulation was drafted with the intention to regulate military attire.

What is the AR 670-1 Regulation on socks?

The regulation on socks is provided for in Chapter 20 – Uniform Accessories, at paragraph 20-28, at page 38.

At Page 38 of the AR 670-1 Regulation , it states:

“20–28. Socks

See DA Pam 670–1.”

Basically, the DA PAM 670-1 refers to the Department of the Army Pamphlet 670-1, which is for the ‘Uniform and Insignia – Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia’.

The regulations relating to socks are at page 143 of the DA PAM 670-1 (Socks • 20–28, page 143), which states in verbatim that:

“20–28. Socks

a. Socks, tan, green, or black; cushion sole.

(1) Type. The socks are clothing bag issue items or optional purchase items.

(2) Description. The socks are tan, green, or black; stretch type; calf-length with a cushion sole.

(3) How worn. The cushion sole socks are worn by all personnel when wearing combat or organizationally issued boots. They can also be worn as a two-sock system with the standard liner sock (also called the black dress sock) for additional foot protection.

b. Socks, black, dress; sock, boot liner.

(1) Type. The socks are optional purchase items.

(2) Description. The socks are made from an approved specification or commercial design. They are calf-length, black polyester and nylon.

(3) How worn. Black socks are worn with black oxford shoes.

c. Socks, heritage green, dress; sock, boot liner.

(1) Type. The socks are clothing bag issue items or optional purchase items.

(2) Description. The socks are made from an approved specification or commercial design. They are calf-length, heritage green 564 polyester and nylon.

(3) How worn. Heritage green socks are worn with brown oxford shoes.

d. Stockings, sheer.

(1) Type. The stockings are a one-time cash allowance as part of the initial clothing bag allowance.

(2) Description. The stockings are sheer or semi-sheer without seams and of tones complementary to the wearer’s skin tone and to the uniform. No patterned or pastel stockings are authorized while in uniform.

(3) How worn. The stockings are worn with the ASU and dress variation, AGSU and dress variation, dress, and mess uniforms.”

My Take on the AR 670-1 Regulation on socks

Here are some important takeaways on the AR 670-1 Regulation on socks.

1. Socks are bag issue item or optional purchase items

As can be seen from the above excerpt, the socks are either ‘bag issue item’ or ‘optional purchase items’.

Bag issue item basically means that US military personnel will be given a pair of socks, which comes together with the bag issued.

Optional purchase item means that a military personnel has the option to buy or not to buy that particular item.

Socks are categorized as either bag issue item or optional purchase item when we are discussing in the context about wearing socks with a specific type of boots.

However, the fourth category relating to sheer or semi-sheer stockings to be worn together with ASU and dress variation, AGSU and dress variation, dress, and mess uniforms, is categorized to be a one-time cash allowance as part of the initial clothing bag.

2.  Specific socks are worn with specific types of boots

Based on the AR 670-1 Regulation, there are three (3) kinds of boots which are covered by the regulation on what socks to wear. The 3 kinds of boots are: (a) combat or organizationally issued boots; (b) black oxford shoes; and (c) brown oxford shoes.

a. combat or organizationally issued boots

As stated in the DA PAM 670-1, while wearing combat or organizationally issued boots, you will wear cushion sole socks. Alternatively, you can wear them in a two-sock system, where you will add a standard liner sock or dress sock to the cushion-soled sock.

Some characteristics the socks must have is that it must be calf-length and be equipped with cushion sole.

The type of the sock is that it must be stretch type.

What then are stretch socks?

Stretch type socks basically mean that the socks which are made from fabric can be stretched. Stretch socks often provide extra protection to enlarged feet or calves.

As for the colors, the socks must either be tan, green, or black.

b. black oxford shoes

The DA PAM 670-1 requires you to wear socks made from an approved specification or commercial design.

An ‘approved specification’ mean

A ‘commercial design’ mean

Furthermore, the socks which you wear with black oxford shoe must have a calf-length height.

The socks has to be made from black polyester and nylon.

The color of the socks must be black.

c. brown oxford shoes.

Similar to the above, the socks you wear with brown oxford shoe must be made from an approved specification or commercial design. I have explained about these topics above.

The length of the socks has to be calf-length.

While the socks has to be made from polyester and nylon.

The socks worn together with brown oxford shoes has to be heritage green color.

3. Stockings are to be worn together with uniform

First off, I’d like to highlight that there is a difference between socks and stockings.

Stockings are typically longer in length, ant they are usually worn up to knee-length. While socks are typically shorter and worn up to ankle-height.

AR 670-1 Regulation requires military personnel to wear sheer or semi-sheet stockings when they are wearing ASU and dress variation, or the AGSU and dress variation, dress and mess uniform.

ASU and dress variation basically mean Army Service Uniform (‘ASU’) and the various variations involved.

AGSU and dress variation, dress and mess uniform means the Army Green Service Uniform (‘AGSU’).  

The Stockings worn needs to fulfill certain characteristics.

First, the stockings has to be sheer or semi-sheer.

Second, the stockings has to come without seams.

Third, the stockings must have tones complementary to the wearer’s skin tone and to the uniform.

Fourth, the stockings cannot be patterned.

Fifth, the stockings cannot be pastel colored stockings, as the regulations specifically says ‘No .. pastel stockings are authorized while in uniform’..

AR 670-1- compliant Socks

After going through all the important requirements that your socks need to meet, here are some socks for you to consider.

1. Thorlos Ms Max Cushion Military Over the Calf Socks

The height of the socks and color of the socks fulfills the AR 670-1 regulation.

Besides fulfilling the necessary criteria, the Throlos Ms Max Cushion Socks are suitable for military training.

This socks is made from 85% Acrylic, 9% Nylon and 6% Elastic.

There are 3 color options you can choose from: Black, Foliage Green and Cayote Brown.

The socks are designed to give maximum foot protection without compromising on allowing enhanced mobility.

The padding equipped together with the socks is clinically known to reduce blisters, pain and pressure too.

Plus, they are designed to breath well, allowing air to flow smoothly and ensuring that you won’t be having foot sweating problems.

Plus, the fibers are designed to allow high-performance and endure intense physical activities.

2. Jefferies Socks mens Military Uniform All Season Rib Top Crew Boot Socks 6 Pack

The Jefferies Military Boot Socks has been specifically designed for military uniform.

These boot socks are made with military compliant colors. The various colors available are: Olive Green, Foliage Green, Black and Cayote Brown.

Furthermore, these socks come with helpful features such as ribbed support to keep your sock in place and half cushion foot padding to provide protection to your feet.

The Jeffries Military Boot Socks is designed to be military-grade, it can withstand intense physical training. Since it’s made with breathable cotton blend, these socks are capable of keeping your feet comfortable during intense physical training.

3. Fox River Boot Socks

The Fox River Boot Socks can be worn together with combat or organizationally issued boots.

This sock is made from 70% polypropylene, 28% nylon and 2% spandex.

This sock comes with extra cushioning which helps reduce impact against your feet.

The URfit TM system helps give a ‘personalized response fit’, where the socks come equipped with memory knit compression and contoured rib top. It’s designed to be fitting to minimize the occurrence of bunching and blistering too.

The Scentry TM equipped with the socks helps to prevent pungent odor.  

Conclusion

I hope this article helps you understand what socks you need to get which are A670-1 Regulation-compliant. It’s a confusing topic for many, but if you break it down, it should be pretty easy to understand. Since socks compliant with the army boot socks regulations are hard to get, I’ve included some products in this article to help you get some as well. If you have any doubts, do leave a comment!