The United States will celebrate 250 years as a country next year, but the U.S. military dates back to 1775, so its 250th birthday is this year. As has become custom in the modern era of this rivalry, both Army and Navy will wear unique alternate uniforms honoring a special aspect of the team’s respective military branch, and for this year, both Army and Navy are going back to the very beginning in honor of their milestone birthdays.
This year’s special Navy uniforms honor the six original three-masted heavy frigate sailing ships that comprised the original United States naval fleet back in the late 1700s — Chesapeake, Constitution, Congress, Constellation, President and United States.
The USS Constitution, in particular — which remains afloat as a museum open to the public in Boston’s Charlestown Navy Yard — had a heavy influence on the uniform’s design and style. A detailed sketch of the USS Constitution is featured on the helmets of the uniform kit.
