Army to wear uniforms honoring First Infantry Division for Army-Navy game

Sam Cooper
(via Army athletics)
(via Army athletics)

The year 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the United States Army’s First Infantry Division helping end World War I, so the Army football team will wear uniforms to honor those soldiers against Navy.

Here’s what they look like:

The First Division was nicknamed the ”Big Red One” from its legendary shoulder sleeve insignia, which will be reflected on the uniform, as well as a red “1” on the helmet. There is also a WWI era flag on the back of the helmets, with just 48 stars to reflect the time before Alaska and Hawaii were officially added as states in 1959.

(via Army athletics)
(via Army athletics)

There are plenty of other special features as well, including the collar insignia that “replicate bronze collar disks worn by enlisted soldiers in the First Division.”

(via Army athletics)
(via Army athletics)

For more on the uniforms, Army has built a special interactive website with all the history of the First Division and its impact on the World War I:

President Woodrow Wilson promised the Allies he would send “a division” to France immediately, but the Army had no such divisions. The United States quickly ordered four infantry and three artillery regiments from the Mexican border in Texas to Hoboken, N.J., to board transports to France. That group of seven regiments joined together to officially form the “1st Expeditionary Division,” later the 1st Infantry Division, under Brigadier General William L. Sibert on June 12, 1917. With more than 28,000 men, the “Big Red One,” as the division was later nicknamed from its shoulder sleeve insignia, was twice the size of either the allied or German divisions on the Western Front.

This video was also released by Army athletics:

On the Navy side, the Midshipmen will wear special Bill the Goat-themed uniforms in honor of their classic mascot.

Army (9-2) enters Saturday’s game, which will be played at 3 p.m. in Philadelphia, on a seven-game winning streak. On the other hand, Navy is just 3-9 and is having its worst season under Ken Niumatalolo and will miss a bowl game for the first time since going 5-7 in 2011.

Army will play Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22.

More from Yahoo Sports:
• Controversy continues for Odell Beckham
• NFL player chases down ref who called him vulgar name
• Steelers suffer historic meltdown against Chargers
• Martin: The NFL should leave you feeling sick this week

Advertisement