SALVATION ARMY SYMBOL - THE UNIFORM

(Sources: The Good News!, "An Enduring Mission" by Sarah J. Cruz, and The Salvation Army United Kingdom with Republic of Ireland International Heritage Centre web site)

Curtis Sliwa, founder and leader of The Guardian Angels and talk-radio host, was honored by The Salvation Army Greater New York Division at its 2008 annual luncheon.  Sliwa said at the luncheon, "My dad took me aside and he said, 'See these men and women in these uniforms. . .These people will give the last ounce of energy, the last resource they have, to help people they don't even know, because they helped me.'"  He then described how his father, Chester, a merchant seaman, had been helped by the Army when he was stranded at a port-of-call.  

Sliwa, whose Guardian Angels are identified by red berets, said that he hoped we would never give up our uniforms because they enable others to immediately recognize us as sources of help.  We all know that our uniform leads some people to think that we might be airline pilots, airport red caps, hotel bell boys, etc. Why shouldn't they if they have never seen a Salvationist in a uniform?  At the same time, many Salvationists testify to the truth of Sliwa's statement.  For example, a soldier from Montclair, NJ, citadel who volunteered at the NYC Twin Towers disaster site immediately after 9/11/01, tells the story of an emotionally overwhelmed woman approaching her and asking her to pray with her right there, simply because the woman recognized her as a praying woman because she was wearing her uniform.  

Before 1878, when The Salvation Army became our name, our church was known as the Christian Mission.  At that time, its evangelists wore clerical garb with frock coats, tall hats, and black ties.   Women evangelists wore plain dresses and small Quaker-type bonnets.  After the Mission became the Army, it was agreed that a military-type uniform should be adopted.  A former chimney sweep named Elijah Cadman, the first Army captain, is credited with instigating this change.  The story is that, at an early meeting of Army leaders, Elijah declared, "I should like to wear a suit of clothes that would let everyone know I meant war to the teeth and Salvation for the world."  

The early converts, mainly recovering alcoholics and morphine addicts, ex-prostitutes, the poor and the needy, were very grateful for the changes Jesus brought to their lives and were proud to wear a uniform that identified them as Salvationists and Christians.  Those first uniforms were hardly uniform. The converts themselves made them of materials available to them.  

Around 1880, William Booth, the Army's founder and first general, decided that the uniform should be standardized.  Both men's and women's standardized uniforms were made of navy-blue serge.   Men wore high-neck tunics with stiff collars over scarlet jerseys, navy pants, and navy caps with red bands.  Women wore high-neck tunics with white lace-edged collars, long navy skirts, and bonnets introduced by Catherine Booth. Officers and soldiers bought their own, and they were expensive.   Around 1890, a uniform cost three weeks wages on average.

As Army work developed around the world, different uniforms were designed to adapt to local cultures and climates.

 Today, in addition to navy blue, they may be white, grey, or beige.  In some geographical areas, they are even styled like a sari with a Salvation Army sash.  Tunics no longer have high-neck collars.

In English-speaking countries, the letter 'S' appears on the lapels.  It stands for 'Salvation' and carries the meaning 'Saved to Serve', or 'Serve to Save'. In other countries, other letters are substituted to conform to the local language.  Blue epaulets on shoulders signify a soldier, and red epaulets signify an officer.  Various markings on epaulets such as stars, crests, or bars identify officers' ranks.