US Army soldiers worldwide could soon roll up their sleeves

Marine Pfc. Austin Braun talks to a reporter about rolling sleeves at Fort Myer, Va., in 2014. (U.S. Army)

The Army is rolling up its sleeves—literally.

Soldiers at Fort Hood in Texas will be taking part in a 10-day pilot program that lets them roll up the sleeves of their Army Combat Uniforms, a rule change that could soon be expanded to the rest of the Army, the Army Times reports.

"Feedback from soldiers resulted in us wanting to do a trial over the next 10 days to see the feasibility of updating [Army Regulation] 670-1 and incorporating these changes in the future to give commanders flexibility in wear based upon their unit's mission," Lt. Col. Jerry Pionk, an Army spokesman, told the paper.

At Fort Hood soldiers were rolling their sleeves before the pilot project even started.

It hasn’t been “Sun’s Up, Guns Out” since the Army Combat Uniform replaced the Battle Dress Uniform in 2005, according to the paper.

The Army’s official reason for the ban was that the new top was made to protect soldiers’ forearms from the sun, insects and other elements. It also wasn’t designed for rolled up sleeves.

Army regulations in 1969 allowed rolled up sleeves in Vietnam at a commander’s discretion, based on the heat, according to the Army Times.

Marine Commandant Gen. Jim Amos angered many Marines when he banned sleeve rolling in 2011, the Army Times reported.

The ban wasn’t reversed until 2014.

Army Chief of Staff Gen Mark Milley announced the pilot program during a trip to Fort Hood Thursday.

"For now, sleeves will be rolled with the inside facing out, similar to the Marines," Pionk told the Army Times. "Future updates to AR 670-1, if any, will further specify the exact manner of how the sleeves can be rolled."