Uniforms
or, What Precisely Do They LOOK Like?
Field
NRE forces wear their field uniforms on duty for all but ceremonial occasions. The uniform consists of a coat and trousers of advanced flame retardant synthetic materials, waterproof but breathable. The default color scheme is a dark grey with black stripes and off-white splotches, but the material is chameleonic and may assume other color schemes enumerated below. The coat collar may be worn open with a dark grey t-shirt underneath, or buttoned around the neck to prevent chafing from body armor. All items are designed to be loose fitting and alterations to make them form fitting are not authorized, nor are other alterations. Starching is also forbidden, though troops are supposed to press their uniforms in order to present a neat military appearance when not in the field. The coat is not tucked into the trousers, and a black belt is worn on the trousers. Trousers are bloused into the boots, which are black, and are of leather with the 'rough side out'. Headgear is either a brimmed cap or a floppy 'boonie cap', although the latter is not worn in garrison, and is usually restricted to scout or reconnaissance units. Work gloves are authorized when needed and are buff-colored synthleather.
The following insignias may be worn on the field uniform.
- Insignia of grade (lapels and cap)
- Shoulder sleeve unit insignia
- Scarves, camouflage
- Brassards
- Nametapes (over right breast pocket)
- Imperial Army tape (over left breast pocket)
- Military Police markings
Cold weather gear includes a waterproof field jacket with hood and removable liner. This is worn with black insulated gloves. Also authorized are black sweaters worn under the uniform shirt. This suffices in normal circumstances, however artic equipment is also available for issue to units requiring it.
Vehicle crewmen and pilots wear a dark grey one-piece flameproof garment with insignia, nametapes, and unit patches velcroed on rather than sewn to preserve the flame retardant capabilities of the garment.
Powered Infantry wears a one-piece undergarment under the armor.
Unpowered Infantry wears a complete hard-shell armor suite. It is worn over a field uniform with the coat removed and a long-sleeve undershirt.
Dress
Imperial dress uniforms are comprised of a white coat and trousers. The coat is a single breasted six-button coat with a high collar. The coat will be fitted slightly at the waist. Buttons are gold, with the Chi-Rho. Piping along the seam of the trousers, around the cuffs, and around the edges of the collar will be in branch color. Cuffs are straight for Akritai, peaked for Thematic troops, and "looped" for Tagmatic troops. Coats also have shoulder loops. Footwear consists of knee-high black boots, with spurs for armored and reconnaissance troops. Headgear will be a beret in the branch color. White gloves may be worn, and a black overcoat is authorized in inclement weather. Varangian dress uniforms differ in that the coat is scarlet.
Items worn on dress uniform
- Rank insignia: right collar for officers, coat sleeves for enlisted
- Branch insignia: left collar for officers, both collars for enlisted
- Service stripes (enlisted only) coat cuffs.
- Decorations, medals, and unit awards: left breast over pocket
- Special skill badges: left breast pocket
- Shoulder sleeve unit insignia: Coat sleeves. Smaller metal unit insignia are also worn on beret
Insignia of Rank
| Ourghos | Chevron |
| Tetrarchos | Two Chevrons |
| Pentarchos | Three Chevrons |
| Dekarchos | Three Chevrons surmounted with a crown |
| Senior Dekarchos | Three Chevrons surmounted by a lozenge |
| Master Dekarchos | Three Chevrons surmounted by a star |
| Lochaghos | Crown inside a wreath |
| Illarch | 1 bar |
| Kentarchos | 2 bars |
| Ypohekatonarchos | 3 bars |
| Hekatonarchos | Crown |
| Ypokomes | Crown and a bar |
| Komes | Crown and two bars |
| Domestikos | Crown and three bars |
| Ypostrategos | Crossed Swords |
| Strategos | Crossed Swords and Crown |
Rank insignia is embroidered in gold on dress uniforms, and comes as one-piece black pin-on insignia for field uniforms. Roman chevrons point downwards.
Chaplains wear a cross in lieu of rank insignia.
Branch colors
| Aerospace Defense | Bright Red |
| Armor | Yellow |
| Cavalry | Gold |
| Chaplains | Lemon Yellow |
| Chemical | Cobalt Blue |
| Civil Affairs | White |
| Corps of Engineers | Black |
| Field Artillery | Scarlet |
| Finance | Silver Grey |
| Basilikoi Anthropopoi | Forest Green |
| Infantry | Light Blue |
| Inspector General | Dark Blue |
| Judge Advocate General's Corps | Bordeaux Red |
| Medical Corps | Maroon |
| Military Intelligence | Oriental Blue |
| Military Police | Green |
| Ordnance Corps | Rose |
| Quartermaster Corps | Buff |
| Signal Corps | Orange |
| Transportation | Brick-red |
| Varangian Guard | Grass |
| Imperial War College | Carmine |
Color Schemes
It has been mentioned above that Roman uniforms are chameleonic. The following are the authorized color schemes for varying terrain. This is not an inclusive list--each planet may require some 'fine tuning'. Note also that Imperial vehicle paint is also chameleonic and is usually set for the same color scheme as the uniforms.
| Terrain | Background | Stripes | Spots |
| Garrison | Dark Grey | Black | Off-white |
| Woodland | Dark Green | Black | Brown |
| Jungle | Medium Green | Light Green | Black |
| Desert | Tan | Light Brown | Medium Brown |
| Artic | White | White | Dark Green |