Male General Officer

The Army White Mess is an optional and seasonal uniform authorized for all male personnel. It is for black tie formal functions and corresponds to a civilian tuxedo or white dinner jacket. The White Evening Mess Uniform is the more formal variant of this uniform and corresponds to the civilian "white tie and tails." Soldiers normally wear these uniforms between April and October.

The following are the appropriate occasions for personnel to wear the Army White Mess and White Evening Mess Uniforms:

• Social functions of a general or official nature, held after retreat.
• All private, formal social functions held after retreat.

In practice, however, Soldiers wear Mess Uniforms during very formal afternoon events, such as weddings, especially when the event extends into the evening hours