Below is a general timeline of how camouflage uniforms have changed in the United States military over the years. Prior to World War I, the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marines had no camouflage uniforms. They were wearing the then-standard issue uniform in every military operation.

USA TODAY Network lists a brief history of U.S. military camouflage: 1898: During the Spanish-American War, the blue coats of U.S. troops fighting in Cuba were visible targets to snipers....

The U.S. Army’s Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (ERDL) developed a four-color camo uniform in 1948 that consisted of shades of light green, dark green, brown, and black. The uniforms saw limited usage, but special operations units and reconnaissance platoons requested a need for clothing to adapt to the environment.

Camouflage was first practiced in simple form in the mid 18th century by rifle units. Their tasks required them to be inconspicuous, and they were issued green and later other drab colour uniforms.