Disposal guide

What to do with old military uniforms

Quick answer

What should I do with old military uniforms?

Never trash. Donate to Soldiers' Angels, the American Red Cross's veteran-support programs, or a local VFW or American Legion post. Remove rank insignia and name tapes first; that is standard practice across the service branches.

A military uniform represents service, and most veterans and surviving families want it handled with that in mind. The honorable channel is donation to an organization that re-issues uniforms to deployed troops, transitioning veterans, JROTC cadets, or veteran-led theatrical and memorial programs. Soldiers' Angels runs the largest national program; local VFW and American Legion posts run regional ones. Standard practice — and a Department of Defense expectation for non-active uniforms — is to remove rank insignia and name tapes before donating so the items cannot be misrepresented as still-issued gear.

Donate (national)	Soldiers' Angels uniform program
Donate (veteran services)	American Red Cross — military families program
Donate (local)	VFW + American Legion post drives
Repurpose	Memorial quilts (Quilts of Valor), artisan reuse
Textile recycling (last resort)	Only after insignia + name tapes removed
Trash	No — not an acceptable channel

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1. Remove rank insignia and name tapes

Standard practice across all service branches

Before a uniform leaves your possession, remove rank insignia (chevrons, oak leaves, eagles, stars), unit patches, name tapes ("LAST NAME" and "U.S. ARMY / NAVY / AIR FORCE / MARINES / SPACE FORCE / COAST GUARD"), and any earned tabs or badges. Removing these is the standard expectation across the service branches; it prevents anyone downstream from misrepresenting themselves as still-issued personnel, and it lets the veteran or surviving family keep the most personal elements as a memento. Most insignia comes off with a seam ripper or small scissors in a few minutes. Save them in a labeled bag.

2. Soldiers' Angels uniform program

National — sends to deployed troops + transitioning vets

Soldiers' Angels (a national non-profit chartered to support deployed service members and veterans) runs the largest general-purpose military uniform donation program in the United States. They accept Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine, Space Force, and Coast Guard items — utility uniforms (OCP, NWU, MARPAT, etc.), service dress, and many accessory items. Donations get re-issued to deployed troops who need extra sets, transitioning veterans who need civilian-adjacent wear, and veteran-led community programs. Current intake instructions and the ship-to address are published at soldiersangels.org.

3. American Red Cross veterans programs

Service-to-Armed-Forces network — varies by chapter

The American Red Cross operates a Service to the Armed Forces program that, depending on local chapter capacity, collects gently-used uniforms and military-appropriate clothing for veteran families experiencing hardship. Coverage varies by chapter. Call your regional Red Cross office before driving over — some chapters run active collections, others route donors to local VFW or Legion posts instead.

4. VFW + American Legion local posts

Hyper-local — best for utility items + dress uniforms

VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) and American Legion posts often run hyper-local uniform drives — items get re-issued to JROTC programs, used in honor-guard ceremonies, donated to veterans' theatrical productions, or given to deployed members' families needing extra sets. Some posts also accept dress uniforms for memorial-service use. Call the specific post first; participation varies by post leadership and current need. Both organizations publish post locators (vfw.org/find-a-post, legion.org/posts).

5. Repurposing — quilts, art, civilian wear

Quilts of Valor + artisan reuse

Quilts of Valor and similar memorial-quilt programs accept uniform fabric (often after the wearer has passed away) to sew into honor quilts presented to veterans. Independent quilters and artisans on Etsy do paid commissioned work turning a uniform into a quilt, pillow, or shadow-box display for the family. Some tailors will alter sturdy uniform pieces (OCP jackets, field coats) into wearable civilian outerwear. None of these channels are donation — they are repurposing — but they are the right answer when the uniform belonged to a specific person and the family wants to keep something tangible.

6. Textile recycling (last resort)

Insignia + name tapes off; uniform-grade fabric

Damaged or unsalvageable uniforms — moth-eaten, mildewed, torn beyond use — go to textile recycling, not the trash. Textile-recycling drop boxes and curbside textile collection (where offered) accept any fabric for downcycling into industrial rags and insulation. Remove insignia and name tapes first; do not put intact identifiable uniforms in a textile-recycling drop box where they can be resold whole by the operator. Boots, leather belts, and load-bearing gear (rucksacks, plate carriers) follow their own streams — see our shoe and textile guides.

7. Dress vs combat uniform distinctions

Both donate; dress also goes to memorial / honor-guard use

Combat / utility uniforms (OCP, ACU, MARPAT, NWU, ABU, BDU) are best donated to programs that re-issue them to deployed troops or JROTC cadets. Dress uniforms (Army Service Uniform, Navy Service Dress Blue, USMC Blue Dress, etc.) are often kept by the family as a memento, but if donated they typically go to VFW or American Legion honor guards, veteran-led theatrical productions, and military history museums for display. Some service-specific associations (Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, etc.) also accept dress uniforms for museum collections.

Step-by-step

1. Sort by condition. Wearable vs damaged. Damaged items skip ahead to textile recycling.
2. Remove rank insignia + name tapes. Seam ripper or small scissors. Save in a labeled bag — the family may want them later.
3. Pick a donation channel. Soldiers' Angels (national, most volume), Red Cross (chapter-by-chapter), or VFW / American Legion (local).
4. Call ahead before driving. Local participation varies. National programs require shipping per their current intake instructions.
5. Repurpose if it belonged to a specific person. Quilts of Valor or a commissioned quilter is the right answer for one-veteran-one-uniform memorials.
6. Textile-recycle the unsalvageable. Insignia off, name tapes off, then drop in a textile-recycling bin or curbside textile pickup.
7. Look up your local option. Try /check with your ZIP for the verified nearest VFW post and textile-recycling site.

Frequently asked

Is it illegal to throw a military uniform in the trash?

No federal law makes household trash disposal illegal, but it is broadly considered disrespectful and is not standard practice for veterans and surviving families. The expectation across the service branches is to donate, repurpose, or — for unsalvageable items — textile-recycle.

Why do I need to remove rank insignia and name tapes?

Standard practice across all service branches: removing rank insignia, unit patches, and name tapes before letting a uniform leave your possession prevents anyone downstream from misrepresenting themselves as still-issued personnel, and lets the family keep the most personal elements as a memento.

Where can I donate a uniform nationally?

Soldiers' Angels (soldiersangels.org) runs the largest general-purpose uniform donation program in the U.S. They re-issue donated uniforms to deployed troops needing extra sets, transitioning veterans, JROTC programs, and veteran-led community groups. Current intake instructions and the ship-to address are on their site.

What about local donation?

Local VFW and American Legion posts often run hyper-local uniform drives. Call the specific post first — participation varies by post leadership and current need. Find a local post at vfw.org/find-a-post or legion.org/posts.

Can I make a quilt or shadow box out of my parent's uniform?

Yes. Quilts of Valor and similar memorial-quilt programs accept uniform fabric to sew into honor quilts. Independent quilters and artisans on Etsy do paid commissioned work turning a single uniform into a quilt, pillow, or shadow-box display for the family. This is the standard answer when the uniform belonged to a specific person.

What do I do with combat boots and load-bearing gear?

Boots and load-bearing gear (rucksacks, plate carriers, web gear) follow separate streams from the uniform fabric. Boots can go to veteran-focused boot programs, civilian donation if in good shape, or shoe-recycling otherwise. Load-bearing gear is often accepted by VFW posts and surplus retailers but rarely by general charity intake.

Does Goodwill or Salvation Army take military uniforms?

They will technically accept them, but they typically resell uniforms whole to surplus shops or costume buyers, not to other veterans. Donating to a veteran-focused program (Soldiers' Angels, Red Cross, VFW, American Legion) keeps the uniform in a service-related channel. If you do drop at a general charity, remove insignia and name tapes first.

What about dress uniforms vs combat uniforms?

Combat / utility uniforms (OCP, ACU, MARPAT, NWU, ABU) are best donated to programs that re-issue them. Dress uniforms (Army Service Uniform, Navy Service Dress Blue, USMC Blue Dress) are often kept by the family as a memento; if donated they typically go to VFW or American Legion honor guards, veteran theatrical productions, and military history museums.

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