---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 U.S.C. § 419"
title: "37"
title_heading: "Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services"
number: "419"
heading: "Civilian clothing allowance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/37/419"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Allowances Other Than Travel and Transportation Allowances"
---

# §419. Civilian clothing allowance


Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, an [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) of an armed force who is assigned to a permanent duty station at a location outside the [United States](/usc/37/101.md?p=1-A) may be paid a civilian clothing allowance in such amount as the Secretary shall determine under regulations if such [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) is required to wear civilian clothing all or a substantial portion of the time in the performance of the [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11)’s official duties. A clothing allowance under this section is in addition to any uniform allowance to which an [officer](/usc/37/101.md?p=11) is otherwise entitled under this title.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VI, § 611(a)(1)(B), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1093; amended Pub. L. 100–456, div. A, title VI, § 625, Sept. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 1984; Pub. L. 101–189, div. A, title VI, § 653(c)(2), Nov. 29, 1989, 103 Stat. 1462.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 419 was renumbered section 420 of this title.

### Amendments

1989—Pub. L. 101–189 substituted “an officer” for “a officer” in two places and struck out “to” after “may be paid”.

1988—Pub. L. 100–456 substituted “officer” for “member” in three places, “may be paid” for “is entitled”, and “officer’s” for “member’s”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 100–180, div. A, title VI, § 611(b), Dec. 4, 1987, 101 Stat. 1093, provided that: “Section 419 of title 37, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 4, 1987]. No member may be paid a clothing allowance under such section for any period before such date.”