Since the dawn of war itself, uniforms have been a major part of any army--signs that would both identify one from the enemy or help protect the owner (usually both). Even in time and era, this has not changed, though uniforms have came a long way from the flashy and gaudy breeches of the past. Uniforms of many nations at times reveal their priorities or have roots in tradition. Many have evolved over the years from barely functioning to highly effective, and even the colors of camouflage may vary from nation to nation.