Unofficial Dictionary

From the unofficial dictionary for Marines

Green Side Out.
The steel pot helmets before Kevlar came with a cover that had green camoflage on one side and brown on the other. The decision of which color was to be worn to a formation was often left to a second lieutenant who couldn't make up his or her mind resulting in frequent changes and confusion. The term came to mean the leadership was confused as usual.

commentary on 2d Lt's not mine

Green/Brown Side Out

As I recall, our shelter halfs were also green on one side and brown on the other. Back in the day when we had field transport packs and had inspections, it was the 1stSgt who passed the word on green or brown side out, depending on the time of year!

Semper Fi
Duke Dearing