Army decides it has too much money, prepares to burn large piles of it

[Balog]

http://www.army.mil/article/121866/Army_testing_combat_boots__camouflage_patterns/

It always amazes me how much changing something like a uniform costs a large organization.

[Jamisjockey]

http://www.army.mil/article/121866/Army_testing_combat_boots__camouflage_patterns/

It always amazes me how much changing something like a uniform costs a large organization.

And since the ACU's suck in most environments, consider that money pissed down a drain.

As much pride as I have in being a Marine, I still agree that it should be one battle uniform for all branches.  Separate dress uniforms, whatever.  That doesn't require the level of testing that BDU's do.
And non-combat utility wear should be pilot suit jumpers.  (IE, mechanics, flight line, etc)

[Firethorn]

As much pride as I have in being a Marine, I still agree that it should be one battle uniform for all branches.  Separate dress uniforms, whatever.  That doesn't require the level of testing that BDU's do.
And non-combat utility wear should be pilot suit jumpers.  (IE, mechanics, flight line, etc)

USAF here, agreed.  Besides the utility wear I think BDU type uniforms should be:
1.  Universal cut.  IE the pockets and buttons and such are in the same palce. 
2.  Regional pattern.  IE you swap out the actual pattern for one that's region specific as necessary
3.  Hot weather and cold weather. 
4.  Not service specific.  Only difference between the four services would be the patches put on it.

[birdman]

USAF here, agreed.  Besides the utility wear I think BDU type uniforms should be:
1.  Universal cut.  IE the pockets and buttons and such are in the same palce. 
2.  Regional pattern.  IE you swap out the actual pattern for one that's region specific as necessary
3.  Hot weather and cold weather. 
4.  Not service specific.  Only difference between the four services would be the patches put on it.

Can we add "have a navy uniform that isn't the color of water".  Its funny, we make life jackets blaze orange for a reason...yet the navy's "camouflage" (odd, one would think hiding the people would be less of a concern than hiding the big grey thing floating there) is well, designed to blend in with water?

[T.O.M.]

Agree with Jamis.  I was Army back in the 80s and early 90s.  Nice that at a glance I could tell an American from anyone else. 

[RoadKingLarry]

Can we add "have a navy uniform that isn't the color of water".  Its funny, we make life jackets blaze orange for a reason...yet the navy's "camouflage" (odd, one would think hiding the people would be less of a concern than hiding the big grey thing floating there) is well, designed to blend in with water?

That would be AQUAFLAGE, thank you very much.

[roo_ster]

That would be AQUAFLAGE, thank you very much.

First time I saw it, I assumed it was a prank. 

[BobR]

First time I saw it, I assumed it was a prank. 

Most people, especially the ones wearing it, still feel that way!!!!


bob

[Perd Hapley]

First time I saw it, I assumed it was a prank. 

Wait, I thought the whole Navy was some kind of improv comedy thing. 

[RoadKingLarry]

Wait, I thought the whole Navy was some kind of improv comedy thing. 

Tain't funny McGee.

Maybe a tragi-comedy.

[Monkeyleg]

4.  Not service specific.  Only difference between the four services would be the patches put on it.

If they did that, how would you guys make fun of the Air Force?

[Perd Hapley]

If they did that, how would you guys make fun of the Air Force?

It ain't the uniforms we're laughin' at.

[T.O.M.]

It ain't the uniforms we're laughin' at.

And PJs were always the exception to the jokes.

[Fitz]

If they did that, how would you guys make fun of the Air Force?

Up until 2000-something, everyone wore BDUs. Even navy when they came to army schools or other things requiring them to be on land

[Sergeant Bob]

And PJs were always the exception to the jokes.

Said Marcus Luttrell ("Lone Survivor") who was rescued by PJ's in A'Stan.

[Phantom Warrior]

The most important factor in the development of the jungle boot -- or any new boot for that matter -- he said, is Soldier feedback from real-use, rigorous testing.

Uh huh.  That's what you guys said about UCP too.  Though I never met a Soldier that could stand the uniform or thought it was effective.  Apparently they have a brigade of special Soldiers somewhere to help pick crappy uniforms.  Though if they'd just stop being idiots and go with Multicam we'd be alright.

It always amazes me how much changing something like a uniform costs a large organization.

And the rucksack and the assault pack and the poncho and the poncho liner and the cold weather gear and the wet weather gear and the sleeping mat and the sleeping bag and the vest/plate carrier and the ammo/gear pouches and the helmet cover and the PT cap...

USAF here, agreed.  Besides the utility wear I think BDU type uniforms should be:
1.  Universal cut.  IE the pockets and buttons and such are in the same palce.
2.  Regional pattern.  IE you swap out the actual pattern for one that's region specific as necessary
3.  Hot weather and cold weather.
4.  Not service specific.  Only difference between the four services would be the patches put on it.

God bless you guys but the Air Force takes the cake.  Let's make the same uniform as the Army, except in tiger stripe, and green boots because...?  If the rest of your service would listen to you maybe we could get things sorted out.  :)

[Scout26]

http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/08/us-army-introduces-revolutionary-new-woodland-camouflage-uniform-to-replace-acu/

[roo_ster]

http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/08/us-army-introduces-revolutionary-new-woodland-camouflage-uniform-to-replace-acu/

Brigadier General Paul A. Ostrowski said that this was an innovative way to “solve the camo debacle and hit soldiers with the green weenie,” which he called a win-win.

“In this age of austerity, we find that we can simply charge soldiers for any uniforms they may have misplaced or thrown away,” said Ostrowski. “Luckily, we can pass along significant savings to the taxpayers by screwing over the warfighter.”

Ostrowski continued, reflecting with a smile on the best ways to field gear to soldiers who will “bitch about it for years to come.”

“We at PEO-Soldier thrive on thinking outside the box. Not a day goes by that we don’t think to ourselves, ‘how can we screw over the trigger-pullers this time’? We weren’t sure how we’d top the ACU mess, but we can definitely deliver when the top brass calls for us to produce more bullshit and call it innovation.”

Hard to parody Army acquisition folk at times.

[Fitz]

Duffleblog is great, because the parody is so often close to reality