Do clothes make the man? The warrior? Of course not. It's what's *in* the suit that matters - but...
Admittedly, the only uniform that truly matters is the combat uniform.
I like the current one, though I understand the troops who are fighting in them still have issues- trust me, they're better than what my father and I fought in.
I'm also a traditionalist. I still favor the M14. I wish the NLOS-Cannon had both a better nonmenclature and didn't look like it was made of Legos. And the last non-combat uniforms the Army had that didn't look silly were "pinks and greens" and khakis.
Who'da thunk it could get *worse*?
Heh.
So, now we're going to wear our dress blues as our everyday uniform.
Heh, again.
The Sergeant Major of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army have decided. Almost every Chief makes some tweak to the uniform - the nature of the beast is such that it's about the only change a Chief can initiate and see through to completion during his term. Can't blame 'em for the frustration inherent in that.
The Stars and Stripes article mentions that it's a hot topic.
Really.
I can't imagine what follows helped any.
I sent a pic of the new "Class B" uniform to my father, the Auld Soldier. This is what that long-service, two-war veteran had to say:
For those of you who don't know the Auld Soldier - that was a virtual temper tantrum. Mind you, the trousers tucked into the boots is an affectation of Airborne/Spec Ops/MPs, the mere mortals wear low quarters.
Here's another combat veteran's take - actually, this is the combined take of a group of combat veterans:
What d'you guys think? I would note the Marines haven't made huge changes to their uniforms in decades. We spent a lot of time in the 80's trying to look like the Air Force. Then we let it lay for a while, and have more recently been concentrating on the combat uniforms. Which is a good thing.
But I guess we needed a fresh new look and some Colonel or Sergeant Major needed to justify a Legion of Merit.
Here's my take, and maybe the only one that will attract attention (hell it's hard to hear now from all the not-so-muffled laughter coming from the Marines - who undoubtedly *support* this change):
The guy on the left, a right good warrior judging by his merit badges, looks like he's on a JROTC drill team. Or, perhaps he drives an ice cream truck.
Or carries pepper spray at the mall.
I don't know what it's going to take to get them off the bus to Abilene, but gosh I hope something does!
Admittedly, the only uniform that truly matters is the combat uniform.
I like the current one, though I understand the troops who are fighting in them still have issues- trust me, they're better than what my father and I fought in.
I'm also a traditionalist. I still favor the M14. I wish the NLOS-Cannon had both a better nonmenclature and didn't look like it was made of Legos. And the last non-combat uniforms the Army had that didn't look silly were "pinks and greens" and khakis.
Who'da thunk it could get *worse*?
Heh.
So, now we're going to wear our dress blues as our everyday uniform.
Heh, again.
The Sergeant Major of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army have decided. Almost every Chief makes some tweak to the uniform - the nature of the beast is such that it's about the only change a Chief can initiate and see through to completion during his term. Can't blame 'em for the frustration inherent in that.
The Stars and Stripes article mentions that it's a hot topic.
Really.
I can't imagine what follows helped any.
I sent a pic of the new "Class B" uniform to my father, the Auld Soldier. This is what that long-service, two-war veteran had to say:
Micky Mouse feet & bloomers ! My GOD!
For those of you who don't know the Auld Soldier - that was a virtual temper tantrum. Mind you, the trousers tucked into the boots is an affectation of Airborne/Spec Ops/MPs, the mere mortals wear low quarters.
Here's another combat veteran's take - actually, this is the combined take of a group of combat veterans:
Same consensus here - still trying to catch the Marines, but end up looking like gate guards. GMAFB!!
What d'you guys think? I would note the Marines haven't made huge changes to their uniforms in decades. We spent a lot of time in the 80's trying to look like the Air Force. Then we let it lay for a while, and have more recently been concentrating on the combat uniforms. Which is a good thing.
But I guess we needed a fresh new look and some Colonel or Sergeant Major needed to justify a Legion of Merit.
Here's my take, and maybe the only one that will attract attention (hell it's hard to hear now from all the not-so-muffled laughter coming from the Marines - who undoubtedly *support* this change):
The guy on the left, a right good warrior judging by his merit badges, looks like he's on a JROTC drill team. Or, perhaps he drives an ice cream truck.
Or carries pepper spray at the mall.
I don't know what it's going to take to get them off the bus to Abilene, but gosh I hope something does!
At least the Army is trying to retain some distinctions...
(just plain aaarrgghhhh!!!)
(throw in more exclamation points)
Guys, we got out just in time.
By the way, when you blouse your boots, make sure your pants legs are even and you are not you are not out of shape. I am 46 years old, an ER nurse, and I look to be in better shape than that Army "model."
White shirts and rifles? Can anyone say breakfree, grease, and right shoulder arms?
As I am at work (and a former Marine) I am restraining my laughter (on the inside I'm LMAO).
Yeah, still another example of not asking the guys who actually *used* velcro closures on their combat wear -- us aviators.
After twenty or so wash and dry cycles, the threads holding the hook 'n' pile fray apart due to uneven shrink rates between the velcro and the fabric. Which is convenient, because by that time, the hooks no longer adhere to the pile and both chunks have to be replaced.
Don't even ask how *loud* the rrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiipppppp is when you're trying to be quiet and a branch grabs it...
*snerk*
Bwuahawhawhaw....
So much for morale....
I'd love to see Khakis or Pinks and Greens come back. But it ain't gonna happen. The idea is to reduce the total number of uniforms.
No one really likes the greens.
To my taste, the blues are just the greens in a different color and material - with spiffy (if somewhat impractical for daily wear) shoulder boards, colored cuff rings, and the stripe down the trouser leg - now for everyone, not just officers. Put a belt on 'em...
I'd still rather wear the greens than blues, because well, frankly, I think it's too gaudy for a day to day uniform, and our intrepid NCO in the picture looks like the very model of a modern major general - and that's not a compliment.
I always preferred the Mess Dress if I was going to go dressy - and in fact wore those more often than blues, because we rarely do anything formal before 5PM in the service these days anyway. I probably wore my blues three times on active duty, and my mess dress on average twice a year.
I don't mind contracting the uniform count.
I just think this choice makes us look silly.
There aren't that many jobs any more where people routinely wear Class Bs - at least not where I served.
But I'd be embarrassed to be seen in public in this uniform. Which means I would only wear it when I absolutely couldn't avoid it.
So he picks the more expensive (and bigger PITA) one of the two? Brilliant.
Oh, and the velcro on the ACUs? Biggest pain in the @$$ ever. Not only for the reasons BillT listed above but also for the fact that, before the stuff does up and die, it anihilates everything it's ever washed with or comes into contact with.
Now I'm not a fan of the greens either and I happen to think that MacGyver looks mighty fine in his blues. But wearing that monkey suit on a regular basis (thank God he won't have to! Yet another reason to be thankful for aviation) is like wearing a tuxedo to work at Dairy Queen. Which is exactly where goofy boy on the left appears to work.
sillyguady as well.The only decent Class B uniform the Army ever had was the Khakis. I'd love to see them make a comeback.
I was lucky as a recruiter that I got quite a few opportunities to wear Blues. Many times when Class A would have been appropriate, I switched to Blues. The chain of command didn't complain.
And yeah, I liked to wear mess-kit as well. Not a heck of a lot of junior NCOs had it, but I bought a set used from a guy getting out. The most expensive part was getting the mini-medals mounted.
My son graduates from basic today. he was issued his new "Class B" uniform(s), and told that he was expected to wear them on his 36 hour pass if he leaves the base. He called and asked me if I could FedEx him a couple polo shirts and a pair of slacks. I told him that for the cost, he could just buy some at the PX. He and the rest of his company absolutely LOATH the new Class B's, and when they were first given them, thought it was a joke. They are pretty damned pissed about this situation, and are definately NOT happy campers.
I can't say that I blame them. I'd be embarrassed as all get out if that was my uniform. They look as bad as those Presidential Guard uniforms that Nixon tried to get issued. Seriously. They look like they belong on a Job Corps drill team.
FWIW,
If you want a REALLY nice set of blues for a Class-B uniform, I would suggest this one:
http://www.quartermastershop.com/images/6%20US%20Infy-%20Span-Am%20Mike%20Lewis.jpg
Pretty nice looking, comfortable, and functional. I've worn it, and I like it a lot.
Am I the only one who's not keen on the beret? I really like the old-style hat (I don't know what you call it, the one on the right). Always have, always will. Neither of the uniforms looks comfortable, and that's always my number one priority.
Not that I've had much experience with uniforms, except for high school marching band, but I sure hated them then.
Snerk.
I agree, actually, on the beret. Many heads were not meant to wear a beret. I look pretty good in one, but punkinhaids are among those that do.
Kinda how Standard Operating Procedures became Standing Operating Procedures.
For about two months in the mid-nineties, the Army insisted that FARs -- Federal Aviation Regulations -- stood for Flying Aircraft Regulations (because that's how they were listed in several TM changes), until Foat Useless was inundated with memos explaining why everybody else in the Armed Forces considered them illiterate nincompoops.
Keep in mind that under normal circumstances, most people will be wearing their ACU's to work, not their Blues.
But enter a prolonged period of peace... no, you're right. As I said in one of my comments - it will stay that way because so many of us will be embarrassed to be seen in that rig.
The items in question are actually on his shirt pockets below the flaps. That is where the Apple (Drill Sergeant Badge), Jungle Operations Training Center (JOTC), and aide badges go.
I have JOTC and Drill Sergeant Badges, so AR 670-1 might agree with me. ;)
Alan
(Former SGT Briley, 82nd Airborne Division and 80th Infantry Division)
Couldn't they find a SSgt somewhere that looked as if he had maxed the AFT?
Couldn't the Marines find a real person wearing their uni?
Your beret question is a good one. There are two badges on his right pocket (left to us). He's got the Drill Sergeant and Recruiter badge on, I can't ID the third one.
I've got one of the original "How To Wear the Beret" pamphlets. The pix illustrating the proper wear were gooned-up 'way back *then*, too...
Closest I could get to that was visualizing a seated Kodiak bear from the rear...
...with a 35 gallon garbage can on his head.
Wouldn't this be a better choice for the Artillery?
http://howardlanham.tripod.com/linkgr5/link200d.jpg
Talk about a sharp-dressed cannon cocker :)
Cheers
Wow. Who'd a-thunk it....
http://myarmylifeandtimes.blogspot.com/2006/03/my-first-drill-as-first-sgt.html
Most assuredly, "Pinks and Greens" have been the best uniform that the US Army has fielded in the last 100 years. I can still remember seeing my dad's unused ones in the closet for years after the AF switched to blues.
Are the SMA and CSA (and their uniform "advisors") partaking of recreational phamaceuticals? This is just nookin futs.