Posted on Mar 9, 2016
CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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I know that there is the APEL list. But What about orange lenses? Is that something that can be worn in uniform?
Posted in these groups: Checklist icon 2 Standards4276e14c Uniforms
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MSG Current Operations Ncoic
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AR 670-1 :
3–10. Eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses:
(3) ..........Eyeglasses or sunglasses that are trendy or have lenses or frames with conspicuous initials, designs, or other adornments are not authorized for wear. Soldiers may not wear lenses with extreme or trendy colors, which include, but are not limited to, red, yellow, blue, purple, bright green, or orange. Lens colors must be traditional gray, brown, or dark green shades.

BUT:

(4) Soldiers are authorized to wear ballistic spectacle eye protection issued by the Army, including lens colors or logos that do not comply with paragraph 3–10a(3), above, in garrison or field environments unless otherwise directed by their chain of command. See the Army Combat Readiness Center for a list of currently approved protective eyewear.
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SFC Management Assistant
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Key point if they are issued. I have never received orange lenses and I do not think they are available for issue, but I could be wrong.
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LTC Student
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SFC (Join to see) - & MSG (Join to see) if the Battery/Company/Troop Commander authorizes the purchase with the GPC and then supply issues them are they then an issued item?
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MSG Current Operations Ncoic
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MAJ Guy, i would say yes that those items would be considered "issued", but GPC purchases should probably come from the APEL. I am sure some units order eye wear not on the APEL but at the point they become a liability.
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CSM Brigade Operations (S3) Sergeant Major
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Edited 8 y ago
I have seen Soldiers wear the orange (shooting) lenses. ODA/Operators like them for some reason, I think because they are cool looking. I know when I was in Iraq in 2006 there was a policy that made them unauthorized. It was because they do not allow vision in all color spectrums or something like that.

I tried a pair once and didn't care for them. I wear clear lenses only because 1) It's a pain in the ass to transition to limited visibility and 2) I like for people to see my eyes when I am talking to them. I think your words mean a lot more by the way you're looking at someone.

I will dig around and see if I can find anything on whether they are authorized.
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CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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I just saw a portion of 670-1 that states you can but only if you're issued them.
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LTC Student
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CPT (Join to see) - if the Battery/Company/Troop Commander authorizes the purchase with the GPC and then supply issues them are they then an issued item?
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COL Infantry Officer
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CSM (Join to see) / CPT (Join to see) SOF likes them because it makes things harder. Orange lenses are not good for contrast enhancement or visual acuity associated with the yellow/clear lenses, making eye/hand coordination harder thus improving training results. Coincidentally is one of the prime reasons "Big Army" shuns away from them.
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CPT Assistant Operations Officer (S3)
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COL (Join to see) - I never knew that. Thanks.
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SSG Reconnaissance Sergeant
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Back when I deployed the first time, orange lenses were not authorized. The reason at the time was that they made it hard to spot the long strands of copper wire often used in the construction of command-detomated IEDs. I don't know however if those rules were theatre specific, or Army wide. Most IEDs now are either remotely- or victim-detonated, so perhaps there is merit in changing that rule in the future. Regs do state that "sunglasses" must have gray, brown, or dark green; non-mirrored lenses. Considering thise two restrictions, and the "train as we fight" mantra of the modern Army, I would not expect most commanders to authorize such glasses at a range.
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