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I have been noticing a trend lately. I ETS'd from the Army less then 60 days ago. I was on deployment until July of this past year. I noticed since the beginning of OEF XIII that a lot of the LT's have been sewing their names over their back trouser pockets the way marines do. Prior to that I have not ever seen this done to the ACU/OCP uniform. Regulations do not explicitly forbid this, but AR 670-1 does specify where the name tapes go, and the back of the trousers is not mentioned. Which leads to my question as to why this seems to be popular among todays LT's. Do they teach this at OCS/ROTC nowadays? I haven't seen any enlisted or CPT's and above do this so I think this may be new..
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Uniforms
Uniforms
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 11
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This was mostly done so you didn't lose your clothes when they got turned in for field laundry. We also used to write our name and last 4 on our T-shirts for the same reason.
Of course the old joke was the Navy did it so they would know who they were "fraternizing" with when they were at sea.... ;o)
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Pre ACU many did this. I did as well for BDUS and DCUs . Before KBR, there were Shower, Laundry, Clothing Repair Units (SLCR pronounced slicker) in Supply and Service Companies. Your 21 pieces of laundry went into a mesh bag. The whole bag went into a deuce and a half sized washer and dryer with the rest of your units bags. Some times things got separated. Easier to get your XL-L pants back if there is a name on them. One also wrote their battle roster number or "mechanic number" ( first letter of last name with SSN last four) on your skivvies and tee shirts. Risk accepted with socks. Definitely not new. Probably has more to do with field expedient laundry contracts than some new high speed trend. There is a practical reason for it. This was the explanation a QM LTC also gave me in 1990 when I asked. Lived it in OIF I.<div><br></div><div>Back in the OG 107 and BDU days ROTC Cadets used to have patrol Caps with name tapes sewn in the back and cat eyes like some elite infantry unit SOPs at the time. Got to the 11th ACR and it was not SOP there. Was told I was not in the Ranger Bat and Had to strip them off. Things change.</div>
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Almost all of us who go to Ranger school get the Nametapes sewn on there, as it is one of the easiest ways to track your clothing.
That is the most logical answer I can think of, since all us 19 and 11 series bubba's going were doing it.
That is the most logical answer I can think of, since all us 19 and 11 series bubba's going were doing it.
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SFC (Join to see)
Sir, thats about all I could think of as to the origin. The first time I laid eyes on it (no judging...) was on a female Sigo. Aside from that, graduates of Ranger School.
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