Posted on Feb 18, 2014
SFC Anabel Cepero
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I joined the Army as the BDUs were in the last steps of being phased out. I didn't get to experience the starching and ironing of my uniform or the shining of my boots. Many have told me that they took pride in these "tedious" tasks and that even if it was mundane the BDUs were way better.

Personally, I do not like the way the ACUs are made, the velcro doesn't last long and I know it says they have a wear life of 6 months, but I'm lucky if they look good for two. Also, it says they are "wrinkle free", I beg to differ. Basically I think they look atrocious and a waste of money. I know we can come up with a better uniform than this.

What's your opinion and what would you change?
Posted in these groups: 4276e14c Uniforms
Edited 10 y ago
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Responses: 37
SFC William Swartz Jr
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When we transitioned from BDU/DCUs over to the ACUs it was one of the worst decisions that the Army made...a majority of people lost pride in the appearance because of the wash and wear mentality of the inferior quality of the ACUs, as well as the switch to the tan desert boots. I used to take real pride in my appearance, not only as an NCO but as a young PFC and SPC, Sunday mornings were my time to get myself looking sharp for Mondays work call formation, and it would only take me 1-2 hours to starch my uniform and spit shine my boots. It was just the self-discipline that had been instilled in me. Granted, a starched uni and glass-like boots didn't always tell the full story of an individual Soldier, but it was a quick way to see who really gave a shit about looking like a Soldier. A quick buff from a cloth diaper and my boots were good to go for the entire week, and the uniform would still look as good on Wed as it did on Mon...just the ramblings of an older, retired Soldier, but our Army lost a bit of itself when we switched.....
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CSM Michael Poll
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Edited 10 y ago
To be perfectly honest I do not like the ACU's at all. I wish we could go back tothe BDU style uniform as it is more durable.  I do not care about the pattern used as long as it is condusive with, well, Camoflage.  I personally like the Multicam pattern but would like it on  more sturdy uniform that has absolutly NO velcro.  I prefer the black boots that needed to be polished as well, but That is a different debate.
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SFC Brigade Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (Sarc)
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I wish we could go back to the BDUs
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SFC James Baber
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point blank, they are garbage, I understand the concept that many supporters claim they are a utility uniform, but so were the BDUs and they could also be made to look professional when needed, something the ACUs will never, ever accomplish. We need to get rid of them and go back to what was successful for over 3 decades compared to something that was considered crap from the 1st year of use.
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SFC Communications Chief (S6)
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SFC Baber, if we start splitting up uniformity across an organization would that not break unit cohesion? And is public limited to an office job? I'm an S-6 NCO, were I to be called from the office to perform troubleshooting would i be looked down upon for needing to take a few extra minutes to change my uniform? What about if i were to be fixing the broken printer, and ink powder explodes over my ASU's; I don't see it as bringing pride to the uniform to be all inked up on a dry clean only uniform

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SSG Cbrn Nco/Training Room Nco
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10 y
I believe the ACU's are a terrible uniform. I truely miss my BDU and DCU uniforms. I can even go so far as to say I liked my multicam....The ones I was issued held up better then ACU and the pattern was bettern in my opinion. I hope the Army changes in a hurry.
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SFC James Baber
SFC James Baber
10 y

SGT P.,


You seem to be looking to try and come up with excuses for not showing pride in your uniform for the reason to not have to or want to wear a non-utility uniform, again the common sense factor comes into play, I can tell by your demeanor and comments you have not been in long enough to remember the days of morning formation inspections in the motor pool and having to do maintenance, most people did 1 of 2 things, they brought a pair of coveralls with them to the MP to save their hard work from the weekend, or they did a quick change in the parking lot of boots and/or BDU tops. The same would work for an S-6 NCO having to go somewhere to troubleshoot,1st no one would look down on you for taking the few minutes to change or put on a pair of overalls to work on equipment or change a toner cartridge out that "could explode" as you mentioned, instead of making excuses, you should be thinking and devising ways to be proactive for the issue instead of looking for a reason to say I shouldn't have to be wearing my ASUs for my duty uniform.


For many years, even before BDUs, the duty uniform for many were khaki's in garrison and the field uniform for motor pool, details, and field type jobs while in garrison, and no one complained about someone who had to or needed to change. This is part of the issue with the new generation of Soldiers, they have become lazy in garrison environment, while they may be a stud when deployed and have fast tracked on their promotions based on what they accomplished while deployed and in combat, they are also lackadaisical on performing to standards while back in garrison or accepting what was the standard before we spent last 13 years in dual wars. They say it is a stronger more intelligent forces, but many times they new breed are too smart for their own good as they are more concerned with looking on how to get out of doing what is standard more the they are concerned with enforcing the standards and getting back to basics and standards that work and were functional for generations before they came along.


You need to take a step back and take a look at the whole picture and not what you want and how it affects you, but what the military overall is affected in regards to professionalism and how they look and are perceived and believe it or not the look of the military is not in a good light with the way uniforms look and are perceived.

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SFC Communications Chief (S6)
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10 y
SFC Baber, the point i'm trying to convey is perhaps we're creating more problems than we're solving. As for my demeanor, I believe in efficiency. I go to my place of business everyday with the primary purpose of conducting said business; not with the primary purpose of looking good. I also disagree with the idea that wearing a high maintenance uniform for the sake of looking professional while hindering work deemed as unclean does not building discipline, it displays it. This alone would debunk the majority of arguments against the ACU uniform. For the Record my first unit was in Fort Drum. I arrived approximately 2 weeks before the main unit deployed. My maintenance time was spent trudging through the snow. Take that as you will, but we all don't experience the Army the same therefor shouldn't be limited merely to yours.
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