Posted on Dec 23, 2013
MSG Martinis Butler
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What would be your perception of an NCO with 5+ years sponsoring his Soldier to the promotion board and still wearing Class A's? Should you really be hearing the excuse about the wear out date?
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MSG Martinis Butler
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Would that be fair if an individual is dismissed from the promotion board because he or she still has Class A's on at the board? Would you think they are not displaying initiative by not buying ASU's?
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CSM Mike Maynard
CSM Mike Maynard
>1 y
SFC Butler - I wouldn't "dismiss" a Soldier from a board for wearing "Greens" - but it would be "considered".

Just like we don't dismiss folks for scoring 60/60/60 on the APFT (they met the standard), but it is considered whether those actions are indicative of a future NCO.
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SGM Steven Richards
SGM Steven Richards
>1 y
CSM Maynard is spot on, I would never dismiss a Soldier from a Board for wearing the "Greens". However once the board members and myself have evaluated the Soldier I would take the time to provide some mentorship. I have seen way to many excuses on here about why Soldiers have not invested in the new ASU, especially if you or your records are appearing in front of a board. Keep in mind where the Army is heading with the downsizing, we are going to ask a great number of fully qualified Soldiers to go home and only retain the best qualified. Soldiers need to do everything possible to show they are the Professionals the Army Leadership is looking to keep. After 28 years of Service I and everyone else knows what happens when the clothing allowance rolls in, shopping every where but Clothing and Sales.  While I dont want Soldiers to be burden with the purchase, new recruits are being issued them and Soldiers with more than a year have had plenty of time to make that purchase. Leaders need to ensure they are setting that example and that they are mentoring Soldiers so that Iniative is part of a Soldiers so called toolbox again.
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MAJ Commander
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I picked up my ASU for 75 bucks on E-Bay. Folks are always getting out of the military and this uniform is plentiful on the secondary market if one is patient.
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MAJ Deputy Director, Combat Casualty Care Research Program
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It's within regs so they have the right to do it. With that said, just like a 180 APFT score, there's what I have to accept, and what I respect. It's been 6 years since ASUs were introduced, if you haven't updated, I will have a lesser opinion of you and you make your unit look shabby when in a group.
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SGT Bryon Sergent
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I was once active duty. Here is my question. Apaarently the cost of the new ASU's are not covered in the colthing allowance. At the wear out date is the army going to give the X amount of money of going and purchase the new ASU's in that clothing allowance drop for that year? if not can you not go to CIF and turn in the old Greens and request a new set of ASU's?

 

I am in the National Guard and will be promoted soon. I turned in My greens When I ETS'd and when I returned to service, because I didn't have to go to basic and get the issue of the new ASU's, My unit said that they would have to order them. Well I have since transfered to a new unit. We don't get a clothing allowance. So I have asked several time and the guard doesn't have the moneies to order the new ASU. So am I supposed to take from the mouth of my family and go an purchase this uniform that apparently cost 500 or more dollars. Thats half a paycheck and now where NEAR a drill check to go and drop this on an ASU uniform complete. I have 14 yrs of service, does that make me less of a leader to say I can't afford to get them and not have them at all?

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SGM Operations Sergeant Major
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I would not let the Sponsor wear Class As, I feel that it could possibly have a negative impact on the outcome of the board for the Soldier, I am not saying that it is right, but it is reality. 
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SSG Christopher Settembrino
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There shouldn't be any excuse about the wear out date.  Every enlisted soldier gets a clothing allowance.  That is what it is used for, clothing!  And if a soldier is not managing their money well enough to put money away to purchase the ASU's then they obviouly don't know how to handle their personal affairs.  Once the change came out I made sure that my next clothing allowance was used to purchase and set up my ASU's.  I don't understand how that is so hard to do especially for some of our senior leadership.
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SFC Signal Support Systems Specialist
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if you had sideburns previously, have you trimmed them up in preparation for the new requirements? Not quite the same, but it does balance out authorizations versus requirements. Why can't Class A's mean something to a person other than the cost to replace them with ASU's? The uniform may be a bit dated but is still authorized with current regulation. In contrast, Blue's are even older if not the current variation of them. 
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SSG (ret) William Martin
SSG (ret) William Martin
12 y
The new Army definition or soon to be definition of "sideburns" is like calling a small truck a semi trunk and trailer.
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SFC Clinops
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SFC B, an Active duty E5 that will continue his military service, IMO, should have the ASUs, I mean we do get that glorious clothing allowance that covers the cost of service stripes-jk) .  The wear out date thing for me is normally an excuse to cover the fcat that it may not be in the budget for them right now or they haven't had time to go purchase the new uniform.  But if the E5 will be ETS in say 6 months or so, then I can't fault him or her for not getting the new ASUs at all. 
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SSG Cargo Specialist
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I am not complaining by any means because I do believe that the ASU looks more professional than the Class A uniform. But hey I went out and spent $400 on the uniform alone. And I have a similar story to yours SFC Butler; my husband was on CQ earlier this week and during DONSAs/ weekends his unit is to wear Class B ASU uniform because we were told the wear out date was Fiscal Year 2014 which started on October 1st. Well my husband calls me after he got there in his ASU to tell me that his NCO was not in that uniform and her excuse as well was that she did not have the uniform yet. I just do not understand how people can even use that as an excuse. 
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Capt Jason Minnich
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Allow me to propose a different angle. Uniforms have changed a LOT lately. If a particular uniform is still valid, I don't see it as simply meeting the standard, I see it as not needlessly changing to the new uniform before one has to, considering there might be another "new" uniform out before the previous one is obsolete. 

My experience, albeit in a different service, was if you changed too quickly you were looked down on for embracing change. Specifically, I was in pilot training when ABU's were introduced. They had approved the wear of ABU boots with flight suits, so rather than have to polish my boots every time I scuff the heck out of them in the trainers, I switched to the new boots. I was then counseled that I should wear the boots because it was what they were used to and they didn't like that new pilot trainees wouldn't have to spend the time to keep their boots polished. I asked if they were creating a policy to that effect, they said they didn't want to put anything in writing because it would be shot down by Jag, to which I responded if this isn't a policy, and I am wearing a valid uniform item, why are you trying to make things harder when its already a rigorous program? They eventually caved, I wore my boots and so did many other students and instructors going forward. I made a choice to change, and I did so against the tide, my reasons were my reasons and if people wanted to get upset with me for doing it I'm glad they came to me but I wasn't going to change my decision because someone wanted me to, I would have done it because someone ordered me to.

Sure, I might not have made friends that day, but the standard is THE STANDARD! If you want to change the standard, by all means implement a policy and do that, but if you aren't willing to put it in writing then don't hold someone to it. I find it hard to say someone doesn't take initiative based solely on their choice to continue wearing what they are authorized to wear. Maybe it is something different between services, but when we made the switch from BDU to ABU I saw plenty of people wear BDUs up to the switch date because there was already rumors of switching again to the ACU. That hasn't happened, and those that stuck it out did switch when they needed to, but there are many reasons this person could have made that choice, and I don't see how people can judge their leadership, initiative, or character based solely on following the rules.
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