Do you believe our military should use the same camouflage pattern or should each branch continue using their own?

2014-06-08T22:23:18-04:00

I have heard many past service members saying that the tri colors was the best thing that had ever happened. Being a Marine I like the MARPAT design and would love to continue using it, but what do you think?

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jun 8 at 2014 10:32 PM

2014-06-08T22:32:41-04:00

I like how each branch has their own. I know congress wants to adopt one pattern for all services and save on budget too which makes clear sense in some aspects. Honestly it doesn't matter much to me as long as the pattern works well in different environments we may encounter.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2014 11:08 PM

2014-06-08T23:08:43-04:00

I think the Army is following the Marines with this situation. The army is developing a family of camo patterns that will be used for uniforms. I understand that they will use the same pattern with three color variations. I think it is a bit funny how some completely disagree with one pattern for all branches. I have been in the military a while and I had BDUs as did every other branch in the military. It was that way for a while. The style of the uniform for the Marines were different, i.e. hat and the EDA in the pattern, but it was all the same for everyone.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2014 11:50 PM

2014-06-08T23:50:04-04:00

I know right now the Air Force has stated that all Airmen deployed will go to the OCP multicam like the Army. I actually prefer those over the ABUs any day.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2014 11:59 PM

2014-06-08T23:59:28-04:00

Too easy: Design a common camouflage pattern for all services based on the terrain type. Designate the services by the left name tape. If Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force go to the same combat environment they should be able to blend with that combat environment. If you are assigned to Malaysia you get Military pattern X. If you get assigned to Afghanistan you get military pattern Y.

Camouflage is about hiding the individual, not about branding the service.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2014 12:08 AM

2014-06-09T00:08:52-04:00

we all do the same job so yes one pattern for one country.

Response by Sgt Seth Busse made Jun 9 at 2014 12:16 AM

2014-06-09T00:16:58-04:00

I happen to think the way congress does on this, shoot me I know, why did the MARPAT design cost the least to develop but is the most effective?

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2014 12:20 AM

2014-06-09T00:20:19-04:00

Even the CBO and RAND Corp said the Marines did this best. We should go their direction. Too bad they hold onto their pattern like a fat kid on a candy bar.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2014 12:57 AM

2014-06-09T00:57:12-04:00

Will it save the military money? Will we become more efficient if we had one uniform? And the answer is? NO. I can say it is motivating that each branch has its own camouflage. When I see all my fellow Air Men in ABU's I get excited. When I see other branches in camouflage I want to work harder and be harder to show how the Air Force does things.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2014 1:06 AM

2014-06-09T01:06:21-04:00

At the end of the day, Congress voted in October that the US Military has to adopt just one camouflage uniform and it had to be enforced by 2018.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2014 1:08 AM

2014-06-09T01:08:01-04:00

In the 1980's, the military went to a single camoflage pattern for all branches - known as BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform) and it had the Woodland pattern.

Every branch was required to wear it for field or deployment operations.

The reason for this was 1st) We thought we were going to fight the final war against the USSR in the late 80's. The plan was that this battle would be so fierce, and so destructive, that people would get separated from their units, and wind up with other units, branches, or even other NATO allied countries forces.

If a Soldier was separated from his parent unit, he could go to that unit supply, and get new uniforms in the same pattern he's currently wearing.

Since then, that didn't happen, and we fought two wars in the deserts of Iraq, and one in Afghanistan. Woodland patterns weren't going to cut it there, so branches decided to design their own patterns that in theory allowed them to "hide" better in the terrain they expected to operate in.

Ultimately, I think that each branch should continue to develop their own patterns. I think SOF should go further and have their own gear and patterns too.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 9 at 2014 4:27 AM

2014-06-09T04:27:39-04:00

What the hell does a Sailor at sea need camo for? I liked my old Blue Jean Dungarees. If I wanted to wear Camo in the Navy I would have been a Seabee.

Response by SFC Scott O. made Jun 9 at 2014 7:37 AM

2014-06-09T07:37:07-04:00

The current ACU pattern is horrible, the absolute worst thing to ever happen. We can't hide in any environment unless it's that couch that I am sure everyone has seen a picture of.

Response by Sgt Matthew O'Donnell made Jun 9 at 2014 8:08 AM

2014-06-09T08:08:41-04:00

USMC does have the best looking uniforms

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2014 8:44 AM

2014-06-09T08:44:06-04:00

I would say to pick an existing pattern so that we as a nation can save some $ instead of going through the whole development process to select a new uniform. With our overseas missions taking on a more joint/multi-national role, we need to be able to stand as one and apart from the rest. I feel that the Class A or other dress uniforms should serve to set us apart as individual services. After all, it the Marine Corps Blues that people think of over their various camo patterned uniforms.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2014 9:15 AM

2014-06-09T09:15:41-04:00

I certainly think there is value in allowing the enemy to identify (or fear) the opposing force that they are fighting. Every military unit has done this throughout history. We don't fly colors in battle anymore, so we have to identify somehow.

HOWEVER, I don't think that every branch required their own camouflage...or camouflage at all (USAF and Navy). Aside from those who would be operating in such conditions, i.e. Navy Corpsman or Air Force Controller...etc. But to design, develop and equip all of that specialized camo for a majority of the military who will never go outside the wire, was ridiculous.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 9 at 2014 4:40 PM

2014-06-09T16:40:46-04:00

One pattern. I don't care which as long as it's effective. If you want to feel special or have service pride, that is what dress uniforms are for. Downrange, we need a uniform that is effective AND immediately tells people that you are on their side (ie "you are dressed like me, ergo I will not shoot you"). The added benefit of it being cheaper for our nation, is an added benefit.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2014 6:02 PM

2014-06-09T18:02:26-04:00

We need to revert back to one pattern across all services with terrain-specific variants. Just like BDUs. The Marines and the Navy seem to be the only ones getting that one pattern does not fit all.

Response by SSgt Gregory Moore made Jun 11 at 2014 11:25 AM

2014-06-11T11:25:32-04:00

All services should switch to the current Marine pattern. One BDU is far more cost-effective. Branch insignia is more than adequate to differentiate the uniforms. It's just common sense, which means the Defense Dept will probably reject the idea.

Response by MSG Martin C. made Jun 13 at 2014 6:53 PM

2014-06-13T18:53:23-04:00

I would say yes DOD needs to stop the madness. We should all take the punch in the gut and say USMC you were correct all along we were wrong......

Response by LCpl Charles Ross made Jun 19 at 2014 1:54 AM

2014-06-19T01:54:22-04:00

Each Military Branch should have it's own uniform. Why, Because it's easier to identify different branches.in different BDU"S. If we all were to wear the same uniform it would make infiltrations by enemy's to blend in more easier.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2014 8:20 PM

2014-08-18T20:20:18-04:00

None of the above.

The Army and the Marines are the only ones that really NEED camoflage. 95% of the Air Force and Navy ever leave the wire or their ships.

Let the Army and Marines have their distinctive patterns and let the Navy and Air Force use whichever pattern belongs to the respective service that they're supporting or based with.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2014 8:45 PM

2014-08-18T20:45:41-04:00

The logic behind camouflage pattern confuses me. I understand that a single person may blend into the landscape. But it begs the question of why a single person may be there alone to begin with.
I'm not advocating wearing blaze orange, but if you are hunting, are you looking at the beautiful, scenic landscape? Or are you looking for the slightest movement?
My reasoning is...unless you are wearing a cloak of invisibility, the enemy will sight you. And if the enemy has sighted you, you can be wearing a pink tutu and sparkling purple spandex. It doesn't matter anymore.
I'm not saying that camouflage is a bad idea. It isn't. Whatever physical advantage we can get is still an advantage.
But surely, somebody in the military's "Great Idea Department" can design something to cloak infrared, at least.

Response by SSG(P) Auston Terry made Sep 20 at 2014 3:28 PM

2014-09-20T15:28:00-04:00

MARPAT should never have been restricted to one branch in the first place. Branch specific combat uniforms are a mistake. It's my personal opinon that personell that don't actively enagage in manual tasks should wear a uniform more in line with what the Army calls Class B's but more towards what the USMC calls Service C's at least in part to encourage a sense of service identity without the branches feeling the need to have a branded combat/utility uniform especially in joint settings. Are those uniforms a total pain in the ass? Absolutely, they also build character, attention to detail, pride, and ownership; which is the foundation of discipline.

In regards to utility uniforms, off the shelf across most terrain spectrums the two CADPAT/MARPATs seem to be the best available choice, especially since there seems to be a serious color fastening issue with OCP. I'd really like to see a return to the four pocket front coat; with molle sewn onto basically every flat surface on your OCIE and the combat shirt which is actually designed to wear under body army instead of half assing it with the current coat. The fit and utility of the four pocket front in soft sided field conditions was excellent.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2014 8:13 PM

2014-09-20T20:13:11-04:00

Yes everyone should use the same pattern. In many cases back in the day the Air Force units embedded with the army were wearing ACU's. IMO the BDU/ACU or whatever you want call them should be a battle uniform. I think we should go back to this.

It will cheaper for everyone in the long run because they will made in mass quantities. I liked it that we all had the same BDU once. I feel it added to cohesion of a joint environment. Whether you are a Marine, Sailor, Soldier or Airman in the joint fight we all have one mission.

I think it is the practical thing to do.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2014 8:17 PM

2014-09-20T20:17:13-04:00

On a side note i believe congress has mandated all services go to a standard pattern by 2018.