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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?
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?
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Uniforms
Uniforms
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 37
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Not only is there the pride and appearance argument, which I feel is valid, but there is also utility. I still have my original 4 sets of BDU's. They were way more durable, the summer fabric felt great, and the buttons never failed. My ACU's have pockets that are not useable, the velcro fails quickly, and most of all..... they don't have the pen pocket in the upper chest! I lose or break pens all the time because of their positioning on the left lower arm. The chest pen pocket on the BDU's were a great feature, and kept pens hidden. The cargo pockets were also capable of holding an MRE, which came in handy in the field. Black boots are also much more durable than the desert boots we now wear. Needless to say, I miss the BDU......... Also, I never spent that much time polishing boots. Once I had a good shine built up, a quick brush shine was normally sufficient.
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When you wash your ACU's turn them inside out and hang dry them. This will make the ACU's last much longer. I can get a good full year out of one pair by using this method. It also doesn't hurt to have them pressed. Also the newer ACU's have the buttons which I love a lot more than velcro.Â
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SPC (Join to see)
If we can put a missile up a camels pucker hole from three thousand miles we should be wearing something better than the ACU. Hook and lope ( Velcro is trade marked) is the least tacticle way to seal a garment. Why not use the souls of tourmented orphan children on one side and the family they wish they knew on the other so the enemy could hear them sceach even louder as you pull them apart. Further more I once blended in with crushed granite... Once! As far as the fly goes, buttons? really? I would rather use hook and loop because if I get shot in the back I would rather it be for making noise over fumbling around a piece of plastic with four holes in it. One that can't hold ( Especially second one down) when you need it to and won't come undone when you need to piss like a Viking warrior that has drank to much mead and blood of your enemy's.
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I don't wanna take 100% of the credit here but....<div>When I was a private, back in like 99, SMA Tilley asked a group of us what needs to be changed about the Army, and my recommendation was to find different boots, cause I was spending 2 hrs a night polishing mine.</div>
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SSG (Join to see)
The whole having a pair for inspection sounds good in theory. As a PFC in 2005 I was inspected at every morning formation, and then went straight to work afterwards. The stardust I had to sweep daily nor the vehicles I had to crawl under to PMCS couldn't have cared less about my shiny boots. Which of course meant I was polishing them nightly. That combined with starching and ironing my BDUs usually took 2 hours.
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SFC Cornelius Walsh
But that's part of the problem, isn't it? The BDU's were not supposed to be starched, and yet it became the standard. I hated it then, and I'll hate it now. I still remember getting scoffed at for not having a glass-shine on jungle boots, when the regulation really just told us to keep them in good repair.
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SSG (Join to see)
I waited until the 1SG looked right at me, and said, SPC, put your **** Acus on. I didn't like them when they were issued to me, and I don't like them now. I believe that the care, and polishing my boots, and ironing my uniform gave me pride in what I was wearing. Acus don't look squared away no matter what you do to them. I have ironed them, pressed them, and wore them like they were designed. They are twice as expensive as BDU's, half a durable, and you always look like you don't care about what you look like. I would rather wear my ASU's everyday. (get pants that match first) OCP is a good pattern, but go back to the BDU material and wear and appearance.Â
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I had about 5 years in BDUs and polished boots. Never was a fan of the "starched" uniform always preferred the steam pressed creases. I loved the attention to detail it took to keep the professional appearance. I still iron my ACUs every time before I wear them.
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still have my closet of 8 pair at my mom's and all my boots, I'll march in those in a parade someday to "show my age"
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I do miss the days of putting on a uniform, fresh from the cleaners, and hearing the starched sleeves separate into two razor sharp creases. And I slightly miss spit shining my boots. I hate the UCP acus. However, I do like MOST of the changes made to the OCP, except the buttons on the cuffs. They're all bass ackwards; instead of the button being on the actual cuff, its on the other part. its PITA to button. Other than that I love em.
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I fell the ACU's suck, when i got in it was BDU's like i have posted before you could tell in BDU's who took pride in there uniform and who didnt, the polished boots, the crease in the uniform from head to toe you could tell they were proud of the uniform and were serving. Now its just let me throw these on and go.
The next thing the life span of ACU's suck, the "hook fastners" or VELCRO was a crappy idea i dont like the fact the while in formation and i turn around looking for my soldiers and i get stuck to another person sleeve i dispise that....Then theres the tan boots, when i get these things dirty im like great now i gotta get a new par of boots because someone thought it was cool to do land nav at campbell in the red dirt......Did i forget to mention while wearing NVG's we light up like a christmas tree....Alright im done with my rant.....
The next thing the life span of ACU's suck, the "hook fastners" or VELCRO was a crappy idea i dont like the fact the while in formation and i turn around looking for my soldiers and i get stuck to another person sleeve i dispise that....Then theres the tan boots, when i get these things dirty im like great now i gotta get a new par of boots because someone thought it was cool to do land nav at campbell in the red dirt......Did i forget to mention while wearing NVG's we light up like a christmas tree....Alright im done with my rant.....
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I haven't worn them but I think they look sloppy and ill fitting. I remember the stiffly starched BDU's and high shine black boots.
My biggest fuss was when we got issued the black beret. Most everyone looked like a french tourist in camo because no one could figure out how to wear them correctly *SIGH*
My biggest fuss was when we got issued the black beret. Most everyone looked like a french tourist in camo because no one could figure out how to wear them correctly *SIGH*
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So I'm seeing this talk about Velcro ect. And I'm wondering how long it has been since you replaced your acu's. 2011 we were authorized to sew all of the name, service, rank on the uniform. Leaving shoulder patch Velcro. Plus they replaced the pockets on the trousers tabs with buttons. So all this Velcro complaint seems nill. One, let us have a uniform that functionally allows us to roll sleeves again. Two, if you think a combat uniform pattern should DRAW more fire rather than help conceal your silhouette, buy acu's. Hopefully this discussion is just gripes and old complaints and the DA gets us that 4 tier system.
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