The Defense Department has issued a formal notice asking American manufacturers who want to make an athletic shoe for service members to come forward and be counted.
Army
Shoes
CSM Maynard,
I could easily get behind a shoe that was designed especially for US Forces as long as the shoe is only being limited in its overall look. There should be as many options (cushioning, motion control, stability, width, minimal, etc.) as are available through the current options. It should also have a mileage limit equal to or greater than the best shoes on the market. I have always been botherd by Soldiers that decide to wear lime green, hot pink, or other outrageous colors, but limiting the ability to choose which shoe is best for the activity or that day will only serve to hinder or harm Soldiers.
As someone with "unique" footwear needs thanks to my father's exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, I think I would break the whole uniformity goal.
How? I doubt the Army would have running shoes in one of the sizes (yes I wear two very different sizes) I require. Thus, I would have to be allowed to wear the footwear I am able to wear. When I buy running shoes, it is like planning a major operation. I have to find a brand that produces the two totally different sizes I need in the same color and style. That usually means adult and youth sizes. It is not an easy thing to do. My latest pair had me on the Internet for over two hours trying to find the right match.
Based on my experiences in the Army trying to get basic issue footwear, I have no confidence in this latest line of thought. In Basic Training, I had to get medical staff involved in just trying to get boots and low quarters. Prior to my second deployment, it took an IG complaint and G-4 involvement to get an additional pair of boots issued to me by the civilians at RFI. This is a bad idea all the way around.
This does not appear to be about "uniformity" in shoes and should not affect Soldiers already in the Army. (It also doesn't appear the Army wants to implement this, but instead is being pressured by shoe lobbyists and Congress.)
I certainly would not want to see this morph into a dictated shoe for all Soldiers. Hopefully, the current voucher program will stay in effect, as it appears to offer Trainees better options at a lower cost to the Government.
At Reception, all Soldiers are required to go through a mandatory foot screening to determine what type of running shoes a Soldier should have. Then they are marched to the shopette (at least at Ft. Benning) and forced to buy a new pair of running shoes using the Eagle Cash Card they were issued earlier. This Eagle Cash Card is drawn from the recruit's first paycheck. Thus there is no voucher. It comes out of the recruit's pocket.
I honestly don't see any added value in an official running shoe.
I dont think the Army or any branch should go to one PT shoe. Everyone runs in a different way, and all feet are different, you cant make one shoe that will fit every Soldier in the Army. When I joined we did the wet test at Reception, once we did that it showed me what type of shoe I should buy and wear. Over the years my running style has changed and I have gone to a shoe with more sole and that is lighter. I think the Army should let us pick our shoes!
I really think this push in for uniformity seeing how many Soldiers go and buy these bright shoes that take away from the uniform.
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