Let's discuss Army uniforms. What was the best in the field, or what changes would you make?

2015-04-09T09:18:08-04:00

I've worn a couple of different of iterations of the Army's working threads, to include a brief stint in BDU, two generations of ACU, the FRACU and the A2CU. I'd have to say the best one in terms of practicality and comfort was easily the A2CU, which is a two part flight crew uniform that has flaps protecting the pen pockets and zippers everywhere instead of Velcro. The fabric was fire retardant but breathed easy and bled heat well while outlasting the Fire Retardant ACU's hands down. I think I would like to see something like that go Army wide, but that's just my two cents.

What do y'all think could change about the uniform, or perhaps bring back that we used to have? Please note that I'm of the opinion that it doesn't matter if the working uniform looks like a bunch of pajamas on a burlap sack, if you want to look sharp wear ASUs because nobody wears their coveralls to the ball.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 9:46 AM

2015-04-09T09:46:16-04:00

Let's get one that has a light weight breathable material for once.

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Apr 9 at 2015 11:12 AM

2015-04-09T11:12:30-04:00

Whatever is decided it has to be breathable and we need to be able to roll up our sleeves.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Apr 9 at 2015 11:45 AM

2015-04-09T11:45:12-04:00

I don't think it matters. Congress has gotten involved with legislation governing the uniforms across servicses so everyone is screwed.

http://soldiersystems.net/2014/02/03/joint-service-camo-national-defense-authorization-act-fiscal-year-2014-repost/

I may be the only one, but I was glad to see the Navy finally adopt a BDU/ACU type uniform. I will freely admit that when I was in the service, I was jealous of those who were able to dress like they were professional soldiers while our Navy daily uniform looked like we were working at a gas station.

I do agree that while I like the blueberry uniform, it is not very practical. The idea of camoflage being to blend in, the last thing you really want is a sailor who goes overboard to blend in with the ocean. You want them to stand out so that rescue can be affected. Additionally, in a combat situation, they are not practical either. Should a ship sink and the sailors find themselves on land, they want to blend in with their surroundings so as to avoid any enemy that may be searching for survivors. The blue just stands out making evasion more difficult under an already difficult situation. Much as I hate to say it, the Navy should have adopted the Marine Camoflage being that both are within the Department of the Navy.

I think that uniforms should be another source of pride in service. I think that the Navy/Marines, Army, and Air Force should all have compartmentalized control over what uniforms they are putting their soldiers in. The only caveat to that is that it should require testing.

The test of camoflage that I would propose is setting 100 soldiers dressed in the camoflage spread out in the environment that the camoflage is designed for. A group of untrained spotters (civilians would be my suggestion) would be brought in to find the soldiers. The service would set an acceptable threshhold, out of 100 (say 80% as an example). As soon as the spotters find enough soldiers in a specified amount of time (say ten minutes as an example), the camoflage fails the test. If it passes the initial test, then a group of soldiers is brought in to repeat the test with a new time constraint and a new threshhold. If it passes the second test, then the final test would be to bring in snipers, instructors, etc. as the final group to find the soldiers. Again a new time constraint and a new threshhold for failure. If it passes all three tests, then it can be put into production for issue to soldiers in the field.

Clothing is the first line of defense. Effective camoflage is required to help keep soldiers alive. Let's get that done so that we don't have to read about funerals, crippling injury, and needless loss of life.

Joint Service Camo and the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 - Repost -...

I originally posted this story on 20 December, 2013. It gives you some real background on how Congress fumbled the quest for a camouflage pattern by stripping the deadline out of the legislation in conference committee. Since several articles discussing camouflage have made the rounds recently, I felt it was important to arm SSD readers with some facts.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 1:32 PM

2015-04-09T13:32:30-04:00

Well, SGT Travis, we're assuming that those with the power will actually make a correct decision here. I'd like to see a blend of the current ACU cut with a logical pattern, like A-TACS or similar, however I really miss rolling my sleeves! Don't miss polishing boots, though. However, keeping in mind the DoDs standard decision making process, I imagine we'll sooner see a pink petticoat over blaze orange trousers and clogs, with a top hat

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 7:03 PM

2015-04-09T19:03:20-04:00

As long as they get rid of the ACU color, I'm good with anything. I have seen the ACU's in many different types of terrain. The was only one setting where I seen it blend into anything. A gravel pile. Seriously, before an AAR on a training op we did we were looking for one of the joes and couldn't find him for a minute because he was taking a breather sitting on a pile of gravel.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2015 5:47 AM

2015-04-12T05:47:41-04:00

I think the new pattern will be good. The only thing I want to see come back is the black boot.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2015 10:27 AM

2015-04-12T10:27:42-04:00

I think the MultiCam is the best. Where they're going to waste money is in patterning all of the equipment. There is no need for that. We went generation with OD green equipment. Just make it Coyote Brown and call it happy.

No need to pattern a ruck, a sleeping bag, an Assaukt kit, etc. it's just stupid.

Response by CW2 Stephen Pate made Apr 12 at 2015 12:09 PM

2015-04-12T12:09:19-04:00

I think the BDU was tough as nails. I remember going through an obstacle course being dragged by my collar through the mud and in full gear and losing a button on my blouse but that was it. The MCU tops all in camoflauging abilities even if it didn't test well with NVGs. I absolutely love that pattern! It works everywhere!

Response by SGT Bryon Sergent made Apr 13 at 2015 9:25 AM

2015-04-13T09:25:36-04:00

Bring back The rip stop BDU's. Maybe not the pattern but at least the style. There were buttons and you could BLOUSE (tuck) your pants in. I liked the black boots. They were hot and had to polish them but was a better boot. Didn't have the sole falling off or the stitching coming undone!

Response by SGM(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2015 10:49 AM

2015-04-30T10:49:11-04:00

I remember conditioning my summer rip stop BDU's. They were pajama thin, hard pressed and with my sleeves crisp and rolled a soldier looked like the professional he should. Especially with a mirror shined boot.

In the field, the same could be said for the breathability of the uniform, as tough as it was comfortable and tank grease kept the "field boots" black and water proof.

I'll take the multi cams just thinner, and let me press em in garrison, and roll my sleeves. I can take the boots either way but the new coyote color looks like it will be better than bright tan.

Response by CW4 Larry Curtis made Jun 1 at 2015 6:22 PM

2015-06-01T18:22:02-04:00

During my service, we were wearing the old fatigue uniform to work in, and jungle fatigues could still be had if you found them at the clothing sales store, but were not necessarily in use unless you were assigned to a location where they were authorized. They may not have been the absolute best working uniform, but they were lightweight and a lot more comfortable to wear in the warmer and more humid climates. Then the BDU came along in the 80s and brought with it some of the innovations which still appear on the more modern uniforms which I have never had the opportunity to wear. By the time I had reached the end of my service career, the only variant to the BDU was the Desert Cammo version, and the newer flying uniforms which resembled BDUs had just begun to be fielded...and I don't know what ever became of that one.

Army flight suits were two-piece Nomex uniforms during the 70s, which changed to the one-piece jumpsuit style in the early 80s. I think most everyone, except for mechanics/crewchiefs, preferred the one-piece. Maintenance personnel preferred a uniform which allowed them to remove their shirt while working in the heat, so I understand their point of view completely.

As to the ACUs, and others discussed, I have no experience with them and could not comment about them. Except one small thing about the modern utility work uniforms of today is that for us old guys, whose eyes were trained for an entire career to look at one's collar to check their rank and branch, these new ones tend to leave me guessing about it. I'm sure there were some very good and logical reasons for changing that, but tends to drive an old fart like me crazy trying to sort it out. LOL.

The main thing with ANY uniform would have to be functionality commensurate to the environment and type of job you are performing. Tankers have a unique uniform as well, or they have had a unique uniform in the past, and I'm sure they still do. But no matter which uniform you guys are wearing these days, I appreciate your wearing it and I thank you for it. But if we happen to have an encounter, please help an old man out in recognizing your rank and branch...HAHAHAHA!

Response by SSG John Jensen made Jun 4 at 2015 10:40 PM

2015-06-04T22:40:50-04:00

Jungle Fatigues - lightweight, breathing, and looked good with starch

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jul 23 at 2015 5:52 PM

2015-07-23T17:52:09-04:00

In 1987 I was sent to Italy, my TA-50 consisted of three set of Vietnam Era fatigues. We wore them from April 1, to Oct 1 every year until the lightweight summer BDU's came out. By far those were the best field uniforms I ever had. We wore BDU caps with them. As for the coveralls, I think every damn soldier should get one set of coveralls in the clothing issue bag. How can you expect soldiers to work on your equipment , pay for their uniforms while working on your equipment? Same for Safety Boots. Just my 0.02 cents

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 4:44 AM

2015-08-09T04:44:20-04:00

I think that battle uniform changes should be treated the same way the new pt changes were implimented. Pole the soldiers and test them out in a unit or two. AAR the shit out of them, make some more changes. Repeat. Until the end result is 1. A functional uniform. 2. A uniform soldiers can feel pride in helping to develop, and 3. Co for table for the wearer.
On a personal note, I think that buttons on the pants, definitely. Buttons on the blouse definitely NOT. Zippers for pockets Velcro around the wrist. I would also like to see the pen pockets move to the shoulder to allow us to roll our sleaves again.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2016 5:50 PM

2016-03-24T17:50:52-04:00

Please let us pin back rank on the collar. Too much fuzz for me.