Operational Camouflage Pattern, is it detracting from the Army's uniformity?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 04:36:07 -0400

"Soldiers are authorized to mix and match T-shirts, belts, and boots with either the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern or the Operational Camouflage Pattern during the transition period - expected to run through Oct. 1, 2019. To further ease the change, Soldiers, who already have Flame Resistant ACUs in the Operational Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern, will be authorized to wear them during the transition." -http://www.army.mil

Isn't the point of the Army uniform in garrison to maintain a certain level of uniformity amongst the service itself? So with the new uniform being released and the option to "mix and match" pieces from each uniform, won't there be quite a bit of irregularity in formations? I was not around for the switch from BDU's to ACU's, my father was though, and I don't remember there being the option to wear one uniforms undershirt with another's coat. Should the Army stress so much on keeping your hair cut and face shaven if they will allow their formations to look like a heard of commingled cattle?

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Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jul 4 at 2015 4:52 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 04:52:34 -0400

Gotta give you a thumbs up SSG Private RallyPoint Member for expecting (and demanding) standards and discipline! (I hope your father is reading this as he would be proud!)

The thought to allow this to be a transition is to allow our force to purchase these items (over time) that will end up being part of the clothing bag issued during basic training. It could cause undue financial hardship to require a Soldier to purchase a new clothing bag of uniforms based on a uniform change...the phase in process is a four-year process which covers the cost of the clothing bag when you add up the clothing allowance over those four years. Therefore, if you used only your clothing allowance, you would be able to purchase the complete issue of uniforms over those four years.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2015 5:34 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 05:34:40 -0400

The OCP and OEF-CP are so similar in appearance that the mixing of undergarments and boots will not detract from uniformity that much. There was a time during the BDU to ACU transition that you were allowed to wear your brown BDU t-shirt with your ACUs. It is a transition, it has happened many times and if you hang around long enough you will see it again.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2015 6:59 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 06:59:55 -0400

I do see what you are getting at. I don't think it will be much of an issue really. So many of us hate the ACU. I am one of them. I think it is a horrible pattern. I was in when we transitioned from BDU to ACU. Formations looked horrible. I was in the National Guard then and some were wearing BDU up the the last minute. With this new uniform we won't have this problem. So many of can't wait to get the new uniforms they are standing in line outside of clothing & sales before it even opens just to get a set. I have a feeling that this will be one of the quickest transitions we will see in our times.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2015 10:07 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 10:07:51 -0400

I think it would take personal courage NOT to mix the uniform. What happens when someone "accidentally" mix the uniform after the end date? I'd hate to see the fire and brimstone coming from their CSM.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jul 4 at 2015 10:27 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 10:27:17 -0400

Not at all...common sense has been applied and it is refreshing that it has, as it doesn't happen that often from that high up on the totem pole.....we went through a similar mismatched period when the ACUs were rolled out, so for a while you had BDUs, DCUs and ACUs all being worn. Not everyone can run right out and purchase the new uniforms on day 1 or hell even day 30, it will be ugly to the eye for a while, but is not a detriment to the Army.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2015 4:20 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Jul 2015 16:20:27 -0400

I always looked forward to my CA month when I was active duty, because I had little wear and tear on my uniform. In effect my CA month was extra spending money.

In a similar situation today, can a soldier be forced to use his clothing allowance to begin the transitional purchases before the wear out date? For example, if a soldier plans on ETS in 2 years, can he be forced to make the purchase?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 1:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 13:25:14 -0400

I u sweat and that a complete purchase of every issued items would cause a strain on a Soldier's finances especially or young PVT-SPC. However the basic everyday items such as full set of OCP should not be mismatching do to availability. If so we should wait another year until we have all items before making the change. I don't see any other branch doing this mess. I love who i'm with but come on Army. Now I don't expect soldiers to run out and purchase assault packs, duffle and the other non essential items right away but I stand firm on the every day uniform.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2015 10:21 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 22:21:43 -0400

Are company level COs authorized to not allow the company to wear the new uniforms yet for the sake of uniformity, or any other reasoning?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2015 12:49 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 12:49:04 -0400

It is what it is. We wore tan or brown shirts and black or tan boot in BDUs during that transition (that was ugly). When the uniform costs more than the old (BDUs $55-60 a set, ACU $85 a set and now the new one $95 a set) you cant expect everyone to be able to drop that cash on new undershirts, socks, 2 pair of boots, a cap, a belt and 4 sets of the tops and bottoms at once.

Response by SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA made Jul 29 at 2015 11:56 AM

SGT Hector Rojas, AIGA, SHA — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 11:56:01 -0400

Is it detracting from uniformity? Of course.
Does it matter? It doesnt.
SMA and ACOS both have said that it doesn't matter, and in fact we are still the most efficient and ass kicking military.

Now let me ask you this:

You are a PFC so you make a pittance of a salary.
Can you afford to spend $450 to replace all 4 sets of ACUs in one sitting?
Add to that the roughly $250 foe a few sets of the also new APFU uniform?
That's $700 out the door.

If mix and match bothers you that much...you'll hate deployment, you'll see people wearing all sorts of stuff.