Should soldiers buy multicam uniforms if they haven't deployed?

2015-09-06T03:34:16-04:00

I've noticed a few soldiers who have gone out and purchased the multicam to wear in lieu of the former acu. None of these soldiers have deployed, they just want to wear something besides the old acu. I was under the impression that the wearing of a deployment uniform was something a soldier earned. Am I wrong?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 3:45 AM

2015-09-06T03:45:43-04:00

I would be surprised if they don't get lit up like a Christmas tree when they show up to formation....I'd bring popcorn and watch.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2015 3:54 AM

2015-09-06T03:54:43-04:00

It has nothing to do with whether you've deployed or not. The OCP ACUs (what many people are referring to as Multicam) are the new standard uniform, we'll all have to buy them eventually. Some soldiers are just buying them earlier than others.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Sep 6 at 2015 11:56 AM

2015-09-06T11:56:50-04:00

It is an authorized uniform, as long as they are in an authorized uniform, good to go. I don't know when the wear-out date is for the original multi-cam is, but would have made the choice to have bought the new one (which I have...), as I expect that to be the "last man standing" standard within a couple years.

That said, as long as they continue to be within standards, they continue to be within standards.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Sep 6 at 2015 12:55 PM

2015-09-06T12:55:48-04:00

Yes, you are wrong. The multicam will be an official Army clothing bag item as early as October. IET soldiers will be issued it from the get go. Others, if they can do math, will levy their clothing allowance to start buying in to the new uniform. I would advise you to look at the ALARACT. The whole Army will be in it by 2019.

http://soldiersystems.net/2015/06/02/us-army-issues-alaract-ocp-transition/

US Army Issues ALARACT For OCP Transition - Soldier Systems Daily

The US Army has finally officially issued the long awaited ALARACT for the OCP transition. The ALARACT in its entirety can be read below, along with the uniform issue waves.

Response by SGT Scott Bell made Sep 6 at 2015 1:56 PM

2015-09-06T13:56:07-04:00

yes

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 2:01 PM

2015-09-09T14:01:37-04:00

The new OCP uniform is not Multicam although it is basically the same thing; all soldiers are authorised to wear it along with the ACU pattern until 2018 when the ACU pattern will be obsolete. Soldiers are also authorised to mix and match the TA50 patterns until 2018 to assist with the transition. The official deployment uniforms are actually the OCP equivilent of FRCUs.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 2:58 PM

2015-09-09T14:58:30-04:00

You don't earn the multicam uniform for deploying. That's what deployment patches are for. I wear the worn out ones for training I do outside the army and some guys there with me buy them who haven't even been in because they are nice to wear for certain outdoors activities.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 7:29 PM

2015-09-09T19:29:05-04:00

It is the new uniform and everybody will be wearing them soon enough. If they can get them, then they should.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 12:21 PM

2015-09-10T12:21:49-04:00

From the econmic stand point i think that soliders should be able to buy them because we all know their are a lot of lower enlisted out their who dont regulate/manage their money properly and are willing to spend money on things they dont neccessarly need. Because face it unless you are buying them because you are going to deploy they are just a form of fashion. Hence the reason i havent bought them. But lets say their are thirty thousand soliders who purchase the milticams and they are approximatly one hundred dollars for the pc blouse and bottoms. Thats three million dollars going back into the economy. But i do get where your coming from on earning them but isnt that what we have patches and medals for to show what you have achived. So id have to say sell them because this country needs help economically. And the stronger are
economy the better traing the army will have to offer us.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 1:26 PM

2015-09-10T13:26:27-04:00

Deployment Patches are earned, anyone can wear multicam. Not worth fighting about, combat vet or not, we all serve, save the measuring for the civies.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 2:37 PM

2015-09-10T14:37:59-04:00

I don't understand why it matters..

Response by 2d Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 3:30 PM

2015-09-10T15:30:40-04:00

I see a lot of good responses, most important being that as long as it's authorized it really doesn't matter. Also, I agree that deployment patches are the real badges of honor from deployments, not the uniform. In my mind, they can wear it if they want to.

From a "economical" point of view, however, can't say they're making the smart choice. Those "multicam" OCPs are expensive (as are most uniforms) and seem to wear out faster than the current uniform (some of us AF guys including myself got that Army OCP "multicam" on deployment and it wore out fast), meaning they'll probably need to buy new ones by the official switch out date anyway. Take that into account with the fact that they may get the chance to deploy and be issued them, and it just adds up to wasted money in my book.

Doesn't matter much for us AF guys, though. Last word says we're not falling in-step with Army, keeping our current pattern for in-garrison, and OCP's only for downrange. source:
http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/07/22/airmen-downrange-get-new-uniforms-over-two-years/30512485/

Airmen downrange to get new uniforms over two years

Airmen deployed downrange will get their new combat uniforms incrementally over the next one to two years, said Ruth Ewalt, chief of Air Force Uniform Programs and Policies.Since 2011, airmen deployed to the U.S.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 5:27 PM

2015-09-10T17:27:47-04:00

There is no reason why a soldier should not be able to buy the scorpion/multicam. No one earns multicam anyways. It's just a deployment uniform. But with any argument to be made about his can come from the Dress Blues. The way it was with that is the same here with multicams. No need to buy them but it's good to get them early before the deadline and there's plenty of time for that.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 7:57 PM

2015-09-10T19:57:22-04:00

You seem to forget that many people have deployed in UCP ACUs as well. Stop worrying about what other people are doing if they're within regs. Be proud of your deployment, but don't be a terd about it. Use your knowledge to help other soldiers grow. Getting a deployment or not is luck of the draw the past couple years.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 9:16 PM

2015-09-11T21:16:15-04:00

We called it the "Varsity Uniform" when I was overseas... When I went from my deployment in Kuwait we wore ACUs, but when I got to Afghanistan, boy was I out of place! I was the only soldier not in OCP! I liked them and wondered if I would ever get to wear them again. I'll wear them eventually, but not yet.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 11:02 PM

2015-09-11T23:02:30-04:00

http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/p670_1.pdf

Para 4-1.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 17 at 2015 6:22 PM

2015-09-17T18:22:48-04:00

I think people are mixing it up, OCP Multicam is DIFFERENT than OCP Scorpion (2015 ACUs), which replacing the UCP (Grey/Green Digital Pattern). You can wear the Multicam in lieu of the UCP BUT, its preferred you wait and buy the new OCP Scorpion. Most people are wearing the Multicam in garrison simply because its temporarily authorized and they probably have a lot if they were issued it via RFI or downrange.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 10:42 PM

2015-09-18T22:42:16-04:00

You guys have different Cammis for garrison and field work?! That's genius.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 12 at 2016 12:01 AM

2016-05-12T00:01:10-04:00

Response by SSG Steve Latta made May 13 at 2018 1:59 PM

2018-05-13T13:59:54-04:00

Pick one god damn uniform and quit screwing around. Tiger stripes would fit most of the terrains the Army fights in. Quite tiring to make the Marines into a branch of the Army!

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 14 at 2019 6:24 PM

2019-06-14T18:24:19-04:00

I've bought a set of it. I've never really seen it as something you earn. I just got a cheap set of multicam to wear if I'm in the field, motorpool, or anywhere else where I might ruin/stain my OCPs. They make a good beater uniform to use until the wear out date