Should the Army simplify the ACU unifrom to create less judgement in reference to badges and patches

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 10:29:54 -0500

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2014 10:41 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 10:41:39 -0500

Sergeant, wearing badges is optional on the ACU uniform, just like wearing a combat patch is. Exactly what kind of judgment are you talking about?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2014 10:52 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 10:52:49 -0500

Are you referring to Judgement passed by Soldiers With combat patches to those without? And the same with skill identifiers and such?
I don't think that it should be "simplified" if by saying that you mean to remove the wear of those patches and badges.

Those Badges and those badges all represent something. Something that was not handed, but earned by the people who wear them.
People who wear them might look down upon those without, and people without might look up to those with them. if "Judgement" is passed in a negative fashion that is where the professionalism of the Army and it's soldiers needs to come into play.
Soldiers with those badges and patches should work to mentor and lead, not to judge and demean. On the opposite side, soldiers without them should be open to some mentor ship among other professionals.

If there truly is a problem with "judgement" caused by patches and badges, the problem en lies with the soldiers, not the uniform.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2014 11:16 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:16:27 -0500

The ACU is a disgusting uniform. It never looks neat and is as tactically proficient with all the velcro as an elephant walking through a valley of dry leaves.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2014 11:26 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:26:41 -0500

No, the individuals that earned them wear them with pride. Additionally the subordinate soldiers are often motivated to earn them and emulate their leaders that wear them. On a side note, in my opinion the whole ACU pattern needs bagged. The only place you can conceal yourself in is a rock quarry. The hook and loop closures on pockets is horrible and wears out quickly. I say we go back to the drawing board and give soldiers input on new designs.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2014 11:34 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:34:52 -0500

SFC, I think if someone has earned a badge they should be allowed to wear it if they so choose. I wear my badges proudly because I did something that others either haven't or couldn't. I hear a lot about how the Army is becoming soft and I think catering to the needs of the sensitive would only further that perception of a "soft" Army.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2014 11:43 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:43:01 -0500

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2014 11:51 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:51:24 -0500

So how do you feel about it, SFC Gilroy? What's your opinion on the subject?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2014 12:51 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 12:51:59 -0500

My answer is a resounding yes.
The only thing that should be on your combat uniform is your name, rank, and branch of service. I am naturally inclined to trust an airborne ranger in the 75th with a CIB more than I trust the guy with the commo brigade patch and not-much-else; in certain situations. However, this should never be an issue for the utilization of a combat uniform.
In order to establish assumed competence based on schools, deployment, and previous duty assignments we should wear ASUs/Class Bs when not in combat, the field, or under arms. We can have all the colorful patches, shiny brass, and dingle-dangles that we have earned and show off how neato we are when we are not actively doing the war thing.

Response by SFC Cornelius Walsh made Jan 30 at 2014 2:05 PM

SFC Cornelius Walsh — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 14:05:08 -0500

One of my best CSM's said it to me like this ; "remember when you were a young Private and you looked up to that NCO with jump wings? Now you're that NCO."

Wearing our earned badges and patches helps to encourage others when it comes to ambition and esprit de corps. I'd happily attend Air Assault school if given the chance - not for the BADGE per se, but for the unique skill set it affords, and the wealth of knowledge that can be obtained by successfully navigating the course. There are a wealth of other Army schools, badge/tab producing or not that I would also love to attend.

BLUF - Wear what you earned, wear it with pride, and don't judge others for not having it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2014 10:47 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 10:47:25 -0500

The ACU uniform should be changed, but not with regard to badges and patches. Any judgement issues lie with the soldier to the uniform. If someone is jealous of another soldier that has been deployed or been to a school then they should push or aspire toward those accomplishments themselves. Your question (i know its not YOUR question) sounds much like the discuusion that saw us all put on a black beret, so that every one felt "special".