Should the military go back to the old camouflage uniforms?

2019-05-25T07:22:18-04:00

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 8:24 AM

2019-05-25T08:24:17-04:00

Which pattern are you referring to?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 9:01 AM

2019-05-25T09:01:35-04:00

Is it the style or the pattern that you liked?

I think the current OCP pattern works pretty well in most of our environments; I don't think woodland works quite as well, especially places like Afghanistan

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 9:08 AM

2019-05-25T09:08:06-04:00

In the State Defense Forces, many (not all) are still wearing the old Woodland Pattern on modern ACU's. (VA, TN, VT to name but a few) We got all the same velcro and we wear the same coyote brown boots at does the rest of the Army. Made by True Spec. To some they act as if the world is going end if we don't go to the same uniform that the rest of the Army is wearing that their life will stop or something. The TAGS have reasons why they want us wearing these in the Defense Forces vs. wearing the same as what the regular Army/Guard wears.
My personal opinion is that too much time and money is being spent arguing over what we're going to wear. We need to all be wearing the same stuff we called it "uniform." I feel worrying about it distracts from the mission and makes it so the job isn't going to get done because of all the infighting over it. (the infighting is there and it's real. People argue over it all the time) The mission to me is more important. I go do my job and as long as they know who I am and why I'm there, we can worry about the minor details later. Honestly, I like the darker pattern.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 25 at 2019 1:10 PM

2019-05-25T13:10:00-04:00

I think we are chasing the next war.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made May 25 at 2019 3:25 PM

2019-05-25T15:25:39-04:00

It’d be wasteful.. do they even got the old patterns in archives?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 3:55 PM

2019-05-25T15:55:03-04:00

I am thinking you really want to bring back some of the crisper, less sloppy look that we used to have to achieve (especially in Garrison) and not so much about the pattern.

I submit that this should be the use of pink and greens. Obviously combat style in the field, or motor pool, but wearing a class B pink and green would bring some of that attention to detail and pride

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 4:10 PM

2019-05-25T16:10:38-04:00

So I wonder which pattern you are referring too? While I wasn’t in for BDU/DCU the colors in woodland weren’t always the best, mainly black not being a naturally occurring color. The UCP was worthless unless you were in Gravel or Grammas couch! The multicam/OCP seems like a great mix for different environments that we are operating in! For a normal duty uniform I feel like we should be wearing Class B’s unless we are in the motorpool to instill pride and purpose again. I don’t think wearing the current ACU is giving soldiers a sense of pride in what they put on everyday, whereas we would have Pinks and Greens or even the current ASU class B that we have to take care of, that would instill more pride and ownership in what is worn

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made May 25 at 2019 4:54 PM

2019-05-25T16:54:57-04:00

Define old camouflage, EDRL, BDU or ACU?

Response by MSgt Gerald Orvis made May 25 at 2019 5:40 PM

2019-05-25T17:40:14-04:00

Can't respond for the other services, but I think the Marine Corps' current digital camouflage utilities are just fine. Since the Marine Corps operates on a somewhat limited budget compared to the other services, I can't imagine that it would change its uniforms for a "good old days" reason, but only for a solid functional purpose. The Marine Corps was wearing starched sateen utilities when I first enlisted, and went through several types of utilities before I retired, so I'm glad it has settled on one type of utility uniform and stuck with it.

Response by Maj John Bell made May 25 at 2019 8:52 PM

2019-05-25T20:52:19-04:00

Yes, because service members have too much expendable income and clothing allowance more than covers the cost of maintaining an IG ready foot locker and seabag.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 25 at 2019 9:07 PM

2019-05-25T21:07:44-04:00

I like the OCP ACU. Well except for the fit of it. The pants are really weird in sizing. Medium on me fits great everywhere but tight in the waist. Size large feels like I jumped 4 sizes in pants and I was swimming in them in the legs. I wish they would add the waist adjustment tabs like the old woodland pattern BDU pants had.

In terms of camo pattern I love the OCP.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2019 2:16 PM

2019-05-26T14:16:24-04:00

I say stop changing it. Current OCP look alright.
However if we were to change AGAIN I would say to change all branches to the same pattern. Adapt the Marine’s pattern, except remove the tiny Marine logo. Everyone can use the branch specific name tapes. I just think think would be the most economical way to do it. Get a bigger contract cheaper and utilize tax money more efficiently.

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made May 26 at 2019 8:49 PM

2019-05-26T20:49:04-04:00

Money not being an object, you could always try the short lived USMC reversibles used during WWII. The genesis of the infamous "green side out or brown side out? Run in circles, shout, shout, shout!" (Duncan, out of print)
Of course, if dollars are a concern, you might want to wait for the next war and react accordingly. If it's in the arctic, everyone might be able to draw food handler whites from supply's mess hall stock.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2019 6:44 PM

2019-05-28T18:44:01-04:00

I’ve been in since the BDU/DCU era, but I think the current OCP pattern answers all modern needs for a functional camouflage pattern.

To the people calling for a class B or “pinks and greens” in garrison era: don’t forget maintenance of a dress uniform, i.e. other than field uniforms, incurs cost to every service member.

This is especially true if you’re going to have people checking others on a daily basis to ensure conformity. Although people will look more “sharp” with a policy like this in place, I’d much rather have SM focus on attention to detail with their job, rather than trying to look pretty.

Response by SGT Ron Egan made May 28 at 2019 10:04 PM

2019-05-28T22:04:50-04:00

Pussies, bring back the old starched, rub your balls raw, sand your ass fatigues

Response by SGT Ron Egan made May 28 at 2019 10:06 PM

2019-05-28T22:06:48-04:00

Pussies, bring back the starched, rub your balls raw, sand your ass fatigues

Response by SSG Darrell Peters made May 28 at 2019 10:38 PM

2019-05-28T22:38:08-04:00

When I first came in the Army I wore a solid color fatigue uniform green with a white t shirt. In Garrison this uniform was very functional for doing my job. It needed to be neatly pressed and Black Boots need to be shined. You don't need to look like a tree everyday. The BDU uniform came out. to me it was heavier and I had to go to the extra expense of buying green t shirts, then they changed the color of tshirts to brown. Then the ACU came out and another T shirt and the end of the black boot. Personally I would like to see a solid green Fatigue comeback I can understand some modifications being made but it should be inexpensive. ruined a really good set of BDU's during Motor Stables, Only Mechanics got the coveralls, their is a place for camouflage but like I said, you don't need to look like a tree every day.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 29 at 2019 9:50 AM

2019-05-29T09:50:19-04:00

Once again , the discussion turns to looks instead of job proficiency. One day I hope the military can place as much focus on the ability to do your job as it does on outward appearance.

Response by PO3 David Davis made May 29 at 2019 11:00 AM

2019-05-29T11:00:54-04:00

I know we are talking about camouflage. Change the Nzvy womens Uniform back. The look sloppy in the Dress Uniform. It was not designed for women.

Response by MCPO Oslo Wilhunky made May 29 at 2019 12:00 PM

2019-05-29T12:00:56-04:00

These continuous uniform changes are a huge waste of taxpayer money and makes the army look like a teenage girl trying on dozens of outfits to dress for a Saturday night. The US military should standardize their cammies and put a moratorium on all uniform changes every 10 years.

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made May 29 at 2019 12:51 PM

2019-05-29T12:51:35-04:00

The Army has other problems that need more attention at the moment. Yes the uniform changs can be a good thing, but lets take care of the more important things first. I have been a fan of the new service uniform, but we need to stop changing uniforms every few years.

Response by Cpl Mark Sullivan made May 29 at 2019 8:30 PM

2019-05-29T20:30:19-04:00

I don't know about camo uniform but definitely black leather boots.how can u shine tan suade boots.thry get dirty and look unprofessional

Response by Al Reynolds made May 31 at 2019 10:04 AM

2019-05-31T10:04:19-04:00

I'd surely like to jump in with an opinion here but I was Navy.

We had whites, blues and dungarees. That's what we had and that is what they were called .... Same shoes for each and the same scarf for a tie and each one knotted differently for that zany individual look ... I couldn't function in a branch that refers to all their uniforms with capital letters... although OCP sounds a lot better than Woodland-green ..... 'Woodland Green' causes me a bit of suspicion.... BDU/DCU sounds like you are going places and are determined to get there.... without that aggravating need to color coordinate along the way ... Which is good....

One uniform for all. Keep the price down.... Next week we can decide where to hang your latest ribbon.... I can see it now....

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2019 10:35 PM

2019-06-21T22:35:11-04:00

Someone else posted on the same topic....

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/would-you-support-a-standard-uniform-for-all-branches-of-service-why-or-why-not?cid=wouUnRe42910Th

Would you support a standard uniform for all branches of service? Why or Why not? | RallyPoint

the closest I seen to a standard uniform for the Armed Forces was the multicam uniform when I was in Kandahar, and Air Force all wearing the uniform at one point with few deviations. Would do feel about this?

Response by LCpl William Howard made Jul 13 at 2019 8:13 PM

2019-07-13T20:13:53-04:00

YES,they should go back to standard camo.

Response by SSG Curtis Vaughn made Aug 2 at 2019 10:47 PM

2019-08-02T22:47:49-04:00

Response by CDR Mike Haberthur made Jan 2 at 2020 12:34 PM

2020-01-02T12:34:49-05:00

No offense, but which cammie to revert to?