Posted on Sep 19, 2014
Should velcro finally disappear with the new Army Combat Uniform with Scorpian W2 Pattern?
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I've been sewing on my uniform tapes since it's been authorized. If you take a look around and it seems, in my opinion, most Soldier's are already going back to sewing on the tapes and badge qualifications. I believe it looks more professional and I don't have to stick/restick in badges or blacken them when the gold starts showing. The Army switched to hook-and-loop fasteners (referred to as Velcro from here on) to save the Soldier money and ease the transferring of items from one uniform to the other. When you were told you could sew on the tapes and badges. What did you do? Did you hop on board or wait until you had a general consensus of what everyone else was going to do?
Now we, as an Army, have the opportunity to fix where the ACU went HORRIBLY wrong. Although, SMA Chandler said the uniform styling cues weren't changing but aren't we passed the "let's throw some Velcro back on the new uniform so we can go ahead and sew over it again". Leave the stitch marks for where it needs to be (name tapes and rank) and let's go ahead and sew on our American Flag, that's not changing, and our combat patch, that rarely changes, and our unit patch, changes every few years. Last time I checked we took pride in our uniforms, or used to, and let's pay the 40 bucks to get all the hoopla sewn on and call it a day. I won't even get started on the Velcro pockets on this thread, which as you know, have been slowly disappearing as they update the ACU every so often. What say you?
Now we, as an Army, have the opportunity to fix where the ACU went HORRIBLY wrong. Although, SMA Chandler said the uniform styling cues weren't changing but aren't we passed the "let's throw some Velcro back on the new uniform so we can go ahead and sew over it again". Leave the stitch marks for where it needs to be (name tapes and rank) and let's go ahead and sew on our American Flag, that's not changing, and our combat patch, that rarely changes, and our unit patch, changes every few years. Last time I checked we took pride in our uniforms, or used to, and let's pay the 40 bucks to get all the hoopla sewn on and call it a day. I won't even get started on the Velcro pockets on this thread, which as you know, have been slowly disappearing as they update the ACU every so often. What say you?
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Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 13
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I never did agree with the hook-and-loop fastener concept on uniforms. Yes, velcro to many of us is annoying. For one, it gets worn out and makes that irritating noise when taking off patches and name tapes. I have all my ACUs with sewn on name tapes/rank/badges. The BDUs looked better because you had everything sewn on. One thing I can't stand is when someone has their name tapes curled up and almost falling off their ACU top. I hope the changes go back to having everything sewn on.
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Until uniforms start being designed by those that play in the dirt for a living.........
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Being in the Air Force the only things I have velcro on are my back pack and my fleece. For the sake of the Army I hope ya'll go away from velcro though. It's obnoxiously loud which I can't imagine is a plus in combat. Buttoned pockets stay closed far better. And then the biggest thing is sewn names/rank look better and last far longer than velcro which starts to wear out fairly quick, especially I would imagine if worn on a daily basis as your ACUs are.
Over all, sewn names and rank and buttoned pockets are much better. I could see the shoulder patches remaining velcro but that's about it.
Over all, sewn names and rank and buttoned pockets are much better. I could see the shoulder patches remaining velcro but that's about it.
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Never did like the hook and loop. My tapes and rank are sewn on. The sleeve pockets only get in the way by somehow occasionally connecting to my collar and catching it. Taking off the parka or fleece, you sometimes have to readjust the flag and unit patches. I say away with them. When we had BDU's, it looked much more professional and squared away in my opinion.
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Scorpian W2 Pattern, that's what it is called? News to me. The Velcro on the ACUs is probably the worst idea ever. It frays and the patches attached will bend over time; giving an sloppy look. Additionally, you lose noise discipline when retrieving things from pockets (no to mention sticking to your fellow Soldiers when in close proximity of each other).
Go back to the tried and proven things, button and sew on. They worked for generations.
Go back to the tried and proven things, button and sew on. They worked for generations.
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The above was written in 2015. Has it really caught on. US Army BDU jackets now appear (2019) to have a full velcro-faced pocket on the arm so that new unit members can have a "slap a patch" introduction ceremony. It appears the Velcro "hook" backed patch is just slapped against the "loop" fronted Velcro face of the pocket by their commanding officer. The name strips, American flags, and other elements may have gone back to sewing-on, but it appears the unit patches are still Velcro. Is this true?
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A Squad Leader goes from man to man just before hitting a house, and whispers to each one. "Alright we're going to sneak up on these guys, and detain them. Everybody tracking? Cool let's go" Then standing up after talking to the last Soldier, a loud RIIIIIPPP!! sounds out as the hook and loop fasteners on their shoulders detaches from each other. "Shit! Let's go!" Stupid Velcro!
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I agree sew it all on. I miss my BDU's and black boots a highly shined jump boot but I digress. I will be rolling out in 3 years I can embrace the suckered as we say and drive on.
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I was active duty Air Force, deployed to Camp Bucca, Iraq. I was happy and a little envious that the Army ACU uniform allowed them to take off certain patches like rank, etc. In many aspects of war, you want to have some things not show. But while not deployed, it's easier having everything sewn down. It's already placed correctly, stays, don't have to search or worry about missing a patch or placing it incorrectly. .. in a rush. I would hate to forget a patch at home and realize it in the parking lot at work. I would probably have extras of all of them in my vehicle incase one comes off and I lose it. During some of our pre-deployment training, it's way too easy to lose patches. I see benefits and negative aspects to using velcro.
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SSG Robert Reynolds
I was an Infantryman in the Army, believe me when I say having Velcro on a combat uniform is one of the stupidest decisions of all time. It is worthless for securing items, in a pocket. The hook side collects every random piece of dust, and lint out there, and the loop side quickly unravels. Finally, the greatest sin of them all is that it is loud, and can give away your position when you need to be quite.
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