SMA pushes for black socks, headphones with PT uniform. Your thoughts?

It should be made clear that the SMA is talking about headphone use only WHILE IN GYM FACILITES. Although I would love to be able to wear mine while taking APFT..I like having music to keep my focus and set a pace. Having said that, I know many who run the test with their phones for a timer...no reason why they can't play music through the device speakers.

The fact that this is an issue on the SMA's agenda strikes me as sad, given the fact that we have a shrinking force, a shrinking budget, and a growing number of security issues throughout the world. We have a ridiculous number of SHARP issues, serious concerns about the quality of leadership across the force, discussions about major changes to benefits for Soldiers and families, and a renewed focus on direct action fights that is going to require major retraining throughout every formation in the Army, AND YET we care about the color of socks people wear during PT? Yes, it's nice that Soldiers will be able to wear headphones at the gym - but why is this not a garrison commander issue that gets resolved with five minutes of memo-typing?

I appreciate that SMA Dailey is working to reduce the everyday suck and put a check on some of the rampant stupidity, but this isn't an issue worthy of his attention when there is so much else of concern in the Army.

So while it is nice to see that he is trying to ease the suck a bit I think he needs to let other issues be high profile and let these just be icing on the cake.
Since he doesn't do PRT for his personal training regimen, is he going do address what he sees is wrong with it?
Are we going to have a new APFT anytime soon and in what form will it take?
Most of all, how to enforce the top driven mandates he sets. We all know there will be more than one or two commanders/CSMs that will take exception to his decision to have a period of mix and match with uniforms. There will also be those who are butt hurt about letting a Joe/Jane listen to music while walking on the treadmill.

So you will be seeing some troops wearing bright red beats headsets, very professional

I don't remember the survey, but did they think about just changing the materials and keeping the same style instead of changing everything?

Well, I don't understand the black sock thing. Everyone says that they can't wear the green issue wool socks. Well they haven't been wool since the mid to late 90's. All they are is green over the calf tube socks. Makes no since. They are 100 percent cotton! same as the black just different color.
As far as the head phones. I like that Idea. would love to be able to run with the head phones in or at least just one as to be aware of my surroundings anyway.