What FIELD/COMBAT Uniform do you like best and why?

I selected BDU because that was the last uniform that all military services wore in the filed or in combat and was therefore the most Joint of all military service uniforms SSG Roger Ayscue I thought the OG-107 was the most comfortable uniform especially the "starchable" ones when out in the "field" when they had no starch .

It would either be the 107s or BDUs since they seemed pretty durable and did its job in the bush. No Velcro or zippers to wear our and I always sewed buttons back on. Green canvas jungles were the best boot, followed by my Cochrans. We took great pride in our appearance and looked very professional. I could shave in the reflection on my boots.

The chocolate chips should get honorable mention. They seemed heavy and had the extra flap of fabric sewn into the back that I recall hating. I had two sets of the old DCUs in Desert Shield/Storm and it was the only uniforms I had for the duration. Somehow they held up to everything a grunt could offer although the jungle boots eventually fell apart. By the time we returned to prep for our redeployment, I had worn the same thing for nine months. My toes were poking out from the boots and my t-shirts and socks had literally rotted away.

The ACU was garbage. The camo pattern is ineffective yet the Army said, "that's ok, we'll take it!" Even after studies outlined how it was not well suited compared to the other patterns. The Velcro...where to begin. And the stitching and fabric deteriorated so quickly. I don't know how many times I inadvertently...exposed myself. Someone somewhere made money from this deal.

Sumer weight BDUs and DCUs were my faves, lightweight and breathable...

SSG Roger Ayscue I really liked the OG-107s when I first came in in 1975. I liked the way I could get them heavy starched and stand them up in the corner of my room. They just looked good. and as the starch worn off they were comfortable!

On the topic of uniform.

The ACU is possibly the most flawed invention I have ever seen. My military career will encapsle the wear date for the ACU in it's entirety. The collar and the excessive velcro aside, I want to go after the so called "camouflage". When I was in Iraq by the Euphrates river, it was like wearing a VS-17 jacket, with mylar suspenders. We could not possibly be more visible, maybe if AR670-1 included mandatory PT-belts.

Some people stand fast with the "it is good for night ops", sure this might be true... but that pro doesn't outweight the plethora of the cons this uniform has. A light foliage green digicam, with bright tan accessories (shirt, boots).. holy crap, it is worthless.

And if this was not enough. If it's operational worthlessness wasn't enough - it looks even worse in garrison. The Army turned into the most sloppy looking service with the ACU - and now the OCP is already here, and some old school morons (like myself) is starching it to look halfway decent.

Minus all the jacked up Velcro, I would say the OCP variant of the ACUs. Cammo worked pretty good in multiple areas. Plus all the pockets we always wanted on BDUs but never got. They really need to get rid of that dumb ass mandarin collar IMO.

Fatigues, Mean-Mean OD Green Machine.

The ERDL pattern Vietnam era slant pocket jungle utilities. (Alternately, the green OG107 version). With the green Panama soled jungle boots sized 1 size bigger to take a set of running shoe insoles that made them feel much like today's $100+ rough out boots. Also always had lacing hooks retrofitted to the boots like the ancient Marine rough outs to enable fast donning even in the dark. Obtained many sets of the cammies after the Corps went to all jungle utes in '76 and through a little known section of Marine uniform regs that said old style uniform wearable til worn out, I wore my last 2 pair through retirement in '93. Had to wear a BDU utility cap tho as there never was an ERDL utility cap. S/F

The three-color desert BDUs that were issued in about 2003-2005 for deployment. They were very comfortable and depending on your local CSM, you could still roll the sleeves up. There was no silly velcro to wear out and all your scare badges and patches were permanently affixed with a needle and thread. We were even allowed to sew a nametape on the back pocket of the trousers so they'd never get lost in the laundry! What a great idea!

Then some genius came up with ACUs. While I didn't mind the color/pattern, I did mind the cut and fit of the uniform. It was terrible! Tons of sticky velcro everywhere. All those velcro patches and rank now cost 3-5 times as much as sew-on patches. $14 for 1st Cavalry! Plus, you couldn't roll up the sleeves. It had bulky elbow patches and think velcro cuffs that would snag on anything and everything. It wasn't practical to wear at most jobs so the troops simply didn't wear it. Now that's dumb!

When I came in, velcro was a noise hazard! We weren't allowed to have watch bands with velcro or wallets with velcro. In Aviation, we were forbidden from having pin-on rank or badges lest they become FOD in/around the aircraft.

Seems that as time goes on, lessons of the past are forgotten.

And don't even get me started on the loss of the one-piece Nomex flight suit!!!!

ACU style was the best, although the UCP was not....