What happened to face paint?

I've used it for hooah purposes in field training.

I remember that I hated seeing camo sticks, 18tth ABC had a camo requirement for training that I'm not even sure they followed at Bragg but we sure did at Hunter AAF, we camoed up for foot marches; even if that was all we were doing. Putting it on wasn't even the worst part, having green ears for a week was, and when I started shaving my head that just made it worse...
I don't miss camo, but field craft is an important skill. I grew up hunting the various small and furries in Montana and I still camo up for bow season, less because I have to and more because it makes my wife think I'm doing more than drinking beer in the woods with a bow.

Does anyone here remember the "camo line" at Fort Campbell? Cross this point and camo was mandatory. Every weapons qualification range, any "back-40" areas, etc. Everyone kept camo sticks in their POV!

ive been out for so long i didnt even know they dont use it anymore, i remember everyone had their own individual design they used pretty cool i used to look pretty mean with it, could also tell who as who with the patterns sometimes

IMHO, using camo sticks and learning to conceal ourselves in the environment was one of the most fun parts of training!

Looks a bit colorful but I like it. Now it wouldn't work for me since I was playing in or very close to the water. The only place that might have been useful was in Diego Garcia, there is some thick jungle in that little bitty island.

Face paint is a field craft that has it's uses. While in Ranger we had to use it. I can see why you would if you were in a small unit moving around enemy area. When I was a scout we used it when we performing missions.

I would say it is not meant for everyone. If you are rolling up in HUMMVs with face paint you are just being that guy. In Iraq you were never really trying to blend in. We were fighting in the city. We were focusing on urban warfare.

The whole idea of stealth is used in error. I am sorry to burst anyones bubble but I have yet to here of anyone or any team being compromised due to their Velcro on their pocket. It was usually something else. I recall taking to a soldier and he was complaining about the enemy being alerted by velcro. I just looked at him dumbfounded and stated that we ride in Bradleys, you can hear those a mile away. They he realized the error of his ways.

I also recall it being a EIB task. I believe it will make a return in time but not as we focus on desert and urban warfare.

If you close your eyes and mouth, peek a boo, I can't see you!

SSG Woods:

The last time I used face paint was in 2006. Clothing sales, General Jackson's, several other stores sell it in what pretty much looks like a green Maybelline compact - even had a mirror in it, and it had anywhere from three to six different colors depending on which one you wanted. Any Soldier who valued his/her face (knowing they were going to the field) would go buy one rather than use the army sticks - which were ok in hot weather but SUCKED in anything below 72º F. Sometime in 2004 or maybe a little later, the Army decided to reformulate the sticks and they were a lot softer - they probably still are.

The biggest problem with the camo paint (other than it being hard as a brick), was that it was hard to get supply to order anything other than green and loam. There are a total of six camouflage colors: white, black, green, loam (sort of a dark green), tan (sand) and brown. Usually, the sticks come with white/black, green/loam. I believe there are brown/tan sticks, but can't swear to it.

Also, both applications of camouflage above are incorrect.

To properly apply it, dark areas (eyes, under the nose, neck, inside the ears) that are shaded, should have lighter shades of color, and light areas that are highlighted (outside of the ears, tip of nose, mouth, cheeks) should typically have darker shades. A distinct pattern (such as leaves, tiger stripes, etc.) should be avoided, and care should be taken to ensure that the ears, back of the neck, and forehead are covered and regularly touched up with the stuff.

Also, (and this is based on research that I read up on about 10 years ago) white/gray and tan should not be used in woodland/desert environments, tan should typically not be used in snowy environments, and green/loam should typically not be used in desert environments. The major color for the environment it is used in should be the majority of paint on the face (so, snow = white with some black/dark spots; desert = tan with some black/brown; jungle/woods = green and brown mostly, with some loam and black; and last - urban = gray (mixing white & black together) with some black)

With the way we conduct war having changed to mostly drones, missiles, and vehicles, camouflage has pretty much gone away, but infantry, and other foot/ground type MOSs still have a need for it.

The unit I told you I was with in Iraq also used it, but only for certain types of operations.

Oh, and the easiest way to get it off is to use baby-wipes.

V/R

Marc

We use it for some training in my unit. Over the past decade, I haven't seen it used as much since ACUs don't blend in well with face camo paint.