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Not intending for this to be an extensive discussion, but Im just wondering what happened to face paint in the Army? I've never had the chance to wear it and I've never seen anyone in person wearing it. <div><br></div><div>Do people still use it for concealment and during training? </div><div><br></div><div>**Thanks MAJ Parker for sharing the Maybelline photo. It's my cover photo on Facebook :)</div>
Uniforms
Training
Camouflage
Posted 12 y ago
Responses: 43
I think it stopped when the Army went to a uniform that didn't blend into anything any more. What's the point of concealing a face when nothing else blends in to the environment?
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SGT (Join to see)
...I put face paint on one time in the WONDERFUL ACU uniform while we were in the woods...I am a Doc ya' know, well when I walked up to my platoon two guys had a heart attack because they thought a headless ACU ghost was approaching. But seriously, the ACU blends into nothing, so wearing paint only hides your face, hands, and neck. If I wanted to go "all cammo" in ACU's, I would just carry a parking curb.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
Well said, its a ashame, but true, in my opiinion the training value went down when face paint went away
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TSgt (Join to see)
The ACU is colored that way so that Airmen in ABUs can effectively hide within a mass of Soldiers.
The tiger stripes on the ABU make it difficult to distinguish where the divide is between the camouflaged Airman and the Soldiers near him/her.
The tiger stripes on the ABU make it difficult to distinguish where the divide is between the camouflaged Airman and the Soldiers near him/her.
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I still own camo sticks. I still remember how to use them. I am ready for BDUs to come back.
Stranger things have happened in our Army...haven't they? ;)
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LTC Paul Labrador
In Korea, the major cosmetic brands make camo compacts that is good for your skin. Apparently, it's the thing for ladies to buy camouflage facepaint for their boyfriends doing their compulsory service....
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CPT (Join to see)
Right on MSG Stankovich! Bring back my BDUs!!
I still have a set in the closet with SSG rank on the collar. :)
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The problem with camo is that like so much else in the Army it was a "If it's good for one, it's good for all!" approach. Depending on the terrain and WHAT you're doing, camo's a good idea. But we did stupid things like making Abrams crews camo up, because that face under the hatch might give away the umpteen ton tank with the turbine engines. Very simply, the determination to camo up should be an operational decision made by squad leaders and platoon sergeants. Instead it became a decision of uniformity by field grade officers and the type of sergeants major who're more concerned with parades than practicality. And baby oil is for neophytes. Those in the know use green-bottle DEET in its banned carcinogenic oily concentration, usually found behind the counter of less than reputable surplus stores. That stuff will melt a camo stick regardless of temperature. Just don't get any around your lips or your mouth goes numb.
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MSgt (Join to see)
I remember the paint coming off the outside of certain DEET containers - made you really want to use that stuff on your body.
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CPT (Join to see)
I just wrote something similar to that. Soldier just want to be like cookie cutter. The same for everything without thinking about the area and analyzing it.
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SSgt Kevin Beckley
All I know is when used Deet, it attracted the bugs and gave me a rash.
Would sneak a bottle of off woods bug spray. Deet was good for removing grease tho.
Would sneak a bottle of off woods bug spray. Deet was good for removing grease tho.
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1SG(P) (Join to see)
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What do you mean nobody does face paint anymore? This is me as the Hulk for a Halloween Run here in Theater..... You know we have gotten too garrison in a deployed environment when this happens, LMAO!
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SFC (Join to see)
I second what Cox just said. S2? You can keep that mess. Put me in a Field Office or an operational unit.
But I AM a nerd and DAMNED PROUD OF IT.
Live Long and Prosper...
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SFC James Baber
SSG Woods,
Correct me if I am wrong that 1st pic you posted that looks to be somewhere in downtown Manhattan right?
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
Haha I apologize SSG Gammage, I now know the difference and will address y'all appropriately ;)
SFC Baber-it sure is! Aggieville ;)
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SFC James Baber
See was an MP too long from that small picture I am able to spot small details to figure that out, it drives my wife crazy at times when we are doing things out and about or watching things on TV or movies. FFRRREEEEAAAAKKKYYYYY!!!!! LOL
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I wear face paint every day while sitting at my desk. I usually paint it blue, so that it blends in with my computer's Blue Screen of Death. When I am in a meeting, I paint eyeballs on my eyelids, so I can catch up on some sleep while the Colonel is talking. On the golf course I always paint my face brown, since I spend all my time deployed to the sand traps. Maybe this is just an Air Force thing.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
There is NOTHING better than an airman with a sense of humor! Haha too funny sir!
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SFC (Join to see)
Wait, what about the clouds - don't you paint those on too? And I was given to understand that Navy guys paint their faces to look like waves...
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Maj Walter Kilar
Clouds? There are no clouds in my cubicle! Besides, with my luck the paint job would look like cotton candy and I would have the office fatty trying to eat my face.
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Face paint was intended to help camouflage you so the enemy has less chance to detect you. Face paint doesn't do you much good in the desert when you can see for miles....or if you are jumping out of a huge, loud MRAP or IFV.
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MSgt (Join to see)
Exactly the point I was looking for sir. I am sure that when we get back to a Viet Nam style conflict, painted faces will come back en masse for training and not just for the select fields that still might hvae a need.
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Went the way of so many other things over the last 10 years. Expect it back in training as the METT-T changes.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
Uhhhh I mean...ask you out to the field....to teach me how to apply face paint properly...
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you're not really missing anything interesting, puttin some baby oil on your face before you put it on, or not. then smearing it all over your face, neck, ears etc, sweating with it, and then trying to wipe it off and out of your gear,, smh, i do not miss that crizap at all.<br>
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
Oh forget that, I'll count my blessings since I haven't had to wear it.
Although the girls in the images I posted look pretty cool...I however would not look nearly that cool.
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I just remember cramming it on my face & hands, as fast as I could, doing it the way they wanted it during E.I.B. GOOD-TIMES
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CPT (Join to see)
I don't think it's fair that I can't grow long hair but you don't hear me complaining.
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SSG V. Michelle Woods
Im not complaining. I don't ever want to do EIB!
Just move to California sir ;)
Just move to California sir ;)
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