Why does the Army uniform still have these giant cargo pockets? Who uses their cargo pockets, and for what reason?

I keep my PC and shades in my right cargo pocket. They both have come in handy though for random occasions. I wouldn’t want a new uniform. I’m okay with have three, APFU, ACU and AGSU.

The Vietnam "Jungle Fatigues" or whatever they were named had cargo pockets and they were used all the time when away from a fire base. When in the field one never knew when we would be resupplied so we carried everything possible just to survive let alone "Comfort" items. When space allowed the large pockets were a good place to accumulate items found alone the way just in case it was needed later.

Negative, keep cargo pockets on Battle Dress Uniforms, ACU's or whatever name they use these days... They are needed in combat scenarios and real deal combat. JMO...

Unfortunately, it comes down to your chain of command at the Battalion level. In all the units I was stationed, it was a NO GO, sighting that it was against the military appearance. Same happened with the tops. I used my left top pocket for my notebook and of course the pen had its own pocket there as well.
In the field it was a little relaxed but CSM's still corrected you. When the 20 year war was going on, again relaxed as the CSM's were focused on the reflective belts being worn. I hated the pocket on the upper sleeves. So hard to access when wearing your gear.
The ACU's use of pockets design were a bit better. The velcro strips were....a bad choice. Bacon strips anyone??
In Afghanistan out on missions, I kept my patrol cap in my right cargo pocket since wearing the gear. On the different bases going into buildings, I stored it in the back of pants bill down, pulled top over it. Appearance is a must.

As a 70's -80's era Coastie, there were many times I wished I had pockets like that many times. Not for ammo or rations, but as an ET, I frequently was climbing down or jumping to small boats, wriggling my way up the inside of a mast with snag points every few feet, or scaling a tower, usually with multiple hand tools and a meter. It would have been far less awkward to be able to carry them in pockets instead of in a pouch on my belt.

From the pictures I have seen, it looks like the current work uniform is some form of ODU now, but when I started it was Seafarer Bell Bottoms and Chambray shirt. By the time I got out they had transitioned to a work uniform akin to a set of Dickies in Navy Blue.

I definitely used those cargo pockets. In Basic, we were required to carry a full canteen of water in the ammo pocket of our leg. I also carried a notebook and a pen in a shirt cargo pocket. It was also a good place to stow my cover when under regulations I was required to remove it. In combat situations, those cargo pockets can store additional ammo and some supplies. The uniform is about utility, not decoration.

Why do they still have 3 covers??

Just to clarify, I probably have more deployments, field time, Hohenfels, Graf, 1ID, 2nd ID Korea, 3rd Id, 10th Mtn, 1 AD, Somalia, Honduras, Cuba, Iraq, etc., than most of you combined. A common theme here is that officers seem to use these pockets more in garrison than anyone else. It’s likely because senior NCOs keep a very tidy and crispy look in garrison and expect their subordinates to do the same. A lot of officers, mostly senior officers not so much. Maybe I should have asked if there should be a different type or field/deployment uniform? I understand the potential use of the pockets, but for a 1SG to be walking around with bulging pockets is unacceptable and frowned upon. No one is gonna tell a Col or LTC the he/she is walking around HQ looking like a Private in basic training. Since I was questioned as a senior NCO, I retorted with the truth.

Just an aside from your question, but I had a SSG Gaddy as part of my Airborne cadre at jump school in early 1981. Any possible relation?

I hate to ask, MSG Darren Gaddy, but how can a senior NCO with 26+ years in service NOT understand how indispensable the cargo pockets on the ACUs/OCPs/DCUs/BDUs truly are?

When I removed my hat, it went immediately in my right-hand cargo pocket. In garrison, I carried a notebook and writing utensil in my left cargo pocket. When mobile phones came out, I carried mine in the right-hand cargo pocket, to keep from sitting on it of bending it.

Did you ever go to the field? In the field, the cargo pockets only grow in importance. Left pocket - trash pocket... Litter discipline. Cargo pockets are great for toting pocket survival kit items, field kit, spare magazines, batteries, and MRE components. When passing through a field kitchen chow line, where else are you going to stow the dining utensils, milk cartons, fruit, pre-packaged desserts, etc.? There sure isn't enough room on that flimsy tray.

Even as a retiree and DoD employee, I prefer to wear trousers with functional cargo pockets.

As a prior 10th Gp Brigade Surgeon who spent more time outside the wire than inside, my cargo pockets were always full. The left lower pant leg pocket ALWAYS had a tourniquet, non negotiable for all my soldiers. My right upper cargo pocket usually had a spare L of normal saline, and infusion set, and my left cargo pocket had the most important item of all....a 2lb bag of red twizzlers.

You use the cargo pockets to hold things you would put in pockets. I would think that would be rather obvious to a senior NCO.

Contrary to some senior NCOs likes I did not feel the need for everything to stay pressed al the time when you are doing actual work.

I would rather have one uniform than adding another set without the pockets.

In garrison Mine would be pressed down most of the time. When we were working or in the field they held things at times that did not necessitate a pack or LBE.

They held things that were used frequently that you did not want not always be fishing out of a pack.

They kept your hands free so you were able to show military courtesies.

The cargo pockets are the most important and useful part of the uniform.
I'm not saying you've never truely been to the field, but there is no denying all the things you can stuff into them. I realy hated it, when they took away the hip pockets from the blouse. Perfect places for headgear, cell phone, note books, snacks. I've even seen IPADs. Yeah, I know, even cigarettes.

I know garrison life can be ruff. Micromanaging Uniform nazi's trying to tell you not to put stuff in them, but the real soldiers need and use them all the time. You know, like how you're not supporsed to put your hands in the hand warming pockets (AR-670-1) of your PT jacket for your hands, or the "only a black packpack can be on your shoulder" crowd.

Yeah, sometimes you might get yourself stuffed up like a chipmonk, so you have to be reasonable about your appearance. It really comes down to common sense.
Whether it's just your cap, or half your combat load, the pockets do come in handy.

so used my cargo pockets for a notebook and extra charge clips for the bottom of a mortar round . Being mechanized I never wore LBE so cargo pockets secured under nomex (spelling?) worked well.

I would say apparently she's never been in combat in Iraq in the summertime and not needed to carry two or more extra liters of water. The pockets are there for a reason.

Frankly, it needs more pockets. Look at the uniforms from WWII-Vietnam and see how large those pockets were. Our current ones hold a patrol cap and your car keys…

When I was in even in peace time I used the BDU pockets. I was in when the change happen from OD green to BDU happened. And personally NO the military needs to keep the loser uniform with the large pockets. My legs and calves and shoulders and neck got tired of trying to get into pencil neck uniforms or civilian clothes. If this is how board u are to complain about pockets. What the freak is the military coming to. Ur retired even.
Military needs to be ready to go to war 24/7 and these pockets are better than a belt creating sores on ur waist and hips.

Snacks, smokes, wet wipes, water, transporting rip it's from the dfac to the barracks... who DOESN'T use them besides a person who never deployed. Those pockets are handy!

I carried everything in my pockets. Extra pens, note pad, phone and sometimes the snack's would make it but make sure you bring enough for everyone.

Well...in my Basic Training, my drills instructed us to fold our soft-caps (this is the BDU cap, not the now-used "patrol cap") in a particular manner, and it was stowed in our right cargo pocket. Our "Smart Book" was in the left pocket. When I was on duty (including 22 years of AD with the NYARNG), my PC always got folded and stowed in my right cargo pocket the rest of my 25 year career. I rarely used the left pocket, unless I was in the field.