Why is there a different APFU Reflective belt on almost every post?

CW2(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 00:49:32 -0500

Coming from Fort Hood, TX, all PT/Reflective belts are worn neon yellow across the board in conjunction with pin on rank. I think this is all great because it shows uniformity and that no one is different than the next person. But here at Fort Wainwright, they have three different reflective belt colors, with different styles; therefor causing a calamity when it comes to being uniform. Blue for officers, Orange for NCOs, and Yellow for SPC and below. We're always speaking about being uniform, but I just think these different color belts are "correction deflectors". Anybody should and can be corrected when the correction is presented with professionalism and tact. You shouldn't have to pull some one of higher rank to the side to give them the gratitude of saving face; although embarrassing the person is not the goal. What do you all think about the lack of uniformity across the Army as far as the APFU? You can also inject the subject of the 'NEW' Black and Gold APFU.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Jan 19 at 2014 12:52 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 00:52:12 -0500

Because PT belts are from Satan and he is the author of confusion.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 19 at 2014 12:52 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 00:52:25 -0500

I think it's ego. Senior personnel want to make sure they are recognized and deferred to, even when not wearing rank..

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2014 3:21 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 03:21:56 -0500

Great topic, as we have all seen this problem. Hopefully the new AR 670-1 will do something about that. It's tough when there are different installation policies, and no reg is stating what the defining color is.

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Jan 19 at 2014 4:45 AM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 04:45:35 -0500

I remember the good old days when only your road guards, two in the front and two in the rear of your formation, had to wear the old fire guard vests with flashlights. Their sole purpose was to block traffic as your formation ran or marched by. Basic safety.

Fast forward... When I left Fort Huachuca, the current PT Belt deal was each color designated a different BN within the BDE. The different colors assisted with cadre identifying Soldiers based on their BN, phase of training, privileges authorized, etc. Was it a perfect system? Nope, but it was the way it was. Also, all cadre had reflective vests with their name and rank sewn own (vest were issued and nametapes done out of pocket).

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2014 2:09 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 14:09:57 -0500

I'll go one step further:  Rank on the reflective belt is bad.  Worse even than different colors for junior enlisted, NCOs, and officers. My old BN commander had it right:  "Everyone will wear yellow; there will be no rank on the belt.  There's a CoC picture wall for you to study so you know whom you have to know.  Everyone else will distinguish themselves through PT." There's a reason there's no spot for rank on the IPFU:  It really doesn't matter for the intended purpose.  If you don't know who someone is, you treat them with the deference and respect you want to be treated with.  If you do know who someone is, you don't need a subdued pin-on rank on a piece of safety equipment to remind you.  If you really have to engage in the "I outrank you" game, whip out and measure your CACs. For a short time, I had to wear a reflective vest with "SSG BEUTLER" sown onto the front & back along with a subdued SSG rank on the reflective part.  I sarcastically asked for PT shoes that played "Here comes a special boy!" on loop as I ran.

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jun 5 at 2014 9:28 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 09:28:09 -0400

Ft Stewart had us wear them differently to designate Soldiers by BDE.

Response by SPC Keith Cornett made Jul 9 at 2014 2:04 AM

SPC Keith Cornett — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 02:04:00 -0400

I like the color system at Wainwright. Only because there have been wayyyyy to many times were I have been on road guard duty during pt. Only to have some high ranking officer from brigade,another battalion etc get all butt hurt because you fail to adress them properly. Seriously? Your not my battalion csm or BC how the fuck am.I supposed to know you. The different color belts at least give you a heads up in a small way. A downside is going from Wainwright and being used to it and trying to adjust to new unit that doesn't use that system.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2015 9:17 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 09:17:57 -0500

We didn't have any standard color scheme in the Air Force. Resulted in quite a rainbow across the squadron...until the wives sent us the tiger striped reflective belts (our squadron was the Tigers).

I vaguely recall that our MX personnel wore different color reflective belts depending on what shop they were in...Hydraulics, electrical, flight controls, etc...

Response by LTC Brett Weeks made Mar 22 at 2017 2:56 PM

LTC Brett Weeks — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 14:56:39 -0400

Is this a Duffleblog article??? Color-coded belts??? Rank on belts??? Are you freaking kidding??? We were lucky to have enough belts for two pairs of road guards, yet somehow we never got anyone killed on a run in over 20 years. Thank God I am retired!!!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2017 10:08 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Mar 2017 10:08:27 -0400

Yeah when I was a Bragg everyone wore a yellow belt no ranks. Then pcsd to Alaska and had the 3 different colors. Last year pcsd down to Fort Polk and we wear 3 different colors but the NCOs is Green here instead of Orange and the other units only wear one color. I've wondered why since they do that since I left Bragg. Because like was stated above you should know certain people are in the formation regardless of the pt belt and if a correction needs to be made do it with tact.