Why should soldiers pay for their name and unit markings on their TA-50?

Here's the sewing machine that I kept in my office. I worked for beer (after duty hours) sewing on US ARMY and Name tags, Wings, etc... Any Soldiers deploying got their fee waived. As long as I had a beer available I would keep working.

Worked with a MAJ that was deploying as the OIC to Germany for an RSOI Mission. Instead of asking politely for my services, he pretty much threw his uniforms at me. One set was starched and was to be used in the Opening formation in Country. I sewed BOTH his pants legs shut. When they returned 9 months later, the CSM bought me a case of beer because of the hysterical time. The MAJ was 20 minutes late to formation because he couldn't put on his pants. I found GREAT humor in knowing he had to find a knife to take out the stitching while 150 people were waiting for him. He was pissed and tried to bitch me out. I just laughed at him and told him it was Karma.

I agree, they shouldn't have to. Sewing is not that hard to learn and it's a valuable skill that will carry you well into civilian life. You will be able to do a quick hem repair on your dress slacks or replace a button on that nice dress shirt.

If you look at DA PAM 670-1 para 19-3 d (1) it states "Commanders may not require enlisted Soldiers to attach embroidered grade insignia, unless it is issued and attached without cost to the Soldier. Wearing name-tapes or using other means to apply names to helmet bands is determined by the commander and is provided to Soldiers at no cost.

Para 19-24 b (3) states: "(3) How to obtain. Initial and replacement nametapes are provided at no cost to enlisted members and are procured from appropriated funds. If facilities are not available at installations for inscribing and attaching nametapes, contracting for such services with local vendors is authorized."

I haven't found anything for rucksacks and assault packs they’re OCIE and considering the previous quotes a reasonable person would likely accept that it would be the same way as the ACH helmet band.

But...but...what about all the Velcro?!?!? Hahahahaha! Yeah, I agree, it kinda sucks. You reminded me, I've got still gotta go paint the bottoms of my duffel bags and get my reflective doodads and name tapes sewn on to my ruck and assault pack. Crap...

so that everyone is clear....since everyone is saying this can be solved with a sewing kit. I've bought rank and sewn it on before, that's obvious. What I'm referring in this post is the name tapes, unit markings, unit patches...etc. If they were provided, fine, I can sew them on, but they are not provided.

At Stewart in 96, Korea in 02 and at Fort Riley in 2003 there was a place to get your patches and such sewed on. When RFI happened in 2007, we were sent to an off post sew shop that the unit paid for to put names on rucks, assault packs, Gortex and camelbaks. In all these cases, supply issued the name tapes and patches.

I have yet to see where something was mandated for sewing and the troop had to pay for it.

They issued me a sewing kit! But there are simply some things in life I'm not good at. I make the choice to pay $5 for professional looking patches instead of the kindergarten-looking creations is end up with.

We started out with a black marker

SSG (Join to see), back in the day we sewed on our own name tapes and patches.

Flashback to basic a long time ago. We had uniforms initial issued for training and gear tagged with our name, and given 5 extra name tags. We had to put our own name on like belts, boots, hats (inside) we were given pretty broad guidelines on how to do that, but not on the outside. Last name, first initial, last 4. A week later the Drill in formation told everyone to take their pants belt off and hand it to the front person, which then the Drill took all of them and put them in a pile, and gave us 5 minutes to find our belt and stand in line to show him it was indeed their belt and how they identified it as theirs, put it on and get back in formation. About 1/3rd didn't make it. Some that did were told it was incorrect but nice try. A week later he did it again and there were still a few that didn't have it done, who were given extra duty. When issued the uniforms and gear for Vietnam, they were sewn on for free. Since that time till retirement, I never received any nametag, patches or sewing for free on any clothing or gear.