Military Uniforms
Got to thinking (dangerous) today. Since practically all clothing is imported now, where are our military uniforms made? If they are made in the US, that/those company(ies) have got to be charging "out the yeng yang" and making some dough.
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Since we have had the topic of the military on another discussion, I thought I would bring this one up to those who have or still are in the one of the branches.
We all know the different branches decided to do their own combat uniform to be distinctive (MARPAT, ACU and now the ABU). A couple of thoughts from me:
1. The ABU is a frigging joke as a combat uniform. It is not designed to follow the function of a combat uniform. Plus it is too damn heavy for the desert.
2. Each service had their own DRESS uniform. That is how they should be distinctive.
3. In a combat zone...all our forces should be wearing the same combat uniform. PERIOD. I have looked down the streets and looked at MARPATs, ACUs, ABUs and 3 color DCUs (and lets not forget the Brits with their Desert Tigerstripes or the Aussies with their desert cammies that looks like walt disney puked up the pattern [:D]) I can imagine the pain it would be if we were fighting against a uniformed army instead of people wearing local attire.
What do all of you think about all these new cammies???0 -
The ABU and the new green boots that go with are going to get trashed working the flight line. The nice thing about the old BDUs is their darker color and black boots hide grease stains fairly well. 0 -
Seems like plain old kahki (which the British first wore in the 19th century) is the optimum for the desert. I'm only slightly impressed by the desert cami. The brown boots however are the cats ass![:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by catpealer111
The ABU and the new green boots that go with are going to get trashed working the flight line. The nice thing about the old BDUs is their darker color and black boots hide grease stains fairly well.
When I worked the flightline, I change into my coveralls and work boots, and change back into when I am done with my shift.0 -
quote:Originally posted by FEENIX
quote:Originally posted by catpealer111
The ABU and the new green boots that go with are going to get trashed working the flight line. The nice thing about the old BDUs is their darker color and black boots hide grease stains fairly well.
When I worked the flightline, I change into my coveralls and work boots, and change back into when I am done with my shift.
I wear my coveralls (pickle suit) but the one's we get issued are so thin that grease, oil, and jet fuel get through them.0 -
ACUs are great. Don't know why you dont like em other than the fact that they're new.
No starching, the boots don't need to be shined.
Heck I saved 30 bucks a month on dry cleaning alone. I think they fit better and they are more comfortable than the BDUs.
As far as the velcro pockets goes, well if they wear out, DX them in country. They shouldn't be wearing out that quickly if you are CONUS.0 -
ABU: what is it?
Army ACU: I think it's lousy. It's gray. It doesn't match the desert or the woods. Looks ok in front of cinderblock though. I have a lot of other complaints with it as well, as I work near a bunch of army guys and see it every day. Pen pockets in the sleeve? all that velcro? I've seen it turn a pretty shade of lavender when washed with other colors, but that was a couple years ago and maybe they fixed that. rank insignia not on the collar is dumb. What's with the zippers?
MARPAT: green looks great (read invisible) in Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Okinawa, Japan, Thailand, Korea, and, I'm guessing, any other wooded area. desert looks great in Iraq, Kuwait, and California, and probably any other desert. Those are the only places I've worn them. wears well, good pockets (not too many) I like the buttons where they have them and the velcro where it is. No other service will wear our uniforms because they have small Marine Corps emblems throughout the pattern.
I can't wait to put my uniform back on in the morning...0 -
quote:Originally posted by catpealer111
The ABU and the new green boots that go with are going to get trashed working the flight line. The nice thing about the old BDUs is their darker color and black boots hide grease stains fairly well.
Agree. When I first joined, we had the O.D. green uniform. When we went to the BDU's it didn't show grease and dirt. When we deployed to the Middle East and had to wear the DCU's I learned to soak 'em in shout before washing. They showed everything and ended up black at the end of the day.0 -
quote:Originally posted by catpealer111
quote:Originally posted by FEENIX
quote:Originally posted by catpealer111
The ABU and the new green boots that go with are going to get trashed working the flight line. The nice thing about the old BDUs is their darker color and black boots hide grease stains fairly well.
When I worked the flightline, I change into my coveralls and work boots, and change back into when I am done with my shift.
I wear my coveralls (pickle suit) but the one's we get issued are so thin that grease, oil, and jet fuel get through them.
BUMMER!0 -
cce...the ABU is the Air Forces new uniform (Airman Battle Uniform)
They took the colors in the ACU and threw in slate blue for the AF and then made them kind of a tiger stripe digital pattern. Then they went and made them out of the HEAVIEST material they could find. These things are thicker than my wrangler jeans...and we are supposed to wear them in the sandbox.
Better yet...my guys on the flightline out here in West Texas have to wear them when it is 110 ambient temp and the flightline is about 130. They are roasting out there in these things.
The ACU is pretty good...we have worn them when we are deployed with the Army and we really wished the AF would have gone with that style...but NOOOOOOOOO...we had to be "special".
Whats worse...extremely limited quantity of ABUs are available and we cannot get any more BDUs. We are trashing our uniforms and have none to replace them with.0 -
quote:Originally posted by medic07
cce...the ABU is the Air Forces new uniform (Airman Battle Uniform)
Whats worse...extremely limited quantity of ABUs are available and we cannot get any more BDUs. We are trashing our uniforms and have none to replace them with.
I love to hear about how much of a functional failure the new uniform is. Personally, I'm not going to make the switch until the mandatory 2011 change over date.0 -
Wait until you see the new Navy uniforms. 0 -
Here is the replacement for the utilities, which I am glad to see going away but dang this hurts the eyes. 0 -
Cat...you may go to them sooner than you think. Finding BDUs is a nightmare now. We have been out of the majority of sizes except XS and XL for almost a year down here. No Mediums or Larges unless you take XSHORT or XXLONG length.
Kiwi...damnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! That is painful to the eyes. I really think each service has just gone too far to be unique. Last I looked we ALL worked for the DoD, CJCoS, SECDEF and ultimately the Commander in Chief. One well designed utility/combat uniform is what we needed. Either the MARPAT or the ACU. Both were fairly well thought out although I prefer the collar of the ACU for use with body armor.0 -
Medic, I agree 100%. 0 -
Kiwi, please tell me that IS NOT a Navy uniform. When I first saw it, I naturally assumed it was some USAF monstrosity. Then I noticed this guy is wearing a First Class Crow, so I said "something the Airedales came up with?" Then I saw the ESWS (Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) badge. This MUST NOT be, CAN NOT be a shipboard uniform.
Just curious, what kind of background is that supposed to blend with. Camouflage? I think not. It's enough to make you homesick for the Zumwalt days.0 -
James, I had heard about but not seen the proposed navy utility until now. I had never understood the need for cammies while onboard. Hell its not like you can hide an aircraft carrier any better than you can hide an air force base or FOL.
I will admit that our ABUs do tend to blend in ok with the tarmac that our guys work on, especially at night. But then again like I said...the bad guys know where our operating bases and strips are at.
At least the newest ABU doesnt look like the original SMURF outfit they came out with for us...holy sheet that was F-U-G-L-Y
Original design
ABUs0 -
Hey medic, what do you think of us being able to wear the green swedes with our BDUs? I'm starting to see more and more of it here in Minot, mostly cops and POL. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by JamesRK
Kiwi, please tell me that IS NOT a Navy uniform. When I first saw it, I naturally assumed it was some USAF monstrosity. Then I noticed this guy is wearing a First Class Crow, so I said "something the Airedales came up with?" Then I saw the ESWS (Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist) badge. This MUST NOT be, CAN NOT be a shipboard uniform.
Just curious, what kind of background is that supposed to blend with. Camouflage? I think not. It's enough to make you homesick for the Zumwalt days.
James,
Honestly I have never been a fan of the Dungarees or the Utilities I have had to suffer with over the past 18 years. It was time for change. It was time the Navy start acting like a branch of the armed forces. I was looking forward to a BDU style uniform. All I can say about that uniform though is WTH were they thinking and who put them in charge? I think the thought process on that camo pattern was its sooo repulsive that you avert your eyes and pretend you never saw it. Or maybee they hope the enemy will go into epileptic fits when they see it. Or possibly that it will enduce migranes that will render the enemy useless. Anyway these are set to hit the streets in summer of 08 along with a number of actual improvents on other uniforms. For more on that do a google search on Task Force Uniform.0 -
quote:Originally posted by rogue_rob
ACUs are great. Don't know why you dont like em other than the fact that they're new.
No starching, the boots don't need to be shined.
Heck I saved 30 bucks a month on dry cleaning alone. I think they fit better and they are more comfortable than the BDUs.
As far as the velcro pockets goes, well if they wear out, DX them in country. They shouldn't be wearing out that quickly if you are CONUS.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
You mean to tell me that the ARMY pressed there cammies and shinned there boots.Hahahahahahahaha
Only Joken around
Scott0 -
cat, I kinda like them. I picked up the marauders in the green suede. They sure as hell are easier to clean after doing tasks outside. I have never really been a fan of spit polishing boots for a combat uniform like we have done for years. 0 -
Green Swedes ?....WHAT ?....
http://www.mil.se/int/photo.php?id=124764&nid=34845
Why not desert coloured Swedes +[8D][:)][:D]0 -
The new Air Force battle dress uniform is the joke of the American Armed Forces.
What peed me off was the Non-Commissioned Officer that criticized the General's new uniform and was made to write a letter apologizing to the United States for speaking his mind on this travesty.
If I was that NCO I would have told the General to his face to shove that uniform where the sun does not shine.
The Air Force is stupid as we all know. Combat is not something that is in their mindset. Everything has to be pressed and perfect...people are cutting the buttons off this new uniform and sewing the pockets down and ironing the living crap out of it....because that's how the Air Force is....must look good on CNN and for the General.....but for the time being a message just came down saying to not cut off the buttons....they expect that in 12 months from now.
The United States Armed Forces needs to have ONE battle dress uniform. WE are ONE military force. Anyone that thinks otherwise is a moron. Generals included.0 -
Obi...for the most part you are right about senior leadership being focused on how crisp we look in the AF and not how well we are doing the mission.
Our wing leadership here has changed their focus over the last few years and we are actually combat focused. Blues of any sort are not to be worn unless it is a promotion, retirement or some special function. BDUs (and now ABUs) are the UOD.
I saw one E8 in her new ABUs that were so stiff and crisply starched it was not funny. I told her she was in violation of AFI 36-2903 and she stated she didnt care what it said, she refused to look like she wasnt professional.
Our group commander sent out a policy letter within a week stating that if anyone starches or hot presses the ABUs, then they will be dealt with administratively up to and including Art 15s.0 -
The Corps are the only one's who have it right. The ACUs are great during night ops where you're using NODs...they practically disappear into the background. But that's ALL they're good for. They are horribly constructed. The seams are all too weak, the velcro sucks. The layout of the uniform is good, but the pattern of the fabric is worthless unless, as stated, you're using NODs or you are in an environment like a North American city with lots of shades of blue and gray.
If the Army used the Marine Corps' color pattern with the ACU layout and the BDU quality, it would be the best uniform in the world.
The British desert tiger stripe uniforms are really comfterble in the desert because the fabric is so light, but they're not very durable by any means. They rip very easily.0 -
How about visability when usin nightgoogles ?
some uniforms really shines like christmastrees even if they been washed w fosforfree washingpowders.0 -
Nods ? something nightvision related ? Zulu 7 ? 0 -
Did someone forget that uniform means that they should be uniform?????
A battle uniform should be that. A work uniform should reflect a 1) functional and 2) professional appearance. Army/Marine Navy Seabee-Green satine, Navy/AF-blue satine.
Dress uniforms should be service distinctive.0 -
Agreed that we need one pattern type for all services. These are intended to be combat uniforms and instant recognition of friendlies is a must.
I also agree that the Marine's MARPAT pattern is the best in our inventory. The problem is they were allowed to make this a proprietary uniform by incorporating their insignia within the pattern itself. This was a stupid move on DoD's part that's contributing to this whole multiple uniform fiasco.
Modifying the MARPAT to remove the insignia wouldn't degrade it's effectiveness. I say adopt this pattern for all services but allow each one to alter the cut/styling to suit their requirements.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Talented
Nods ? something nightvision related ? Zulu 7 ?
I haven't seen anything but the ACUs and BDUs under night vision. BDUs stand out like a sore thumb, even in a woodland environment, under NODs. ACUs, however, like I said before, are 98% invisible under NODs within a woodland environment. If you were completely motionless and partially obscured by a woodline, you would be 100% invisible under night vision with ACUs on.0
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