Posted on Dec 13, 2013
If you had a choice, which uniform pattern/style would you want to wear?
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If you had a choice, which uniform pattern/style would you want to wear?<div><br></div><div><span style="color: rgb(44, 44, 44); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">This year, the Joint Staff’s top enlisted adviser, Marine Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, said the mix of uniforms makes the U.S. military look like a “Baskin-Robbins” and signaled his support for a common uniform.<br></span><br><span style="color: rgb(44, 44, 44); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">But Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos recently said preserving the Corps’ MARPAT pattern is a top priority and declared that his service will stick to it “like a hobo to a ham sandwich.”</span><br></div>
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 152
I am really not addressing the question but I don't want Congress having to do with anything to do with what service members where to work or to the combat zone.
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I would say lets go with the Marines uniform, but allow the army to have modifications. Like allow us to have the unit patch, and the combat patch under the American Flag, and our name plates horizontal and not at an angle.
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SSG Kevin McCulley
If the Chief of Staff of the Army says we are going to use MARPAT, what is the Commandant going to do? Assault him at the pentagon? Furthermore, if the SECDEF says everyone will wear MARPAT, the CMC will salute smartly and move out.
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CPT Brandon Christensen
That would be nice to see a bunch of 4 star generals duke it out over the uniform. UFC, military style
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Everyone is all Multicam! ... MARPAT! ... Next cool guy operator pattern! And I'm all "can I just get my one piece flight suit back please?" Because those were fantastic.
Now for the real discussion:
I think I am going to have the dissenting opinion on this. I understand the budgetary constraints, the "financial crisis" that we are in now and how much sense (cents?) it would make to have a common uniform to "save taxpayers money." However, I like that fact that I can look at a uniform and see Marine, Navy, Air Force versus trying to have to guess by haircuts, rolled up sleeves and headgear. A few years back the whole joint base concept came into being and I started to see more "sister services" folks walking around on Army installations (perhaps it was because of where I was stationed at the time) so it was easier for me to differentiate between who was who.
Why do I believe all of this is important? Well besides tradition and individuality of each service, the regulations that each service has on wear and appearance of uniforms differs between branches. Sleeves rolled/un-rolled, boots bloused/un-bloused etc. There is uniformity without uniformity.
Who is to say once we have the same service work uniforms they won't push for the same service dress uniforms for the same reasons? Marines with Navy dress uniforms, Army with Air force dress uniforms. Camo patterns are the tip of the iceberg, just the tip...
Now for the real discussion:
I think I am going to have the dissenting opinion on this. I understand the budgetary constraints, the "financial crisis" that we are in now and how much sense (cents?) it would make to have a common uniform to "save taxpayers money." However, I like that fact that I can look at a uniform and see Marine, Navy, Air Force versus trying to have to guess by haircuts, rolled up sleeves and headgear. A few years back the whole joint base concept came into being and I started to see more "sister services" folks walking around on Army installations (perhaps it was because of where I was stationed at the time) so it was easier for me to differentiate between who was who.
Why do I believe all of this is important? Well besides tradition and individuality of each service, the regulations that each service has on wear and appearance of uniforms differs between branches. Sleeves rolled/un-rolled, boots bloused/un-bloused etc. There is uniformity without uniformity.
Who is to say once we have the same service work uniforms they won't push for the same service dress uniforms for the same reasons? Marines with Navy dress uniforms, Army with Air force dress uniforms. Camo patterns are the tip of the iceberg, just the tip...
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SFC Gary Fox
I grew up an Army brat before starting my own career in 1974. While my father was in the Army, Soldiers wore the same OD green fatigues as did Airmen and Marines. When I first entered the Army everyone was wearing the same OD green fatigues that were worn during my father's career. The BDUs replaced the OD green fatigues and everyone was wearing them. If you go back to Korea, everyone regardless of branch were wearing OD green fatigues. During WWII, everyone was wearing the same fatigues except the Marines in the Pacific theater. Though all were wearing the same fatigues during all those decades, each branch still had their own dress uniforms.
I can remember when the Class B uniform for the Army was Khakis. I loved the Khaki uniform. When we did away with Khakis and went to that green shirt, the Class B uniform was the Class A without the coat. That was an expensive proposition because the pants faded because you wore Class B more than you did Class A. You pretty much had to have an extra Class A uniform because of how the pants faded.
We've gone through so many uniform changes in the Army over the past 10 years that the Soldiers are getting screwed financially to keep up with the changes.
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SGT (Join to see)
I remember wearing them like that in AIT and in winter there were down and still looked sharp !
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I understand that Congress want a our military base more of a joint force but the differences in our forces is what makes us special. The uniform is the first think you see. The ACU is the worst uniform that are out they wear put to fast for one and second before the mulitcam you were wearing Gray in a desert environment. By far the Multicam has been the best uniform out there. Does well in the environment that we as a force are operating in. Also seems to work well in a jungle environment also.
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I'm hoping someone here can help explain the historical (recent) context to me. This is what I am tracking; please correct me if I am mistaken. During the 90s, the services generally had a common field uniform. In the early 2000s, we deploy multiple service branches to Iraq (for example), yet they utilize very different field uniforms...some of which clearly not meeting the spirit/intent of camouflage. Why did this departure from a common uniform happen? If we had multiple service branches in Iraq at the same time, then why were they not wearing the best-in-class camo uniform? How did this decision come about? ** Note: please provide some facts if you can, instead of just putting senior leaders on blast with no facts. **
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Maj (Join to see)
My understanding is the departure happened as a result of a confluence of events 1) MARPAT, 2) expiration of the army contract for woodland. The Air Force was not the prime on that contract and basically rode the existing army contract. When it expired, Air Force didn't/couldn't/wouldn't(?) rejoin the army contract model and was left scrambling - and thus the tiger striped abhoration that we have. 3)Army chose ACU for the reasons stated above. and Not to be left out 4) the navy decided since everyone else had something different, they would too... This has been at least 12 years in the works - back to common anything is an improvement. Multicam, woodland, OD Green...something.
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LTC Paul Labrador
In all fairness, the Marines wouldn't let us use their pattern. Also, Multi-cam was supposed to be the pattern for the ACU, but they ran into financial issues with Crye (the folks who designed the pattern). Then the good-idea fairy jumped in and we are, where we are now...
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A common uniform would be great. I remember in the late 90's, I was assigned to an Joint unit and we all wore the Woodland BDU's as a common uniform, and we updated patches and identification accordingly. It worked out well, but that was before a lot of the digital patterns came out.
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BDUs I hate that joint commands now look like multinational commands. Also most of these "battle" uniforms are worn exclusively in garrison so wouldn't it be cheaper to wear flat OD green BDUs like the Israelis? It would save a ton of money and either way you aren't going to blend into your office.
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Who really cares (except the uniform makers), it will change again in a very short time.
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ACU's were JUST DUMB! Any Infantryman worth his salt hates them because: A) The pattern doesn't hide you. B) The Velcro is too noisy. C) The Chinese collar is useless. D) Velcro pants pockets won't stay shut with a load. E) Zippers cannot be replaced in the field if it breaks -unlike a simple button.
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG Harrington,
Thankfully, they HAVE somewhat mitigated complaints B and D by replacing some Velcro with buttons (YAY!!!). In fact, ALL of complaints B, D, And E could be fixed (along with adding some functionality to pockets) by replacing ALL the Velcro and/or the zipper with buttons (and maybe adding those fancy zippers to the breast and/or shoulder pockets).
Complaint C could be easily enough taken care of by simply removing the flap and the velcro "hook" patches where it attaches.
Your ONLY remaining complaint that would actually take a different Uniform is the fabric. But, as we should all know by now, your prayers have been (theoretically) answered, for the new Uniforms are already on their way (complete with an entirely different color of boots, socks, AND shirts).
Thankfully, they HAVE somewhat mitigated complaints B and D by replacing some Velcro with buttons (YAY!!!). In fact, ALL of complaints B, D, And E could be fixed (along with adding some functionality to pockets) by replacing ALL the Velcro and/or the zipper with buttons (and maybe adding those fancy zippers to the breast and/or shoulder pockets).
Complaint C could be easily enough taken care of by simply removing the flap and the velcro "hook" patches where it attaches.
Your ONLY remaining complaint that would actually take a different Uniform is the fabric. But, as we should all know by now, your prayers have been (theoretically) answered, for the new Uniforms are already on their way (complete with an entirely different color of boots, socks, AND shirts).
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