What do you think about frequent changes and costs involved with in military uniforms?

2015-10-15T00:14:48-04:00

I found the following article regarding the new Navy uniforms and the cost burden for female Navy officers to be interesting for several reasons. Although I am retired from the Army, I, too, often questioned changes made to Army uniforms. When the ACU replaced the BDU, I wondered how the addition of noisy Velcro closures could be considered tactically beneficial. Additionally, the removal of branch insignia was disheartening and changing the location of rank from the lapel to the center of the chest seemed to be inappropriate, especially given the focus across every branch of the military on creating a military environment devoid of sexual harassment. I found it to be quite awkward having to narrow my eyes to focus on a small spot between the nipple line of males and fellow females in uniform. Who comes up with these changes?!?

http://taskandpurpose.com/the-navys-uniform-changes-are-anything-but-gender-neutral/

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2015 1:25 AM

2015-10-15T01:25:06-04:00

The Navy royally screwed up with coveralls. The new fire retardant variant (FRV), designed to provide protection to sailors since NWUs were found to burn vigorously, was never field tested prior to introduction to the fleet. Many, like myself, found them very poorly designed and uncomfortable. What the heck is the deal with military branches and velcro?!?! Let's make a uniform to provide fire protection, but add a material that will melt during a fire... brilliant. I couldn't believe the Navy spent money on this; especially considering engineers, like myself, already wore bulwarks. Why not consider those good and make a deal with the company (or close competitor) to outfit the fleet? It would save research costs and sailors already loved them. Now they are spending more money to design and test a new type. Cut the excess spending in this area and we can afford more parts to keep systems operational, or more sailors to operate and maintain them. Sorry, I needed to vent on this absurd waste of money. It's fiscally irresponsible.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Oct 15 at 2015 1:53 AM

2015-10-15T01:53:37-04:00

As far as utility uniforms, make the new Scorpion OCP the standard across the board and quit messing with it. It is a useful pattern given the environments we work in. Utility uniforms should be standardized and made to blend in with the environments we operate in and those uniforms should remain the standard issue uniform until such time as we are involved in a conflict requiring a new pattern, I.E. ending the war in Afghanistan and getting involved in a conflict in a more snow prone area or a wide open desert which would require a winter pattern or a desert pattern respectively. We should only change because the environment has changed. The vanity patterns need to go.

As for Service Dress uniforms, that's a toss up. I think that if they are going to make changes to the dress uniforms then they need to wait to implement them until there is enough changes to justify a new uniform. None of these little tiny things changing every single year or every few months requiring people to constantly have to recheck regulations just to make sure they're wearing it properly still. A change such as the Army transitioning from the greens to the newer black dress uniform (not sure what y'all call it) is what it should be. That way everyone can just look at one specific reg change and make sure they are in compliance and not have to worry about it unless another major change happens. I will say this though, dress uniforms need to stop constantly changing as well. I think the Air Force would do well to make theirs reflect some of our heritage a little better than the current ones but if they did that then every branch should be set for the next several years or more.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Oct 15 at 2015 11:15 AM

2015-10-15T11:15:11-04:00

It's absolutely ridiculous...