Army is bringing back its WWII-era uniforms, displays prototype at expo

Don't forget the officers in the position to initiate the changes, they have to have the bullets in their evals to be promoted. Maintaining the current norm doesn't get one advanced.

Well, the Marines kind of started this nonsense with their new digital patterns that they began issuing about 13-14 years ago. Then the other services got jealous and began spending billions of taxpayer dollars trying one-up the Marines. The Marines got it right while the rest of us meandered through a vast wasteland of stupidity and irrelevance. Remember the Air Force blue tiger stripe camouflage? How about the Navy's highly useful "blend in with the sea" pattern that they are finally getting rid of? Personally I think sailors should wear a combination of white and hi-vis orange just in case they fall over board. Built-in, water-activated strobes would be good too.

And the ACU? KING of bad ideas; tries to blend in with everything, blends in with nothing, except maybe gravel. Yeah, we would totally dominate any rock quarry battles with that, especially after half our uniforms end up laying on the ground when they shred from our bodies during IMT because they were made soooooo firggin' well. Nothing like low-crawling through the dirt with a ripped out crotch.

I agree that all dress uniforms should be unique to the services but combat fatigues? I liked it better when we all wore the same thing.

MAJ (Join to see) - At least with the Marine camouflage patterns they were trying to make the pattern more effective at hiding their marines. The Navy did the same with the blueberry camouflage. Only problem is that when a sailor goes overboard, CAMOUFLAGE IS A BAD THING!!! Not that a ship has been lost to enemy action since WWII, but if they are going to wear camouflage, it should be based on the theatre of operation. That way in the supremely unlikely event of a sinking, they have something for when they get to shore, and they don't blend in with the ocean. Like the idea of strobes, but in the modern age, how about a GPS beacon.

Let me clarify my answer some, for the sake of understanding: In the early years of the wartime era, when the military had (and required) more control over their members, the military issued you everything you were expected to wear, and you were only allowed civilian clothes on certain special occasions. The wearing of the Class "A" uniform when "on pass" or traveling for leave was required. The uniform was considered your "Business attire" and was treated accordingly. Besides, wearing the dress uniform was a mark of respect, and everyone wanted one. Not so much anymore. Nowadays, the dress uniform is more of a showpiece and is no longer required on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis. It will take some real thinking and more regulation (and control) to give the military dress uniform the status it once had. I do not see the current administration going back to the "total control" type of military that we one had (even though it could possibly solve a multitude of today's problems, although creating some new ones). With today's relaxed standards and "fair and equal treatment" being the rule of the moment, I don't see the military re-introducing particular wear requirements for the class "A" uniform.

I thought dress blues were brought back to pay homage to Army history. If "pinks & greens" do come back, will brown shoes come back too?