Fight over military sneakers could leave troops with fewer footwear choices

SFC Matthew Mason - HaHa...I am out? (mooch?) I see you like to twist words around and comments? I never said I was better of a man than anyone. Only made the comment it is a pair of shoes, suck it up. I have a question? Before OIF & OEF (Vietnam, Korea, WW2, WW1 etc...) how did our troops "maintain" their feet to keep themselves combat ready? was it sneakers or dedication, honor and duty? And why so nasty? You are pretty much saying anyone who served in the 80"s & 90's was useless and not as fine of a soldier as you? Why?

MSG Paul DePrimo - I said no such thing. Do not try to turn this around on me MSG. You most certainly DID state that YOU did ALL your running in BOOTS and BDUs and for troops to SUCK IT UP!!! FACT!! Straight out of your own words! No one came at you saying that you were less of a Soldier, that is with a Capitol S by the way, because you joined in the 80's! You brought that little beast upon yourself!

Now, as I said before, you WASTED your own time in the military! YOU FAILED yourself by only becoming a MSG upon retirement. Nobody else's fault but your own buttercup so suck it up, shut your cupcake mouth up and move the hell out! 26 years of service and retire a MSG! You are a damned disgrace and you know it.

And no, me being a GRUNT does not have a damn thing to do with it! I am sick of self entitled morons like yourself that think you know what is best for everyone when you clearly cannot choose the correct career path for yourself! Pathetic excuse of an NCO! Come back at me again after you look at my profile a few more times and maybe I will tell you how I made the list for selection to SFC at just over 7 years.

It is apparent you don't have a clue about me and I wont waste my time with you. I made a comment and you insulted me and my open comment. That along with you bragging how you made E-7 in 7 years shows the type of leader you are. And for you to state that if you stayed in you would have excelled is another bragging story. Once again you do not know my career and should not make judgment. I consider this discussion closed.
You just continue on your path hero !
Again thanks for your service!

Just for a little historical knowledge, my first hitch on active duty was from 1963 to 1966. THE PT uniform then was: black combat boots, cotton or wool boot socks, fatigue pants (with black web belt and brass buckle, and white T shirt and fatigue cap. As far as I know, that was the PT uniform since WWII era and prior. The combat soldiers did just fine in WWII and in the Korean war. Not only was PT done in this uniform, but we also did the annual PT test in the same uniform. The only time tennis shoes were worn was when on sick call, IF you had a pair. The only thought we had about the so called PT uniform was when trying to polish the boots AND that damned brass belt bucket...after the 40 yard crawl.

Second thing I might add, I don't see anything wrong, or short, of being an E8 (MSG), or even an E7 (SFC) after 20 some odd years of service. They both are senior NCO's, both "earned" their respective ranks. Before you criticize, do you know how many E6's there are at the end of 20 years, in all military services? It would blow your mind away.

Folks, everything is relative!! Have a great day!!!!