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BDUs and black boots
Who was in to remember them (actually wearing them)? Would you like to have them back? I know I sure would. Though it took a great deal of my evenings shining up my boots and pressing my uniform, there was nothing better than standing tall and looking good in those sharply creased BDUs and mirror shined Jump Boots, Jungle Boots or whatever boots you chose to wear.
Who was in to remember them (actually wearing them)? Would you like to have them back? I know I sure would. Though it took a great deal of my evenings shining up my boots and pressing my uniform, there was nothing better than standing tall and looking good in those sharply creased BDUs and mirror shined Jump Boots, Jungle Boots or whatever boots you chose to wear.
Uniforms
Discipline
ACU
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 89
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I held out as long as I could! I really loved wearing my rank on my collar and starching my uniform. Now we have to look at everyone's chest... LOL
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1SG (Join to see)
I held out as long as possible too. In 2006 when I went to BNCOC I was the only one in BDUs and was basically forced to buy ACUs, despite my BDUs being brand new. The senior there told me that they were not within regulation because they were "too faded", I was puzzled because I knew the regulation said that you had to be able to distinguish the difference in the color pattern (or something to that effect), he then told me to walk to the other side of this field that was near by and see if he could still distinguish the color pattern! Needless to say I lost that battle and bought my ACUs. The biggest reason I was trying to hold out was because I knew that as soon as I got back to my unit, we were being issued ACUs because we were deploying.
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CW2 (Join to see)
I too held out as long as I could. PCSd to Ft Campbell from Korea in BDUs in '07 and stuck out like a sore thumb of course. A few that knew of BDUs had that distinct look of pride. As soon I was issued RFI, that was the end of it for me.
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SSG Walter Corretjer
That happend to me too.I was in BNOC in 2008 at Redstone Arsenal, and everyone in my class was mad with me,because I was the only one using it.
In my unit also,I was one of the last one, to make the transition to the late ACU.
In my unit also,I was one of the last one, to make the transition to the late ACU.
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Missed them every single day from the time I had to switch to ACUs till the day I retired. I honestly feel that a large part of individual discipline went away the minute we made the switch.
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MSG Floyd Williams
If your boots or low quarter shoes didn't shine, somebody would be on your case and state you must have shine your shoes or boots with a Hershey Bar.
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People can complain about pressing uniforms or shining boots but people took pride in their appearance then. To me nothing was more impressive than spit shined jump boots, hard pressed BDUs and my blousing cuffs to make the legs stay straight.
Now do you remember these PTs?
Now do you remember these PTs?
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SSG (Join to see)
I do not remember these PTs as this was before my time, but i do remember a time when people took pride in the boots they wore, ironed and starched thier uniforms and just looked good in general.. Good Ole Days they were.
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I concur! I think that the overall appearance and military discipline displayed during that era was outstanding. I miss shining my Jump Boots! I'd gladly take them back!
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
Boyee I agree there is just no standards nowadays as I fade out. Those were the days!
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SPC (Join to see)
I agree when i first entered the navy i worked for the master at arms in port and in my ironed bdu's, shined boots that was a nice looking uniform.
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SFC (Join to see)
I remember having a boot shinning party in basic and AIT every evening. We would have competitions to see who had the best looking boots in the platoon (Not sure what the winner got) I too miss those days having pride in yourself and the way you looked and caring what your chain of command thought of you and your appearance.
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I felt a sense of pride when I showed up for duty with highly shined boots and a pressed set of BDUs. The sad thing about it is that there are NCOs in the Army that have never had that experience and if we were to go back to BDUs and black boots they would be clueless, but there was nothing like sitting up late at night in Basic Training or AIT with a flashlight after lights out shining boots to stand tall in formation for in-ranks inspection.
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SFC Cameron Sewell
1stSgt James Nolan you think the green ones you are wearing are bad try wearing the tan ones. They get dirty with in minutes and there is no way to keep them clean. Its like wearing a white T-shirt to work on a vehicle. I would take a pair like yours instead of the Tan ones we where. Now for the Black boots i do miss those and as long as you had taken care of them and shinned them you had a pair of boots that last for a long time. Not like these wear you constantly have to buy new ones.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
I know this is 6 months after the start of this post but you can keep you tan boots clean. Use soap and water and a brush. It always worked for me.
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I want them back but maybe not because I enjoyed shining boots and pressing uniforms. I think doing those things really instilled the pride I had in wearing a uniform because I had to work hard to ensure it looked good. These new privates have wash and wear uniforms and who cares what happens boots. I remember getting so mad if I scraped a boot ruining a shine that took me an hour to get. Bring them back to BCT if no where else!
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MSG(P) Michael Warrick
We need a uniform that one can take pride in. You could tell in the old days the by looking at the uniforms the Soldiers that cared and the ones who did not for the most part.
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SFC Cameron Sewell
I prefer the BDU's, because you knew who actually took pride in them Selfs. I still have BDU's in my closet that can stand up on their owns. and I still shine my own boots.
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SGT James LeFebvre
When we gotgot the tan boots, I would religiously clean mine to keep them looking at least decent
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I miss the Friday night spit shine and the crunch of stepping into a freshly starched uniform. Like the rest have said, it made you feel disciplined.
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It seems to me that shortly after the issuing of ACU's was when I noticed an increase in the number of new troops showing up to the unit with less than desirable attitudes, discipline, and attention to detail.
Yes, I want the BDU's back. In my oppinion this new uniform fails to provide adequate camouflage, and much less than a profesional apperance. I also miss being able roll my sleeves in garison.
Most of all I miss wearing the green one peice flight suite (pajamas).
Yes, I want the BDU's back. In my oppinion this new uniform fails to provide adequate camouflage, and much less than a profesional apperance. I also miss being able roll my sleeves in garison.
Most of all I miss wearing the green one peice flight suite (pajamas).
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Sgt Adam Jennings
I think it has more to do with Mothers of America and their role in softening up basic and boot camps to be honest.
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1986 - Tanker Boots!!! Pulled out of storage, saddle soap and polished them. Still need a couple of more coats of polish!!!!! :-) :-)
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SGT Thomas Lucken
LOL, little to much! Biggest concern was the straps, had to saturate them with saddle soap and polish. They were pretty dry, surprisingly they weren't as brittle as I thought they would be....
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1SG (Join to see)
Just looked at that picture again and realized that those were jump boots that had been converted to tanker boots. Have never seen that before. Airborne Tankers all the way!!! LOL
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SGT Thomas Lucken
I think they are H & H boots! H & H used to make a cheaper pair of jump boots, Cocorans were the best jump boots!
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1SG (Join to see)
I had a pair of the H&H as well. Had them re soled with the ripple soles and they were some of the best boots I ever had!
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I served for 20 years so I remember the BDUs well. I also took pride in my uniform and never walked out unless my boots and uniform were looking perfect. In basic I even made extra money by polishing boots for other less patient soldiers. I welcomed the ACU and even enjoyed the way it felt, but you could not press them like BDUs. The boots did not even require polishing. I guess I'm sentimental but the BDUs were a way for a soldier to stand out and show his or her military spirit without bragging.
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1SG (Join to see)
Agree with all that you said Paul. I remember when we used to have the full length mirrors at many exits of building so you could check yourself before walking out. Haven't seen one in years sadly!
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