I've found the seams are poorly sewn and often fail after only a few washings. And I agree that velcro is not up to the task. I'm spending just as much replacing frayed patches and pin-on rank as I would have on sewing one set on the uniform.
I will be deploying to OIF in a week. I'm taking my DCUs!
Why do Baseball Players have a different uniform than Basketball Players?
Because they do different kinds of things!
Why is it so hard for some people to understand that soldiers do different things in Iraq than they do at Fort Monroe? If you make one uniform for both environments, you will not get something that is second rate in either world.
I agree with the assessment as well. My DCUs stood up to the task of a 25 month deployment in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. I didn't realize they were highly flammable until reading this article. The government doesn't even allow that on children's sleepwear so why do the allow it on their protectors?
While they are making more changes, will someone pleeeez get rid of the black beret in garrison?
Sounds like replacing the old uniform was just a big boonedoggle as usual. Since the uniform doesn't hold up well, where are the old ones? What third world nation did we equip with them.lol I agree with sew on patches, button back-ups with velcro might be an answer, but poor seams coming apart sounds like a good lawsuit, and piss poor quality assurance. Who made them? And who got payed off to look the other way? This will be a major change to correct and one that should not have been. Which political party or should I say individual politician was behind the manufactoring of this uniform. Years ago, when we found out the old flight suits would actually melt to the skin and cause a quicker death, the collared flight jacket and new flightsuits appeared quickley. I still have my old cotton/nylon flight jacket, the one without a collar, and if they new in the 80's it was a safety hazard, how the h-ll did it get back. Individual pride has been lost, in the wearing of a uniform without what little personal displays could be worn, but combat is not a place to worry about that, there should not be any individuals right. Lets put a manufactoring stop on these things and come up with a replacement asap. A basic durable uniform must be a priority first, then will worry about your badges, and berets. Dang lets just pull out the old santeen fatigues, h-ll they were almost indestructable, and very comfortable.
Originally posted by RichMcKinney: Why do Baseball Players have a different uniform than Basketball Players?
Because they do different kinds of things!
Why is it so hard for some people to understand that soldiers do different things in Iraq than they do at Fort Monroe? If you make one uniform for both environments, you will not get something that is second rate in either world.
That's the best and simplest explanation I have heard...now to get it through the heads of those making the decisions on uniform supply!
Personally... I can't wait for the Navuy to start issuing the BDUs so we can get out of those stupid Utilities...
Where is Old Snipe? He should be the one to solved this problem with the uniforms. I think his motto says something like Keep the simple things simple.... I would think that wearing a uniform in the military would need to do three things. Protect the wearer from the elements, the uniform should be practical, and the uniform should match the environment it is being worn in as much as possible. KISS used to work.
Lessee... I went to Iraq in 2003 with summer and winter BDU's...new guys came in w/DCU's we started to call it a fashion show since everyone had a different uniform.
In 2004, I went back for a year and more uniforms, DCU's were issued. The fashion show became more about accessories (i particularly liked the John Wayne red leather holsters some of the officers wore). Then, as I left just before 2005, the SGM of the Army came to Camp Victory (funny name, huh?) in Kuwait showing off the new ACU. "feels like wearing pajamas".
Now, of course, we came back and turned in some of our DCU'S cuz there's not enough for all so some guys going to the pit got used uniforms...
I just got the ACU's. They're awesome in garrison and, in the field, I avoided using them because destroying them means I gotta buy new ones in garrison...
Oh, look, they don't work well...yeah, velcro was a bad idea. We lose stuff and pulling the straps makes you look like your carrying a suicide vest with a detonator chord...
Gee, all those uniforms, I'm building a second garage to hold all this crap cuz I'm up to about 7 BDU's (still allowed), 4 DCU's, 2 ACU's and all the gortex,thermals, rapid fielding gear....
I gotta get a bigger truck. My F-150 can't hold it all when I try to transport it in one trip to the garrison...
Anybody ever thought this is all about just awarding contracts to defense contractors to sew new uniforms????
Who's idea was it to put the rank insignia in the middle you have to look down to see what rank a person is. I think they should have left it the way it was so when you greeting someone you can look the person straight in the eye and still see what rank he or she is. With the exception of the Scouts everyone else wears their rank either on their sleeve, their collar or their shoulder.
Bring the "pickle suit" back for garrison duty. Camo should be worn only in combat areas. Why does the the Navy and Air Force wear camo in their environments? They should wear gray to match their ships and airbases.
Anybody ever thought this is all about just awarding contracts to defense contractors to sew new uniforms????
You are being evaluated for the next "Project Runway" Competition for the "NEW, HIP, EDGY" Fashions in combat wear...Maybe you'll be the winning model Dana...you'll get a full spread (interperet that as you like) in ELLE magazine!
Thanx for the well written and thought out critique of the ACU. I'm an old retired Infantry NCO and immediately identified with this problem....I hope the appropriate people "upstairs" pays attention and tries to get it right....I can guarantee they didn't get it right when I was in.....Of course, I was in during the pre-dynosaur days of cotton, starch, wash & wear etc. Caught some of the BDU days but they we next to worthless except for OE-30 catchers for the APC guys....Anyway, thanx for letting us know and hopefully the big guys know the real problems.
Since the 70's they went from the OD stuff to the woodland camo, then two types of desert camo, back to the OD, and now this ugly POS. Another thing I don't understand is the purpose of camo is to blend in with your background. So why the American flag in full color?
and hopefully the big guys know the real problems.
