So what about us lowly combat support/sustainment choads that spend a shit ton of time outside the wire in theater?
My suggestion is if by 2015 you don’t have multicam issued to you by way of being deployed, your ass is out. We were the first BCT to get MC issued on our way to AFG in 2010, if in 5 years you haven’t deployed and in doing so received MC, here’s your ticket outta the Army. I’d say it’s a win-win, everybody ends up in MC, deployment dodgers get fucking gone.
Thoughts?
Really dude? Ignorant statement. Why would you issue Multicam to just combat arms guys? Have you forgotten that we lowly support and combat support troops are out there as well? So you want me in a different uniform as I’m executing 3-day convoys through Afghanistan or walking the roads with the combat arms when they don’t either have enough people to do the job or need females for their search teams? You could not possibly have thought out your statement prior to jotting it down on a nameless, faceless social media outlet like this.
I’m just waiting to see what’s going to replace it. They’ve been down to the final three for months now. And I’m curious what Crye’s submission looks like, I’m assuming its close to MC. Also, I’m for the patches on the arms, but am entirely glad they’re allowing the sewn on stuff now. Branch indicators would be nice.
According to a couple of articles on AKO, the Army brass has had uniform envy ever since the USMC came out with the Marpat uniforms. The Corp patented their design, look at the Marine emblem in the pattern, and does not want anyone to use it. The Army spent 15+ million dollars on the ACU development. The USMC spent around a half a million on their uniform and camo. The decision to go with the ACU was by a general or two based on how good they thought it looked.
The multicam is currently authorized only to units deployed, or getting ready to go or that just got back. Supposedly 5 billion dollars was spent on fielding the ACU.
You added too many zeroes there brother…cost $5 billion overall to field. We aren’t THAT crazy. You can read about some of the incremental contracts for both the ACU and Multi-Cam at this link: http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/usa-contracts-for-new-army-combat-uniforms-in-acupat-camo-03024/#more
Apparently, opinions that don’t reflect your own aren’t authorized. Relax. It was a statement about cost savings. As I said, issuing BDUs would be an alternative for CS and CSS troops if they wanted to save money. With the new camo study going on, it’s obviously a non-issue.
You are entitled to your opinion, but suggesting different patterns based on MOS is slightly foolish when you consider how non-conventional the battlefield is these days. Those support/sustainment roles aren’t miles behind friendly lines anymore.
Nobody has commented on my proposal yet, let the issue flesh itself out.
After 5 years of issuing to deploying units everyone in the Army “should” have MC, if you lack MC at the beginning of 2016 you better have a damned good excuse in order to stay in or you get on in life as a proud freakin civilian. It solves both problems, huge initial issue and dickbag deployment dodgers in the ranks.
You are right. It was 5 billion dollars, not 500.
Agree…to a point. There are certain MOSs out there - or functional areas…AKA Space Command, certain AG functions, and certain medical MOSs - which do not have a role in theater. It is a fact, not a cop-out that some Soldiers will not have a chance to get to our remaining theater. Also remember that your plan is almost moot now that the deploying units are decreasing with each day - and the majoroty of them deploying are going to be the same.
Having a cavalier attitude of “deploy to AFG and get the uniform or f-you, get out of the service” simply won’t work. I’ve deployed three times (for three years) wearing DCUs and ACUs to Iraq - I’m now in a non-deploying logistics HQ for the next 3 years…yet I just spent 5 months in a country not-to-be-named wearing civilian clothes or ACUs. Do you want me to get kicked out because I won’t have the chance to deploy to AFG? Heck, I spend each day planning the redeployment of material from that place…but your plan would have me removed because I failed to eat food from a AFG DFAC.
You have to remove EMOTION from the process of developing and implementing a new uniform. Although I agree that we should go with the multi-cam uniform and branch tabs back on our collars…in the end, leadership will be the ones in the Puzzle Palace making the final decision. God help us all!!!
The reason why I bought Propper brand acu’s out of pocket. Never had a single durability issue. They never faded, never tore or ripped and the velcro was the good velcro, always stuck and never frayed or fell apart. They definatly need to switch to multicam. The army could have saved a ton of money by just using colors similar to the Marines. Sad thing is pixelated digi cam was invented by the army in the late 70’s. http://www.uniteddynamics.com/dualtex/
WTF!?
If I shoot a low wall in ACUs I have a better than 50% of blowing out the crotch. Blown out crotches are common place with the ACU. The velcro is crap. The cargo pocket velcro was so bad that they finally went back to buttons. The chest pocket velcro is good for only about a month of regular use. Then, don’t put anything important in this pocket because it will fall out. I had to stop putting my govt issued cell phone in the chest pocket because it would fall out every time I bent over.
I can’t tell you how many damn times I’ve taken a knee only for the ACU crotch to blow out. For real, it’s probably happened 25+ times.
Actually… it was a committee of GOs and SGMs that came up with this abortion. And just why is the Army G1 involved with uniform policy anyway?
Right now, all of the BDU are being given to the ANA.
The Army could’ve saved money and put a bunch of designs up to a vote in front of a bunch of infantry privates and they would’ve end up with a better solution.
The only people I ever saw that blew out crotches was because they wore the wrong damn size pants or didn’t have them up high enough.
The bad velcro looked similar to this, should have stayed away from it.
http://www.link-ink.co.uk/ekmps/shops/linkms/images/velcro-heavy-duty-hook-loop-50mm-5-metres-1-roll-of-each-hook-loop--1268-p.jpg
If people stuck with this style velcro they wouldn’t have had any issues
http://paiho-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Hook-and-Loop-Dk-Grey-1024x768.jpg
Ironic enough, I never had a problem with the crotch blowing out until this weekend. Mine ripped during a short halt during a ruck march. I’ve had those pants for years and several others in the same size and have never had a problem doing all sorts of activities.
Of course there has to be some discretion. Good points and I think we would agree on most things if the fog of internet forum speak were lifted.
Oh really? Please tell me more about how the majority of my company had blown out crotches due to sizing error when ACUs first came out.
And please tell me how a soldier is able to choose his own velcro.
Agreed. Please tell me how I was “wearing the wrong size” that is why I have multiple pairs blow out the crotch. Please tell me all about that. I’m sure that it had nothing to do with actual hard use, but had to do with me not knowing what sized pants that I wear or how to even wear my pants. Guy (Endur), your statement is pure ignorance.
You can choose your own damn velcro by looking through the damn stacks of them at clothing & sales. They also have the manufactures name on the tag inside of the tops and bottoms. That is how I found out about Propper brand. I then proceeded to buy my own acu’s from there on out. I never had a single damn issue and I was no desk pogue.
Striker aka “GUY”, I have seen many people blow out their crotches and every single one of them wore their uniform improperly or wore the wrong size. When told of these errors they never had an issue again. I even turned my old team-leader/squad-leader onto Propper and after getting and putting them through some use through Ranger school and came back and told me he didn’t have any issue with them and thanked me for turning him onto them.
Unlike most people I paid as much attention to who made my uniforms as I did on who made my gear and what gear I chose.