Remember when we talked about the new ACU?
How about some feedback from an actual user?
I have not worn the ACU, nor seen one in person, just in purty pictures. However!, too much velcro turns me off. In fact, I really don't like the idea of velcro on the uniform at all. Like the good captain says, velcro sleeves getting caught on velcro pockets is just goofy. And, when you crawl through the mud, muck, weeds, undergrowth, forest floor, etc., stuff gets stuck in velcro - both sides of it. And it ain't easy to get out. Besides, this ain't the Air Force (no offense).
Personally, I like the idea of all the badges going away on the combat uniform. I will not likely wear mine. I think they tend to create false impressions (good and bad) of the wearer. The one that leaps to mind first is the "badgefinder" impression. You know the guy with badges starting at the pocket and going over his shoulder. "People" tend to think, "oh, that guy just goes to school. Must have a sergeant major for a buddy." Of course, that jealous thinking tends to poison a positive first impression. I don't think I need badges, tabs, and purty doohickeys to prove to you that I'm a good Soldier. Those badges just show you what school I've been to or what I've accomplished in the past. Instead, I'd rather talk about what we are doing or are fixin' to do, like kick some terrorist butt!
I do understand being proud of your accomplishments, and I don't want to diminish that any. But some of these badges are certainly superfluous - as are the "schools" that create them. Air Assault for example. I learned how to rappel in my SF training. I learned how to ruck in Basic Training. I learned how to tie knots in the period in between. I could learn how to sling load a water buffalo in an hour or less. Why do we have a school and a badge for all that? Esprit de corps? [shrug here] Ok. If you say so.
Finally, changing uniforms in the middle of a war seems a bit odd to me as well. The desert pattern and the woodland pattern worked well for a few decades, a few more years wouldn't hurt. I don't see or hear alot about Soldiers trying to be camouflaged in Baghdad, but then, I haven't been there so I don't know. But to my way of thinking, the IED's don't care what uniform you're wearing, or if you're wearing one at all.
I will say this much, though. War is great for getting new stuff. New uniforms, new electronics, new weapons systems, new armor (body and vehicle), the list goes on. This is a good thing. I'll put up with some velcro pulling to get a great outfit of body armor.
UPDATE: James Joyner has the coveted "Bullwinkle Badge" (Air Assault wings) and has an opinion about this post. He, as usual, makes some good points.
Also, I did not intend to offend. If you have a badge of some sort, I'm sure you are very proud of it. My point was to merely point out the immense number of badges and awards the Army has and how many of the schools for them are longer and made more difficult than they have to be. I know there is purpose and meaning behind the badges and schools, I just think that we have a war to fight and we'll be fighting it for a long time so maybe we need to rethink our allocation of resourses. If we can teach the tasks and skills needed for Air Assault operations in one week instead of two that saves time and money. Same for all the other schools and training the Army has.
Discuss.
How about some feedback from an actual user?
I just purchased my first set of ACUs and tried them on. My wife really did not care for them. But she really is a fashion critic from NYC. I am dismayed to see that the Army is moving back to the ever replaceable dogface. This is not the time nor the decade for that viewpoint. The ACU really makes me feel very "replaceable". There is nothing personal about the uniform. I am sure that it is just a matter of time before the quartermaster laundry just gives you back any Medium Regular top vs. yours.
The removal of skill badges is most likely because the people who make the rules never deploy or have ever earned a skill badge. I am surprised they did not remove the combat patch. This is to make us all the same... Mediocre? I miss my regimental crest and skill badge. I am proud of the work it took to earn both of them. I still think the uniform is a bit "dorky". I put my hand in the top pocket and the velcro got stuck to the cuff. These are the nosiest uniforms I have ever worn. I wonder how long the velcro will last?
CPT B.
I have not worn the ACU, nor seen one in person, just in purty pictures. However!, too much velcro turns me off. In fact, I really don't like the idea of velcro on the uniform at all. Like the good captain says, velcro sleeves getting caught on velcro pockets is just goofy. And, when you crawl through the mud, muck, weeds, undergrowth, forest floor, etc., stuff gets stuck in velcro - both sides of it. And it ain't easy to get out. Besides, this ain't the Air Force (no offense).
Personally, I like the idea of all the badges going away on the combat uniform. I will not likely wear mine. I think they tend to create false impressions (good and bad) of the wearer. The one that leaps to mind first is the "badgefinder" impression. You know the guy with badges starting at the pocket and going over his shoulder. "People" tend to think, "oh, that guy just goes to school. Must have a sergeant major for a buddy." Of course, that jealous thinking tends to poison a positive first impression. I don't think I need badges, tabs, and purty doohickeys to prove to you that I'm a good Soldier. Those badges just show you what school I've been to or what I've accomplished in the past. Instead, I'd rather talk about what we are doing or are fixin' to do, like kick some terrorist butt!
I do understand being proud of your accomplishments, and I don't want to diminish that any. But some of these badges are certainly superfluous - as are the "schools" that create them. Air Assault for example. I learned how to rappel in my SF training. I learned how to ruck in Basic Training. I learned how to tie knots in the period in between. I could learn how to sling load a water buffalo in an hour or less. Why do we have a school and a badge for all that? Esprit de corps? [shrug here] Ok. If you say so.
Finally, changing uniforms in the middle of a war seems a bit odd to me as well. The desert pattern and the woodland pattern worked well for a few decades, a few more years wouldn't hurt. I don't see or hear alot about Soldiers trying to be camouflaged in Baghdad, but then, I haven't been there so I don't know. But to my way of thinking, the IED's don't care what uniform you're wearing, or if you're wearing one at all.
I will say this much, though. War is great for getting new stuff. New uniforms, new electronics, new weapons systems, new armor (body and vehicle), the list goes on. This is a good thing. I'll put up with some velcro pulling to get a great outfit of body armor.
UPDATE: James Joyner has the coveted "Bullwinkle Badge" (Air Assault wings) and has an opinion about this post. He, as usual, makes some good points.
Also, I did not intend to offend. If you have a badge of some sort, I'm sure you are very proud of it. My point was to merely point out the immense number of badges and awards the Army has and how many of the schools for them are longer and made more difficult than they have to be. I know there is purpose and meaning behind the badges and schools, I just think that we have a war to fight and we'll be fighting it for a long time so maybe we need to rethink our allocation of resourses. If we can teach the tasks and skills needed for Air Assault operations in one week instead of two that saves time and money. Same for all the other schools and training the Army has.
Discuss.
posted by JACK ARMY at 6:20 AM
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