« Previous · Home · Next »
Thoughts on the Army Service Uniform
By Townie 76
Surprise, Surprise, I have some thoughts on the new Army Service Uniform—some good and some bad.
Surprise, Surprise, I have some thoughts on the new Army Service Uniform—some good and some bad.
Here are some points for discussion. When I entered the Army 30+ years ago I was required to have the following:
1 Set Winter Greens
1 Set Summer Greens
2 Tan shirts to be worn with greens
1 Green, belted, wool overcoat
1 Green, belted, raincoat
2 Sets Khaki Tropical Weight Summer Uniforms
1 Overseas Hat
1 Service Hat (flying saucer, fur felt)
1 Set of low quarter black shoes
6 Sets of Cotton Sateen Fatigue Uniforms
2 Black Combat Boots
1 Field Jacket
1 Set of Dress Blue
I am not sure how much all this cost me, but it took me six months to pay off the credit cards.
Since that time we have done away with Khaki Tropical Summer Uniforms, replaced the Tan Shirts worn with the Greens with Baby Shit Green Shirts made of some material not found in nature, changed the shade of our Green Uniform, adopted a Black Unisex Trench/Rain Coat only to replace it ten years later with a Black, Belted, Trench/Rain Coat. I have worn in addition to Cotton Sateen Fatigues, Permament press fatigues, BDU made of unknown not naturally occurring material, Jungle Fatigues, BDU Jungle Fatigues, Chocolate Chip Desert Uniform, Desert Camouflage Uniform, Army Combat Uniform, green T-shirts, Brown T Shirts and now Khaki T Shirts, Green Boot Socks, Black Boot Socks, and now Green Boot Socks again.
Now we have decided that for good reason, the Army will return to wearing the Blue Uniform for both Class A and for Dress Occasions. However, depending on who is yelling the loudest it is either the greatest decision since Moses brought the ten commandants down from Mount Sinai, or a decision worthy of having the leadership of the Army tested for drug use. I favor this decision, in fact when first proposed I thought General Schoomaker had hit a home run, a Gray Shirt to be worn when the Blues were worn as a Class A, and White shirt when worn as a Dress Uniform. Of course, the Army Uniform mafia, were ignored by the then Chief of Staff of the Army (CSA), and convinced the new CSA that it wasn’t quite right. They lobbied hard that we needed a white shirt for all occasions—forgetting that we would probably be mistaken for Mall Security Guards. Then the Airborne Mafia, who has never had an original idea and believes that Hooah is the proper response for every situation demanded that they must be allowed to wear the Class A’s with bloused jump boots. Of course this will require soldiers to buy a pair of Cochran Jump Boots which will be worn at best once a year. Of course wearing Bloused Jump Boots with a Class A uniform has always seemed to me to be a little ridiculous. Then everyone wanted to be able to continue to wear the patch of the Division they were in combat with on their Uniforms. The Army could have said continue to sewn on, or no you are not going wear it get over it, but no the Pentagon mafia decided that we would have enameled pin on representations of the units we served in combat with. Now this won’t look too bad when worn on the Blouse, someone might mistake the wearer of the uniform for a door man but not too bad, now when worn with the Class B (that is the white shirt, blue pants, without blouse) all of this, plus ribbons, unit awards, Combat Badges, Jump Wings, and every tab imaginable, we will be mistaken for either a South American General, a renegade Boy Scout, or a policeman wanting to look important.
There is some about simplicity of uniforms that is striking. I can remember pictures of General George Marshall, from World War II, in which he wore a simple unadorned uniform. No ribbons, no badges, nothing. It was simple; yet spoke legions about the character of the man—and the Army he commanded. (As Chief of Staff in World War II, while not a command, I think no one would doubt he was the Commander of the U. S. Army.)
I am afraid, that soldiers have lost sight of what a uniform is, it is not a “I love Me Wall” display, it is cloth that defines an organization and the soldiers which make up that organization. All soldiers, regardless of rank, wear the same uniform; it should look the same, with the exception of those awards, which the individual has received. While we all should be proud of the service with a particular unit in combat, we should also remember we served as members of the United States Army and not the unit. I think that the USMC has it right; their uniforms have a simplicity which is striking and which draws the public eye towards them. Badges, bangles, dangles have a place, but I believe that the Army would do well to simplify the uniform and instead of making it a walking advertisement, instead make it a uniformed symbol of the bond that unites every soldier in the United States Army.
While I don’t favor any additional changes to the Army Uniform, I do have some thoughts of what I would change if I was the benevolent dictator and King of the Western World.
First, I would add a cloth belt to the Army Service Uniform when worn as a Class A. For Dress Occasions I would reinstate the tradition of Officers wearing a black leather belt (I would use a belt similar to the Officer Belt from the 19th Century and what is worn by Cadets Officers at VMI). I would require all NCO to wear a similar belt but with a distinctive design that reflected their status as Non Commissioned Officers, for the Enlisted Soldiers they would wear a belt with the Crest of the United States Army on it. For the Class B Uniform I would replace the White Shirt with the Gray Shirt first envisioned by General Schoomaker. When wearing the ASU as a Class B, I would limit what is worn on the uniform to rank and name tag. Again simplicity and uniformity would be the watchword and not gaudiness. Lastly I would insist that all wear black leather shoes, do away with the Plastic low quarters, they look cheap and tawdry. Plus, knowing how to really shine shoes is not a bad skill to know. Thankfully for the Army I shan’t be the benevolent dictator and King of the Western World anytime soon, so no one had to fear any further changes.
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://op-for.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/1885
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Thoughts on the Army Service Uniform:
» Discount Western Boots Contact Us from Discount Western Boots Contact Us
Some of the rarest vintage cowpuncher boots originated in the 1800s, and some pri [Read More]
Comments
I love the emphasis on simplicity. The USAF could take a big page out of that book.
George Marshall and most of the Generals that led during WW2, McArthur excepted, only wore a couple of ribbons because it was before the day of the "Show up, do your job, and get a ribbon". It was also the day when officers were evaluated on the ability to effectively lead troops. Not everyone was a "promote immediately"office. It's not enough to have a theater or campaign ribbon, everyone has to have a Bronze Star. But then again, that's just my opinion. (Officer's GCM).
AMEN!! I wish my service, the Air Force, would take a close listen to many of the points you made. Although I certainly disagree with John, who seems to imply that AF uniforms bear more accoutrements than Army uniforms, I wholeheartedly agree on the simplicity point. It seems to me that the best uniforms the US military ever had all appeared during WWII, from all services. Love to see a return to what worked, but then again, that would mean yet another change to our uniforms...
I've quoted you and linked to you here: http://consul-at-arms.blogspot.com/2008/09/re-thoughts-on-army-service-uniform.html
Why not just go back to the WWII uniform for Class B, but require it in all setting, like office work, other than combat and other dirty work. The WWII uniform had class and exuded esprit d'corps, as well as looking super.
The AF dress uniform has too much "flair" and the new ASU is AFU.
Seriously? A gray shirt? That would look like someone from a military academy!
I'm not sure a white shirt is that much better, but there aren't really many good alternatives. I can only think of an Army recruiter going out and doing his job in light-blue pants and a white shirt, with all his Army "scare badges" on the shirt. It just doesn't work. The white shirts will become gray shirts in no time..
Maybe the Army (and AF) should look at a Marine Corps uniform if it wants to learn about simplicity.
And before anyone throws any flame-darts, I've served in all three.
Hoyt S. Vandenberg wanted a "plain blue suit" when he was the first Vice Chief, and second Chief, of the Air Force.
Well said on all accounts. I love how everyone was for Dress Blues to be the new service uniform until the Army Times came out with the new version. Now eneryone wants to keep the Greens. Oh well. My only question is why don't they just switch over to "blues" and just keep the jackets as they are? I assume that the Dress Blue uniform is still the same, isn't it? Grey shirt? Yes. Leather shoes? Yes. Unit patches? Either way, but the the "division pin" idea needs to go. It doesn't look right on the Female uniform where it is placed.
But either way, some Soldiers will wear every thing thay got on their uniform shirts and others will just keep it simple (I just wear the required and my CMB and Jump Wings), unless otherwise directed by Command. But for Patton's sake, will someone in the Mafias authorize sew ons for the ACU?
I think this is the worst uniform the army has designed to date. I wear my class B's often, and I will be very unhappy to have to wear this every day. The blue pants and the heritage is an ok idea, but with a white shirt we will look like security guards. I know several colonels that are going to leave the army by 2014 just so they won't have to wear this uniform. It would be interesting to see how many people feel this way, but I think they should have left the
B's alone or gone back to the WWII uniforms -- the pinks and greys -- now those were great looking uniforms.
I reciently got to see a lot of the old WW2 uniforms (Ike jackets/Pinks And Greens)on display at Ft. Lost in the woods Missouri. All i will say is they look God-awful! The dress blues on display right next to them blew em out of the water. But I will say I did like the cut of the pinks and greens. The waist belt really looks good. The Vietnam summer khakis were sharp too. If they could tweek the the blues I would be a lot happier and supportive. The new ones just look to busy. Not sold on the white shirt either. But over all it is an upgrade.
Hi guys. you rock! Love your style.
I am from Iceland and now study English, give true I wrote the following sentence: "Albums on pages bay photos this is photos from bay fishing trips and other miscellaneous shots."
8) Thanks in advance. Marcy.
Does anyone know where I can get the regulation on proper wear of ASIB along with the combat patch? Thanks.
thanks...
Are you want to buy uggs?There are many good ugg boots
Post a comment
Potential comment conditions listed here. Oh, and you may use basic HTML for formatting.
Then the Airborne Mafia, who has never had an original idea and believes that Hooah is the proper response for every situation demanded that they must be allowed to wear the Class A’s with bloused jump boots. Of course this will require soldiers to buy a pair of Cochran Jump Boots which will be worn at best once a year. Of course wearing Bloused Jump Boots with a Class A uniform has always seemed to me to be a little ridiculous.
Well, sir, hooah. And I thought all of this first, so *you're* the one who was unoriginal.