Army Uniforms Some Thoughts

Army Uniforms

This is part rant, part “back in the old corps” perspective, and part commentary.

Commentary on Recent Army Uniform Changes.

• Patrol Cap vice Beret with Army Combat Uniform; good idea the Black Beret was hot when standing in the Motor Pool.
• Requiring the “corporate” Army to wear the Army Service Uniform in the Pentagon. . .Good idea and long overdue.  Another change that needs to be made, no traveling in ACUs except traveling to and from on R&R.

Commentary on the Black Beret.

• First, history lesson.  When I came into the Army in 1976 the Black Beret was worn by Armor and Armor Cavalry units; as was the Maroon Beret by Airborne Units; the 101^st wore a Dark Blue Beret, the Special Forces the Green Beret.  The First Cavalry wore Stetsons.  None of this was authorized.  Additionally most Tankers and Cavalryman wore the Tankers Jacket and Tankers Boots.  Soldiers in Korea were required to have epaulets sown on their fatigues.  The 82^nd was authorized to wear the Camouflaged Vietnam era Jungle fatigues.  General Bernard Rogers the Chief of Staff of the Army put a kibosh to all of these variants in 1978; except he allowed the Rangers to retain the Black Beret and the Special Forces the Green Beret (actually he had little choice as President Kennedy had ordered that the Green Beret be worn by the Special Forces.)
• This multitude of uniforms, while it drove the more anally retentive General Officers and CSMs nuts; was all about “esprit de corps” in those dark years after Vietnam.  In some ways it allowed units to have their own identity while being part of the Army.  General Rogers was about a straight lace as you could fine and it was his decision to grab hold of the Army by the short hairs.  If you wanted to hear wailing and gnashing of teeth the Airborne community provided plenty of fireworks and condemnations of the CSA actions.  In the end everyone saluted and moved out.
• There is another persistent rumor that the Beret had to be earned in the Airborne and Special Forces.  Guess again, there have been plenty of legs (non-airborne qualified personnel) that have been required to wear the Maroon Beret; there have been many individuals who have worn the “Green Beret” who were not SF qualified.  You are able to tell these individuals, as they did not have a flash on their beret.
• There are many problems with the Army’s Black Beret.  Let me tick some of them off:
  • The crown of the Beret is too big—if you have ever seen a British Beret it has a much small crown and does not look like you have wool growing down the side of your face.
  • If you compare how the SF wears the “Green Beret” and the most of the Army wears their beret; it is quite striking.  Most in the SF (and I should note foreign nations) put it on the top of their heads and don’t spend a lot time shaping it.  Unfortunately in the American Army it is the Airborne and not the SF who the Army decided to copy.  Elaborate shaping routines to give it the look of something to be worn by the women attending the Ascot horse races.  I once had a Brit tell me we spent way too much time on looking good.  He was also the one who gave me a British Black Beret which I wore until I retired that had a small crown, and I could put on with one hand!
  • It is hot.
  • It doesn’t protect against the sun.
  • In the long run the decision by the CSA and the SMA was correct.  Just remember you still have to wear the beret with Class A be it the green version or the Army Service Uniform.

Commentary on the Army Service Uniform.

• When worn with the Blouse it looks good, unfortunately the Army put too much shit on it uniforms.  Like all good Boy Scouts we love to show off our merit badges.
• The White Shirt would looks good with the Blouse and trousers; however when worn as the Class B uniform it makes the wearer look like either a Bus Driver or a Mall Guard.
• Initially the ASU when worn as a Class A (Blouse foreandhand tie ), Class B (short or long sleeve) gray shirt.  Of course the CSM fraternity listen to every Specialists in the Army who thought a white shirt would better, as it was tradition.  The White shirt looks great for “formal wear” either with a long tie and saucer cap for events such as military funerals or with a bow tie for formal events.
• The decision to go with the ASUs was I think precipitous on the part of General Schoomaker.  If there was a compelling need for a new uniform the Army would have been wise to have approached someone like Ralph Lauren who appreciate tradition and style and I suspect we would have ended up with a much better uniform design.
• If I was the king of the day; I would have gone with a tan or khaki colored shirt and pants for Class B (short sleeve shirt and pants or long sleeve shirt and tie and pants) and Class A underdress (blouse, tan or khaki shirt w/tie and tan or khaki pants, and beret); Class A dress (white shirt w/tie and blue pants, saucer cap); Class A Formal (white shirt w/bow tie and blue pants, saucer cap).  I would restrict the wear of badges and tabs to the Class A uniform; on the Class B you would be permitted to wear your three highest awards, plus one qualification badge.  Other changes I would make to the Army Service Uniform would be to add bellow pleats to the blouse (like those on the Army Combat Uniform) and were on the “pinks and greens” it would allow a trimmer appearance but still would allow you to move when wearing the blouse.  The other change I would make is to add a waist belt as there was on the old pinks and greens.

Thoughts on Vibram Five Fingers:

• Recently the Army decided that Vibram Five Fingers.  While I understand the desire for uniformity if that was the deciding reason, then the Army would make every soldier do PT in the same shoes and type of socks, it doesn’t.  This is about something that attacks the sensibilities of the Senior NCOs, it is new, it is radical, it looks different.
• By releasing the message outlawing Vibram Five Fingers the Army has made itself look foolish; an institution more bent on looking good than allowing soldiers to use shoes that are practical.  See Tom Rick’s blog and King of War.

Final Comments:

As I am retired my comments are of the asshole variety, they probably stink.  While I suggested changes to the Army Service Uniform, I think it is time for the Army to take a chill pill towards any additional uniform changes.  Every time there is a change to the uniforms it cost millions of dollars to the Army, money that the Army and the nation don’t have.  Additionally every time there is a uniform change it cost soldiers and arm and leg of their own money.  My advice to the SMA chill out and enjoy your four years don’t try to leave a mark on Army uniforms; you have fixed the beret controversy that is enough.