The US Army Uniform Thread....

[Noble713]

The Israelis don't have dress uniforms, do they? They seem to get by just fine....

[m1a1mg]

Is the lack of use of the Class A due to us not wanting to wear a Service Dress, or not wanting to wear the Class A, in particular.

 

The Marines, Navy and Air Force wear their Service uniforms (and the Navy/Marines wear their Dress Uniforms) much more than Army personnel do.

 

Chicken or Egg?

 

I'd say that a good-looking Service Uniform is vital to a Soldier's self-image (doesn't hurt recruiting, either). Secondly, there are many environments where wearing ACUs is inappropriate. That it is worn in those environments speaks more to distaste for the current Class A than abhorrence of Service Dress.

 

Falken

The problem with the Army Class A's is that they always look crappy. Even people who know how to dress well can't do a thing with them.

 

The worst experience is to be in an airport traveling in Class A's (in the old days) and meet a Marine in his dress uniform. It makes you feel like 50 pounds of shit in a 10 pound bag.

[SCFalken]

The problem with the Army Class A's is that they always look crappy. Even people who know how to dress well can't do a thing with them.

 

The worst experience is to be in an airport traveling in Class A's (in the old days) and meet a Marine in his dress uniform. It makes you feel like 50 pounds of shit in a 10 pound bag.

 

Agreed.

 

 

 

Falken

[Paul in Qatar]

You know, I suspect thekirk might be right.

[Jim Martin]

The problem with the Army Class A's is that they always look crappy. Even people who know how to dress well can't do a thing with them.

 

The worst experience is to be in an airport traveling in Class A's (in the old days) and meet a Marine in his dress uniform. It makes you feel like 50 pounds of shit in a 10 pound bag.

 

You know, the funny thing is we just haven't changed our uniforms much at all since the 1890's....

[FirstOfFoot]

Is the lack of use of the Class A due to us not wanting to wear a Service Dress, or not wanting to wear the Class A, in particular... I'd say that a good-looking Service Uniform is vital to a Soldier's self-image (doesn't hurt recruiting, either).

 

Here's one for anyone who's done a full-dress parade. With a march past. And the Regimental march playing on the pipes, with the unit in its most impressive uniform. You feel about ten feet tall, and know that everyone watching you is impressed (unless, of course, your drill is pants and your uniform is sh*te, then you feel about ten inches tall).

 

For all the Brits out there, think of the moment the inspecting officer steps up to the front of the parade, and you hear "General (or even Royal)Salute, Present..... ARMS!" and four hundred rifles bang into the present.

 

One could argue that the Israelis can "get away with" not having spiffy uniforms, because everyone in Israel feels part of the IDF, and every Israeli can identify / admire an Israeli soldier - National Service has that advantage.

[Paul in Qatar]

I had a buddy who actually commanded a recruiting company (a battery in truth, as he had a majority of redlegs, but I digress). His guys wore Class Bs in the office, but on those rare times when they could wear BDUs, reported they sparked interest and pride.

 

OK, so the Blues are the new Class As. OK, done deal. Waste of time in wartime anyway.

 

BUT ... if we were given free rein how about:

 

Combat uniform as a new class, whatever the QMs are issuing

Class C BDUs and DCUs as now as an everyday fatigue uniform.

Class B BDU trousers with gray shirt with branch color shoulder tabs

Class A Blues with gray shirt and tie

[SCFalken]

You know, the funny thing is we just haven't changed our uniforms much at all since the 1890's....

 

Conversely, the US Army uniforms started out cool (WWI tunic, khaki/OG) and got worse from there, sliding into truly horrible with the advent of the green Class A's and the dreaded Garrison Cap...

 

 

Falken

[Old Tanker]

Conversely, the US Army uniforms started out cool (WWI tunic, khaki/OG) and got worse from there, sliding into truly horrible with the advent of the green Class A's and the dreaded Garrison Cap...

Falken

 

I thought khakis were pretty neat as long they were short sleeved , c*nt cap and no tie.

We had to be in class A's to go on leave, ties and billed hat.

[TonyE]

The US 1917/1918 uniform looks terrific, too bad the current designers of US uniform can`t get a 101 on those.

 

Don`t diss the "Dwight" garrison cap though, it does have copious amounts of dedicated followers here on Tanknet.....

[Paul in Qatar]

Dreaded? You kids today do not know dreaded uniforms.

 

I was in when we had permanent press fatigues. Made you look like a gas station guy. But even those were better than the old WAC Mint uniform. Even the hat (a hard beret thing) sucked.

 

(BTW, do women still get the silly black hair cover thing with the black raincoat?)

[thekirk]

Paul, I'm not familiar with a black hair cover thing that the females have to wear with the overcoat, so I assume it's a dead issue.

 

Personally, if i were king for a day, and got to pick out the new uniform for the Army, I think I'd go with making the ACU with the beret, in a foliage green color, the new class A. Ribbons, along with badges and branch insignia, would be worn with this, for a more ceremonial effect. Give black back to the Rangers, if they still want it.

 

ACU, with patrol cap, class B, normal garrison wear. No ribbons or branch insignia, badges only. The beret is strictly for ceremonial occasions, or in public.

 

Class C uniform would be the new fireproof stuff, or whatever the gurus at Natick come up with next for combat use.

 

Any other uniforms needed, i.e., for the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown, could be recreated out of historical example. I'd still like to see the old WWI-style coat (or, is that a tunic? I can never keep the flippin' names straight, on all the little differences in terminology--another reason to simplify), possibly in a brown, or khaki color.

 

The Marines and Air Force have pretty much taken ownership of blue, in the public's mind, anyway, so I'd get away from that color, entirely. The old, dark brown shade of khaki would do well for the jacket and pants, and the shirts could be the lighter shade. These dress uniforms would only be used for purposes such as testifying before Congress, serious social occasions, or what have you. Not a general issue item--available for purchase, if duties require it, like the blues of today, or for rent, from a vendor.

 

Take the money saved, and put that into getting every Soldier good boots, and Gore-tex. Anything left over can go towards more ammo for training.

[Stevely]

Pinks and greens.

[BP]

Pinks and greens.

 

Amen, brother.

[Paul in Qatar]

In truth you have to take the Pinks & Greens out of the argument, or they would win hands down in nothing flat.

[SCFalken]

In truth you have to take the Pinks & Greens out of the argument, or they would win hands down in nothing flat.

 

 

WWI Style > Pinks & Greens.

 

 

 

 

Falken

[BP]

WWI Style > Pinks & Greens.

Falken

 

No way. Pinks and greens woulkd still look not only more contemporary, but have so may more options. Tan shirt can be worn just with trousers, etc. Tunic collars look cool, but ouch- I'd rather have a jacket cut like the WWII green.

 

Hell, I'd even say go back to a c@#$ cap as long as it was cut like the WWII garrison cap, and not that stiff, upright abortion of an envelope wannabe they foisted on us in past years.

[History Buff]

WWI Style > Pinks & Greens.

Falken

 

Nothing defines cool like puttees.

[SCFalken]

 

 

Falken

[Cromwell]

Pinks and greens.

 

As soon as possible, preferably with a Sam Brown and in 100% wool. The cut and cloth of the existing class As together with "policeman" shoes is as I have said before a sartorial disaster of the first order. The blues just need their collars closed up. The cost of re-uniforming is not relevent, new ones have to be bought as the old one's wear out and new soldiers need the new ones anyway.

[Archie Pellagio]

Doesnit thıs kınd of kıll the whole ıdea of havıng a camouflage pattern?

I assume its meant to be worn under armour but still?

[mcantu]

Doesnit thıs kınd of kıll the whole ıdea of havıng a camouflage pattern?

I assume its meant to be worn under armour but still?

 

 

The sleeves are still camouflaged and the chest area is camouflaged by the armor...

[Jim Martin]

Nothing defines cool like puttees.

 

I gotta say that when I was a student at NAS Memphis, the sailors standing gate guard in their "Cracker Jacks" complete with puttees, looked pretty sharp.

[Jim Martin]

No way. Pinks and greens woulkd still look not only more contemporary, but have so may more options. Tan shirt can be worn just with trousers, etc. Tunic collars look cool, but ouch- I'd rather have a jacket cut like the WWII green.

 

 

Yeah, I gotta say that the USMC Dress Blues do make you look sharp, but that high collar starts to hurt you after a while. Most Balls I attended, the collars were undone before the dinner course was finished--never mind by the time the dancing started.

 

For a service dress, you really don't want a high choker collar. For Blues, I highly recommend the choker collar--it's not practical, but it's sharp, which is pretty much Blues in their essence anyway.

[rmgill]

Nothing defines cool like puttees.

 

Wrapped or buckled/laced?