Army to get new uniform...again....

Some day, I promise, the Army will get it right. I mean, the USMC has the right idea, one uniform for desert, another for jungle.
View attachment 12347

 

What does the new American one look like?
The British forces moved to Multi-Terrain Pattern uniforms about a year ago, but they haven't completely replaced the old patterns yet-
New uniform unveiled - British Army Website

 

We are currently using the ACUs, its just the plan now that they are going to phase them out, for what? We have no idea yet, lol.

 

Aye, sounds about right!

 

I don't think they thought out the ACU (Army Combat Uniiform) UCP (Universal Camo Pattern) uniform before they rushed to acquire a digital patten. I don't think it was really critical to field a new uniform when they did, the tri color DCU (Desert Camo Uniform) was a good uniform. They could have made some minor adjustments to it's design to optimize it for current use and stayed with it until they had a good replacement (pocket placement etc.). What they ended up with is something few soldiers like, either the pattern and/or the uniforms design itself. To compound the error they went out and produced all their TA-50 in UCP to match the uniform, instead of going with a neutral color like coyote brown, which is what the Marine Corps did with all it's 782 gear.
It is my understanding that many U.S. Army units in Afghanistan are getting uniforms in Crye Precision's MultiCam which is a prety good pattern. The Army doesn't however win the prize for the worst decision. I really don't know what the U.S. Navy was thinking when they spent all the money they did on developing their digi-camo pattern. It's freakin blue! If it's not going to have a tactical purpose why spend the money to design the pattern! Then we have the ABU (Airman Battle Uniform) in which the pattern isn't despised like the ACU/UCP but the material and design are hated by those wearing it. I think part of the reason that the pattern isn't despised like the Army's UCP, is that the vast majority of Airmen really have no need for their camoflauge pattern to perform well tactically. They are mainly on bases and not traipsing around in the field.



Navy Digi Camo.
Note: after posting I went back and added the definition for the acronyms I used, I realized it might be confusing to others.

 

I agree. The ACUs, much like the beret, came at a time when we could have used the time and money for other things. Like body armor, and up-armored vehicles. It was definitely one of those, why fix something that isnt broken moments.
And this is all coming at a time when the Army is finally just about done replacing all its gear with ACU pattern, the field jackets, and the Gortex jacket. I remember seeing people being issued woodland, and DCU as late as 2008.
But at least Im not wearing blue...with those blue felt boots....or the blue tiger strips...lol......
In other news, the Army is also phasing out the dress green(Class A, and Class B) uniforms. They are going with a modified Dress Blue uniform, called the ASU(Army Service Uniform)...

 

I think that the Army ought to go back to green fatigues in garrison and in woodland areas, and khakis in desert areas. All this camo crap is silly. Every country has them, and before long nobody is going to know who to shoot at anyway. And the most silly that ever came into being is the Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force having cammoflage at all. That blue Army Service Uniform must have been designed by someone who isn't going to have to wear them. Go back to the WW2 style class a/Ike jacket thing, and khakis in the summertime. Berets for Airborne/SF/Rangers, stetsons for the cav and garrison caps for everyone else.

 

A-58---Ditto!

 

Doesn't the Army have better things to do than design uniforms?

 

Obviously not, at least no time to design good ones that is.

 

I never understood the ACU......A cammie jacket you can't roll the sleeves up on, boots you don't have to polish and no ironing? What on earth does the Army do with the extra time? The Marines don't Iron or Shine anymore either but that just leaves more time for weapons maintenance and underwater knife fighting
.

 

AMEN and my sentiments exactly.

 

They need to model them after the WWII German uniforms. If they did that? i'd have something else to collect as well as I would officially be into collecting American items for the first time in my life--well ever since I quit collecting Divisional patches an NCO Stripes.

 

I'll disagree here Bobby. I think the best field uniforms we ever had were the ERDL cammies and the OG-107 jungle pattern utilities. Use them for temperate environments and add the DCU pattern, with the preceeding two uniforms material for arid environments. Add the reinforced seat and knee's from the BDU's and the two things the ACU's do correctly, the sleeve pockets and deletion of the lower blouse pockets, and I think you'd have a winner. (the MARPAT's have these features and are in functional patterns). I'd also do away with all the velcro on the ACU's, buttons work just fine, are more tactical and after washing you don't have a big lint ball.



ERDL Camo uniform.



OG-107 Jungle Pattern Uniform. This uniform was really good especially after it faded.

I'm in full agreement.

Again I'm in full agreement. The Army in WWII had a good looking service uniform, why not go back to it? Heritage anyone. I always liked my Marine Corps service alphas and hated my Army class A's.



Army WWII class A uniform




Marine Corps Service Alpha Uniform

Why the Army thought that going to the beret for everyone was a morale booster I do not know. Obviously, a decision made by a desk bound pogue with beret envy. The whole reason that units that used to be authorized to wear berets had higher morale was what it took to earn the beret. A badge of honor. Take away the requirement to earn it and you've destroyed it's meaning.

 

Was the OG-107 the Vietnam issue uniform? I remember owning a complete set of that a long time ago.

 

I heard they are switching to Multicam. I am pretty sure US Special Forces have already made the switch. Its the Camo Pattern the airsoft team I played with in Orlando used. It is quite effective in most terrain. I remember my squad moving to flank a bunker. I turned to look at where the rest of the team was and couldn't see them. Then they all rose up guns blazing. We took the bunker with no loses. Anyways, heres a comparison of Woodland vs Multicam in a wood situation:

http://www.desertdeucesurplus.com/images/TRU-Multicam/multicam-vs-woodland.jpg

I cant find another website that illustrates Multicam, but scroll down on this one to see three images of Multicam in action. Multicam BDUs, ACUs, Gore-Tex, and Outerwear

And the only time ACU is good: http://www.soldiersperspective.us/images/December2006/ACU.jpg

 

Basically yes, in the Vietnam uniforms final iteration. There were several variations to the Vietnam jungle uniform, design and fabric evolved over time. The final version is what I was referring to. It was still issued to Ranger's/Special Ops units up through at least the late 80's.

 

Well if they get their way and put everyone behind a joystick operating unmanned thingy in a trailer in Topeka Kansas then I guess all they will need is their Skivies