Army Announces New "Operational Combat Uniform" (BFD - Basically same-same as RVN-era camo)

U.S. Army ^ | Uncle Fed

[Strac6]

Pictures at link.

Scroll down to the "new" Operational Combat Uniform. Basically the same uniform 75th Rangers had, (and LRRPs and Snake Eaters wore when not in Tiger Stripes) in Vietnam 50 effing years ago.

Change # 7352A .... at a probable cost of 70 Bazillion Dollars!!!

to be replaced next year by.....

[Chainmail]

"And I absolutely guarantee you there were advocates just as certain as you for the need for change the last time the Army changed uniforms and the time before that."

And they were wrong and I told them so at the time. I actually had some idiot at Natick Labs insist that their new uniform had no black in its pattern "because black doesn't exist in nature"!

You have to know that most government labs are run by civilians who have never been in the armed forces. That's why we still have the 5.56mm even after all of the many tries by the leaders in the field to get a better/more effective caliber.

[Strac6]

I have no problem on how much they spend, just how they spend (waste) it.

[A Navy Vet]

See my post #48 for the main reason Navy went to the blue/gray cami working uniform. However, I agree with everyone that it would make it more difficult to spot an overboard.

That said, most are going to drown before rescue with the heavy shoes and wet clothing. Contrary to popular belief, very few wear life vests at sea. It's mostly aviation types (think the flight&hangar decks) and when Boatswain Mates are required to work over the side. From watching documentaries, that seems to be the same policy. When the bow was getting buried in heavy seas, the Captain or OOD would give the order of no personnel on deck.

[knarf]

The only and last place camo was needed was in Viet Nam.

MY 1965 fatigues were ill fitting but comfortable OD green.

IMO, snipers are the only guys that should have fancy uniforms.

(Legitimate question; ... )

Does the Navy have camo ?

Coast Guard ?

Air Force ?

How many of those guys need to be still in the bush so they are not spotted ?

[Portcall24]

Sounds like you’re intimately close to this issue. Obviously my, or other naysayer’s, opinion doesn’t matter so I’m sure we’ll see the new uniform around Ft Lee before long.

[A Navy Vet]

"About the "service avoider" stuff: I am after all these years still very bitter that most of the men of my generation found convenient excuses to avoid service - and if they couldn't escape service completely, picked occupational specialties as far from combat as they could get. That left people like me to take all of the hard stuff and I resented it. We could have used more help and we didn't get it, so more of us died or were torn apart than should have been."

I absolutely agree and thank you for serving your country against the evils of communism. I was of age during VN, but didn't get drafted. I had no intention of burning my draft card nor running off to Canada. I would have done my duty if called. I didn't volunteer because I was a clueless dumbass delinquent and didn't follow the war, but I wasn't a coward.

That said, my biggest resentment is directed towards LBJ and McNamara who micro-managed the war, not to mentioned Cronkite who made the wrong call at every turn (especially Tet) and energized the hippies. I grew up and joined the Navy for 11 years. Was going for 20+, but the deployments were tearing my family apart. I hope I did some good during the Cold War.

[Chainmail]

I think you did great, Navy Vet. We really needed the navy during the Cold War and you and your shipmates made a great difference.

[Future Snake Eater]

We’ve already been wearing these for a while. The pajamas (ACUs) were comfortable, but the pattern was garbage.

[DaveA37]

“If this uniform makes them 1% harder to see? Great! I am all for it. If this is just a feather in a cap for some bean counter’s next promotion? Boo!””....

I agree with the “harder to detect” idea. My problem is WHY was it really necessary? Well, I think I may have the answer...... Someone’s relative makes “uniforms” and called to say, “Have I got a deal for you”.

[TheBattman]

Except some of us could not “serve”... it isn’t just a willingness or avoidance issue...

And while I certainly understand your position on able-bodied men serving - even in those generations/wars of the past - while many did volunteer - the lack of a draft/compulsory service for our wars is a relatively new concept.

[tumblindice]

Good. The surplus stores always charged a premium for the multi-cam. Since I’m a cheep bassterd I always got the woodland or gray digital for my queer gear.
What is old is new again.

[TheBattman]

Navy - yes

Air Force - yes

Air Force has special operations forces trained to do similar missions as Army special forces.

[A Navy Vet]

"You just wear coveralls in the pit and keep your dungarees in your rack unless you’re going to the Scuttlebutt Bar for lunch :-)"

Of course, the BT's had their overalls even in my day up to '87. Wonder if that's still their work uniform and not the camis. Gawd, it was insufferable in those boiler rooms. I'm glad I was guaranteed aviation and wound up on the flight deck, although we worked longer hours than the Engineering Dept. I'd do it all over again. The most rewarding time of my life.

[A Navy Vet]

"Does the Navy have camo ?"

See my #48 post above regarding Navy. The Coast Guard not so much. Yes, the Air Force wears the same or similar desert camis when in country for their rescue and medivac and extraction teams, all are combat trained. Also different camis for the ground controllers/spotters when in certain locales. They are often in the mix before the Marines or Army arrive.

[Chode]

this is how many changes in how may years now???

SOMEBODY is getting RICH off this.

[sevlex]

That pattern doesn’t look anything like woodland pattern. Or any “jungle” pattern from Viet Nam.

[PhiloBedo]

Eastern Europe?

[GreyFriar]

Enlisted personnel are issued a complete set of uniforms during their in-processing. After a year or so, they start receiving a monthly clothing allowance to purchase new, i.e. replacement, uniform items that wear out. Officers receive an initial uniform allotment to pay for their initial set of uniforms, afterwards they do not receive a clothing allowance and pay for their own uniforms.

Here are the rates for enlisted personnel uniform allowances:

https://militarybenefits.info/military-clothing-allowance-rates/

https://www.military.com/benefits/military-pay/allowances/clothing-allowances.html

http://militarypay.defense.gov/PAY/Allowances/clothing.aspx

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I tend to agree, but at the same time camo patterns do seem to change fairly constantly, and I can’t believe each one is necessarily better than the previous. There are no doubt people heavily involved in the process who don’t have the best interests of the troops as their primary goal.

[Chainmail]

I don’t know what your personal circumstances are - but my younger brother was mangled in a motorcycle accident and wasn’t able to join the service when I did. Which, in his case was fine because he is/was one of people who would have been very bad at it.

I am probably an idealist because I believe that a draft shouldn’t be necessary - men should consider it part of their citizenship to join a service- particularly in wartime - and not have to compelled.

But of course, I know better. I saw first hand that life just went happily along without us. It was a very difficult thing to have been through what we went through and see so many guys our age just enjoying day to day life without a care.