BigGov

Umm...Bermuda, if you look closer you can see they did adopt the camo developed by the Marine's, they just changed the colors.

I don't know, the more I think about it, the more it sounds like a good idea. The velcro will be covered in combat, and likely won't be a major difference compared to the old uniforms.

__________________
One day an Englishman, a Scotsman, and an Irishman walked into a pub together. They each bought a pint of Guinness. Just as they were about to enjoy their creamy beverage, three flies landed in each of their pints. The Englishman pushed his beer away in disgust. The Scotsman fished the fly out of his beer and continued drinking it, as if nothing had happened. The Irishman, too, picked the fly out of his drink but then held it out over the beer and yelled "SPIT IT OUT, SPIT IT OUT, YOU BASTARD!"

Sparhawk

You won't take my polished black boots, unless you rip them off my cold dead feet.

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"In Iraq, no doubt about it, it's tough. It's hard work. It's incredibly hard. It's - and it's hard work. I understand how hard it is. I get the casualty reports every day. I see on the TV screens how hard it is. But it's necessary work. We're making progress. It is hard work."

MikeyChalupa

The Navy just announced two new uniforms are coming out late this year/early next year: A Navy Working Uniform to replace the Coveralls and Utilities, and a new year-round Service uniform to replace seasonal Summer White and Winter Blue unfiorms.

I truly hope they don't suck.

-Mikey

Y2KDREAD

like everyone else is saying, those patches look really shotty.

__________________
Signatures are for chumps.

omega2K4

Looks like faded pyjamas to me.

__________________
"While the State exists there can be no freedom. When there is freedom there will be no State." - Vladimir Ilyich Lenin

"Reason has always existed, but not always in a reasonable form."- Karl Marx

Menoman

uhhh of course!!


Green is like so yesterday man, this is designer ok guy?!

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irateplatypus

lol, i was wondering if anyone was going to bring up the air force's new BDUs. i think more than anything else the AF brass wanted it to look different. i guess they accomplished that... but i'd rather stick to the green/brown/blackish stuff. i hear the new one doesn't need ironing. there is always a silver lining.

__________________
If you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.

~ Winston Churchill

Stare At The Sun

They need to hire Hugo Boss to design the uniforms.

That statement actually does have merit, if you know your history.

Mephisto2

I can't believe some people are complaining about the noise velcro would make.

For goodness sake, don't you think the days of GI-Joe, Nazi-fighting, comic-book, sneaky sneaky, cloak and dagger fantasy missions is over?

These guys will be fighting in a very very loud environment.

I'm quite sure the Special Ops guys will probably have a different uniform.


Sheesh...


Mr Mephisto

Gortexfogg

I know it looks like crap, but I believe them when they say it's made to function better than previous uniforms. I'm not a soldier, but if I was, I'd want the uniform that worked best, not the one that looked best. Also, why settle for 80% effectiveness in terms of the camo? If I was a soldier, I'd like the best camo for a certain environment. If buying more uniforms meant saving my life, I'm all for it.

feelgood

How exactly do you test new uniform that has different style of camo on it?

Do they just send out tester with the new uniform and have somebody play "Spot the baddies"?

The velcro is actually a good idea. For whatever reason, the solider can get out of it quickly than using the buttons. There are times when I played paintball and couldn't get it to unbutton.

__________________
Looking out the window, that's an act of war. Staring at my shoes, that's an act of war. Committing an act of war? Oh you better believe that's an act of war

Seaver

Pretty close to it actually. The field tests are you have a bunch of sniper-trained people in different field environments, and you give them different designs of cammies. The ones that time after time get the closest before being spotted are the better cammies (lots of diff. people to take into account skills in hiding).

Before that though the civilians the Marines contracted made a computer program that looks for outlines of various things (trees/buildings/people). The digi-cammies were found to be the hardest to detect the outline of, and ANY person who knows about camoflage knows the intention is to break up the outline.

Fallow

The comments made regarding Velcro and zippers are spot on. Noise may not be a major issue, but servicability in the field certainly is. Buttons are easy to sew back on. Not so with velcro and zippers.

Patches? Too many patches to begin with, let alone stuck on with velcro. Name, rank, and the words "US ARMY" are sufficient. Save all the bells and whistles for the dress uniforms where they belong.

Digital camo? Cool, but as they admitted, one size does not fit all, nor does one pattern fit all backgrounds. None of the current camo patterns is perfect, but at least they admitt that the world does not have one homogenous backdrop. The Corps, at least has two different patterns.

Everything else? <shrug, yawn, so what>. They still haven't fixed the worst problem with the uniforms---the material they're made of. Cotton, polyester, or poly/cotton sucks as a uniform material. Cotton is a sponge (minor problem in hot weather, major problem in cold weather), polyester melts and sticks to skin when exposed to heat and/or flame (both are occupational hazards), and poly/cotton gets it all.

mosha

I know the Navy is planning a similar change. They are currently testing a blue digital camo.

Cobalt_60

I've worn the old green camo bdu's while in the Army. I liked them. The where very comfortable. I don't understand what they mean by saving money by not taking a uniform to the cleaners or shining boots. Taking your bdu's to the cleaners was your choice. Usually everyone ironed and starched their own stuff. Shining boots only cost the few bucks for a can of Kiwi and the brush which was nothing. Now if you paid someone to shine your boots hey that was up to you again. I don't like the idea of zippers myself. A zipper can snag and get caught. And velcro has a tendency to pick up all kinds of fuzz and junk. Low crawling through brush you'd end up with all kinds of things stuck to you. I always liked the large green buttons on the old bdu's. If one ripped off it was easy to pick up new ones and sew them on yourself. Saving money by using velcro on patches is weird. The only time you spent money on the sewing was when you first picked up the uniform and then you only changed your unit patch when you went to a new duty station. Usually they would sew the unit patch on for free. $88 dollars per uniform? Does that mean per top and bottom or for the whole set? Bdu tops and bottoms cost around $30 and up for each. If the new uniforms are $88 per top and $88 per bottom thats very expensive. I don't know what a moisture wicking t-shirt means, but I'm pretty sure its more expensive than the plain brown t-shirts I was issued. The rank is put at the same spot as where we wore our rank on our Gortex jackets. And the collar looks uncomfortable as hell. I'm glad I got out before they made everyone wear berets. I liked the old softcap.

combatmedicjen

I am so NOT excited to about the new uniforms. I love my BDU's!! I do not want to go to some stupid blueish velcro outfit... gah! The only thing I'm really excited for are the new shine-free boots. I HATE shining boots.

I do not understand the advantage of these new outfits. If they say you're saving money by not taking them to the cleaners... I've NEVER EVER taken mine to the cleaners. It's called spray starch and a fucking iron. And if you're in Iraq or in the field, you don't press your uniform, anyway. You're lucky if you get to clean it! They also say the patches are easy to change because they're attached with hideous velcro... What am I, four? You change patches infrequently, anyway. People can go years and years without having to change a single thing on their uniform. The velcro is just ridiculous! Do they have velcro boots, too?

I do not know a single person who is actually excited for these... in fact, if you read the Army Times, people are generally pretty divided between, "Eh, it's alright, I geuss," to, "That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen!"

Oh, well. It's not like I have a choice in this, anyway. At least the boots will be nice.

VitaminH

According to Garden State you can make your fortune on that stuff.

__________________
"Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever."
- Napoleon Bonaparte

tehblaed

^^^^My thoughts exactly.

xepherys

As usual, I'll butt in with my two cents because some of the comments here aren't quite true to this situation.

"Lowest Bidder" is true for who manufactures items used by the military, but does not usually have anything to do with design. The military designs a lot of it's items (including these uniforms) without regard to cost. Cost comes later (and it's always cheap).

"Comfort" is a major issue with uniforms, and the new ACUs are supposed to be MUCH more comfortable. Yes, they're ugly, yes velcro sucks, but they are supposed to be a ton more comfortable.

"Target patches" are not likely to be an issue. The Army already makes various color schemes for ALL patches. Subdued green (for BDUs), Sand color (for desert cammies), white (for arctic wear), et cetera. I don't see why a color of patches would not be created for wear on these uniforms. They'd be stupid not to (even I don't think they're that lame).

"Blue Camo for AF"... Who cares? As far as I can tell, they DO only work in the air... or on ships far out to sea... or on the ground a thousand miles or more away from combat. This is perhaps not true for about 0.03% of the air force. *shrug* That'd be like the Navy wanting green camo to blend into the woods... wtf?!

The velcro is an appearance thing. I think it's dumb, but it's not my design.

The "tried and true" BDUs are not so much as maybe you'd think. They've only been around since the 80's. We've fought in two wars in them. Don't you think WWII uniforms would've been more "tried and true" from that perspective? Oddly enough, this most recent war, and the complaints the Army received from combat units is WHY the uniform is being changes. Currently, pockets are inaccessible with the military's body armor. Buttons on chest pockets and upper chest dig into you while wearing body armor. So, you can be safe OR comfortable. With the new design you can be both. Seems like a fair deal to me.

bermuDa - The computer generated "digital camo" is exactly what the pattern is. If I can find better pictures, I'll link them. It's an almost identical pattern to the USMC with a few minor changes and different colors (no black, most importantly, as black is not a color found almost at all in nature). It's not "faded" but uses lighter colors... Still effective in brush and woodlands, but also more effective in the desert. The main issue is that the USMC still has two styles of uniform. The ACU's will be the ONLY combat uniform for the Army. It will serve in all environments. Hence a slight color mod.

As Parched_son said, that's where rank has been for a long time (just not on the BDU's). The only issue is color. If they don't make rank/patches with appropriate colors, they'll be screwed.

The idea can't really be rejected by the soldiers anymore. The uniforms are already being made, and the first units will start to get them in 3-4 months. They were already tested by at least one elite Army unit over in Iraq, and they HELPED to design the uniform, gave input and molded what it became. Concerns about patches falling or ripping off have been looked into and apparently aren't an issue.


The end result... I can't say I'm a fan of the new uniform for a lot of reasons. Wrinkle-free sounds great, but taking pride and care in the uniform is part of our tradition. Shine-free boots... same thing. I guess we'll just have to see when I put one on. Even if I hate it, I'll have to learn to love it...

Drider_it

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as61-e.htm

there is the xma

on the the velcro issue.. depends on how they stand up to sand.. and stuff.. every get crap on velcro and it wont stick anymore?

and they do look a bit .. i dont know goose stepish.

__________________
It means only one thing, and everything: Cut. Once committed to fight, Cut. Everything else is secondary. Cut. That is your duty, your purpose, your hunger. There is no rule more important, no commitment that overrides that one. Cut. The lines are a portrayal of the dance. Cut from the void, not from bewilderment. Cut the enemy as quickly and directly as possible. Cut with certainty. Cut decisively, resoultely. Cut into his strength. Flow through the gaps in his guard. Cut him. Cut him down utterly. Don't allow him a breath. Crush him. Cut him without mercy to the depth of his spirit. It is the balance to life: death. It is the dance with death. It is the law a war wizard lives by, or he dies.

Greazy

THe Navy is taking the Air Force's bad idea and making it their own.


http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,FL_navy_101804,00.html

Meanwhile the Air Force realized their colors are fugly and have decided to use the new Army colors, with the tiger-stripe pattern

thinktank

did that picture bring to mind M. Bison's costume in the Street Fighter movie? because if they have those magnetic boots, sign me up for killing some people for being different from me.

newMaster

Buttons are still alot more practical, if they get stuck, you can always rip em off and sew it back on. Zippers are noisy and they do get stuck... No ripping off this time. Heard there are even instant buttons now they u just puncture into your shirt... As for the velcro... Still think its too noisy and that it gets ripped off easily. I mean, I don't think you will be changing your name or allegiance any time soon, right? Also, if noise is not an issue, why camo in the 1st place? Its to avoid enemy detection!! Even if you are not special forces, staying under cover is still important for survival.. If not, might as well wear a bight red shirt with the words "Suck on this!". Combat rations should have potato chips too. :P

On another note... Why barets? I know its to differenciate different units, but doesn't that make it easier for the enemy to know who you are too?

Conclamo Ludus

Those Air Force uniforms are hilarious.
Are you supposed to blend in with the sky? I don't get it.

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Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul
I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold.
-Son House, Death Letter Blues

Lockjaw

Glad I'm not the only one that thought the new unis looked Brit/Euro.