Soldiers' Travel Uniforms

T

TahoeHorn

1,000+ Posts
What do you think of changes to soldiers' travel uniforms?

Whenever I see soldiers travelling they are wearing fatigues. Twenty years ago it was always a dress uniform. Is this better or worse from an image standpoint? (Clearly from other standpoints it's better.) I've also noticed that the rank patch in the center of the chest is tiny, often obscured from view and occaisionally removed from its velcro attachment. And officers look like enlisted men. Twenty years ago you could spot an officer all the way across the airport. Now it's difficult to distinguish them.
 
I just flew from BWI to SNA via ATL earlier today.

Man, there were a SHITLOAD of soldiers in the airports. I was pleased to see that Delta had set up a special "Crown Room" for the military guys.

SNA had a special check-in at the american counter with a large arch of red, white, and blue balloons.

I was in first, and had a PFC from Oklahoma sitting next to me. I didn't ask if he got a comp upgrade, but I'm hoping he did.
 
Hell, even if he snuck in, shhhh.

We used to have to travel in our Class A's. So they can travel in BDU's now? Interesting. I wonder if it is for the image effect? They look more ready for action, I guess.

They don't call them BDU's any longer, do they? What is the new and proper nomenclature. I want to be a go at this station.
 
New Army uniform is called the Army Combat Uniform or ACU. Wearing a uniform for delpoyment as a unit has always been SOP. As for travel for temporary duty or TDY, the policy can change according to where the soldier is stationed (e.g. Fort Dix authorized ACU wear for TDY travel) The Air Force has no set policy and allows their individual major commands to set that policy for their folks. Most encourage their people not to wear uniforms while traveling on temporary duty though the Air Education and Training Command requires it. The Navy, far as I know, doesn't authorize utility uniforms for travel unless deploying as a group. I don't know about the Marines.
 
flag.gif
flag.gif
flag.gif
flag.gif

God Bless 'em either way... I refer to the ACU as an "Alcohol Consumption Uni" because they never buy a drink when I'm at the bar...
 
I rode from ATL to DFW with about 3 dozen trainees, fresh out of boot camp, going home for Christmas, all in fatigues.
 
Marines prohibit wearing of cammies even off base where you're stationed. Their travel uniforms are still the olive green suits.
 
I don't know the current USAF policies (I retired in 1994), but in my era we were required to travel in Class A uniforms. I carried 1505s and flight suits, but wore Blues on the flight. The one exception was my MAC contract flight from Travis to Clark enroute to SEA - I wore 1505s.

HHD
hookem.gif
texasflag.gif
coolnana.gif
ousucksnana.gif
 
it has taken the army since the begining of the founding of the nation to realize that having a big shiny insignia on the head and shoulders is a massive ******* target.

My dad retired in 2000, and he was still wearing the "dulled" shoulder insignia.

The center of torso rank insignia makes SO much more sense.
 
Don't they know it is rude to yell when putting forth an AR or an addendum to one?

I personally like the idea of all soldiers looking tougher and more battle ready than in their A's or B's. But I do not like them wearing Ranger Beret's but what is done is done.
 
Marines are not authorized to where their utility uniform out in public. Only service or dress uniforms are allowed.

I lived in Germany and saw MANY soldiers wearing their uniforms there heading to the US and I never understood that mentality.

You cannot make bigger terrorism target if you tried.
 
The flip side of that is maybe their presence would dissuade some from creating terror. They may just want only civilians and nobody they deem willing to be a hero or thwart their plans. Those who would not care would do what they wanted to do anyways regardless. I don't think it would draw anything like that. Very little at this stage of the game is opportune and random strikes, rather, calculated and planned.
 
I was in 8 yrs and hated traveling in class A's or B's-- I usually wore civies

I saw a couple of soldiers wearing ACU's in the mall and it struck me as odd-- still hate seeing legs wearing black berets

The new unis look comfortable and the idea of not shining boots sounds great
 
jmrob, you are forgetting the very rare situation of a leg ranger. But I know what you mean and agree completely. Why not let legs wear the gay looking khaki beret and let the black beret actually mean something.

Dirty nasty legs.
 
Will, the vast majority of Rangers are Airborne qualified. Not the five jump chumps either. They have many jumps. It is very rare that a soldier gets to and through Ranger school and earns a tab without Airborne. The ones that do are called Leg Rangers.

Anybody that is not Airborne, is a leg. A dirty nasty leg. That is what you are called (among a host of other things) from your Airborne, or your instructors at Benning in Airborne School.

I went to Air Assault before I went to Airborne and I was called a Leg with Wings quite a bit. They also called me Wop-Wop since AA wings are sometimes called Wop-Wop Wings since they have a Helicopter inside the wings as opposed to the Parachute on the Airborne.

So no, not aggy, just what they call a non-Airborne. See, this was real Army and not fake Army.
 
I agree. In fact, to this day I will still address an Officer as, "Sir". I won't salute them but I will say something like, "Good afternoon, Sir!". They smile and it makes 'em happy. It is a respect thing. I do the same for an NCO as well. It always makes a 1SGT smile when I call them "Top".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Weekly Prediction Contest

* Predict TEXAS-KENTUCKY *
Sat, Nov 23 • 2:30 PM on ABC

Recent Threads

Prediction Results Threads

2024 Schedules

Back
Top