Mil uniforms have changed since the late 80's

[kbenson]

I just finished reading an article- Black berets out. (This change was back in 2011) Obviously I have not been keeping up with the military fashions

I also read ACU replaced BDU, but that the sleeves cannot be rolled up? I would have a problem with this when stationed @ ft. lost in the woods or similar.

But the biggest shell shocker was no more spit shined boots!?! Man! I remember the days of making sure I saw a reflection and still got dinged for "dirty boots"

Anyone serve back in the 80's and still in? What do you think of the changes?

[cc56]

Never served in the 80"s, but went to basic (Army) in 2002. I had BDU's and had to shine my boots. I was ok with BDU's and might partly miss them deep down. I do not miss shining boots, i think it is pointless. In fact I wonder when it started? I think tan boots were better over all. A super shinny boot proved nothing in my book, most with the super shinny boots were always afraid to scuff them. Some used it as an excuse to be lazy.

As far as I know when BDU's came out you were not to starch them, by 2002 it was basically required to have heavy starch which meant most had to pay for dry cleaning. I Think that was a waste now that I look back. So I don't miss that.

The berets were stupid and I am glad they went away from that, and back to patrol caps.

The rolling the sleeves up is a silly issue to me. I always hear that "cancer" is the reason it is not possible. I feel it is BS, because if that was true then we would wear boonie caps!! That would protect the ears and neck better. You know every E-9 in EVERY service hates boonie caps (sarcasm). I think with enough time that you will see sleeves rolled up, just because they will get sick of seeing people drop tops. OR there will be a lot of heat casualties at a location and a few bases at a time they will authorize sleeves up.

I don't know what is going on now as I have been out of the military for 1 year and for the last 7 I was in the Guard which thankfully used common sense. Active duty days ended for me in 2006.

When were BDU's first introduced to the military?

[kbenson]

Thanks for your feedback.

Yes I agree with the shiny boots. How appropriate would they be for combat? I had to buy 2 pair just for inspections (Not wear) I remember a platoon leader who was a real dwad. He knew most guys had "inspection only" boots and right after, he made us run in the muck (after a rainfall)


intro of BDU
I recall seeing some guys still wearing OD green uniforms when I was issued BDU, so I want to say mid 80's?

[stitch_paradox]

Navy still have the spit shine boots.

[jarhead714]

The whole point of spit shining boots beyond the obvious reason (looks killer) is that you are protecting and better resisting water. A boot that is polished over and over again will last virtually forever when re-soled every now and again. All the new uniforms look like *** to me because you can't starch and crease them. Don't look as good when you lean back and STRUT!!

[chris]

I joined in 1988. the uniform changed little in the 90's as far as the uniform itself went. they did however issue out a summer PC it was nice and much lighter and cooler. the worst headgear change was in about 2000 when they made us wear that stupid black beret not only was it an insult to the Rangers but a useless piece of headgear if you are a mechanic. thankfully in 2011 it was gone.

ACU's which we currently have are now about 11 years old. I wore them in Iraq in late 05 and among the first wearing them in Iraq. 06 DCU's were not authorized for wear in theater.

fast forward a few years the UCP pattern is out soon and a version of Mutlicam is replacing it. I believe it is called Scorpion 2. not sure when it comes out for issue.

the Army has changed it's uniform quite a few times in the last 100 years this wont be the last either.

[chris]

Originally Posted by cc56

When were BDU's first introduced to the military?

I want to say about 1983 they started to be issued.

[ElvenSoul]

2 Weeks till bunny slippers and flannel PJ's are standard issue. Well it seems that is the way it is going!

[9mmrevolver]

I served the navy back in 98. I was one of the last recruits to get dungarees in boot. They changes the material of the shirt and pants. The also changed the shape. The bell bottoms were gone. Man were those some comfortable clothes to wear

[SalManilla]

Originally Posted by cc56

When were BDU's first introduced to the military?

Originally Posted by chris

I want to say about 1983 they started to be issued.

I joined June of 1982 and BDU's were the standard issue at Ft. McClellan. As MP's we pressed and starched the hell out of them.

[chris]

Originally Posted by SalManilla

I joined June of 1982 and BDU's were the standard issue at Ft. McClellan. As MP's we pressed and starched the hell out of them.

I was close. many guys were telling me that was about the time they got them and that was in 88 when I joined lots of guys came from AD in Germany.

[kbenson]

Originally Posted by SalManilla

I joined June of 1982 and BDU's were the standard issue at Ft. McClellan. As MP's we pressed and starched the hell out of them.

Yeah I remember guys starching and or using sizing on them. We were told that using either on BDU would take away the uniforms ability to avoid detection..Infrared?
I think the primary problem was clogging the uniforms pores and not allowing it to breath.


Anyone remember the funky green socks? Those fargin things stunk bad (even after a small hike) I switched mine out with white athletic socks

[chris]

Originally Posted by kbenson

Anyone remember the funky green socks? Those fargin things stunk bad (even after a small hike) I switched mine out with white athletic socks

those weren't as bad as the black socks we had to wear in the 90's now that was stupid. I wore my green socks until they fell apart.

[Bob A]

Originally Posted by chris

I want to say about 1983 they started to be issued.

I went to Benning in jan 82 and was told we were the first there to get all four issues of uniform in BDU. Previous groups got 2 OD and 2 BDUs.

[GMG]

Originally Posted by 9mmrevolver

I served the navy back in 98. I was one of the last recruits to get dungarees in boot. They changes the material of the shirt and pants. The also changed the shape. The bell bottoms were gone. Man were those some comfortable clothes to wear

There was a reason for bell bottoms! You could slip them off over your boots/shoes and make a flotation device, should you land in the drink.

[The sarge]

The starch really does make the uniform light up in NVGs. I tested this out in Korea one day while bored on post. Anyways I came in before the new uniforms and I liked the pressed uniforms and spit shined boots but they were a pain in the *** to up keep and cost a lot to do so. I now use spit shined dress shoes instead of the patent leather, that's my way of holding on. The patterns we use in the Corps work and the other services will probably end up with them. Or we will all change to something like multicam. That's what I see happening during the draw down. Everything gets cut and simplified.

The one thing I truly hate about the uniform regs in the Corps is the damn boots. And now we are switching full time to the RAT boots which are heavy and suck. We have no freedom to choose and with my messed up feet it pisses me off. I wish I could have the old jungle boots back. At least I could soak them and wear them wet for a few hours and they would mold to my feet. The new stuff doesn't do that it just stays uncomfortable.

[mikenewgun87]

you know what changed??? white socks....

Against the UCMJ...completely!!!

[oldsmoboat]

Originally Posted by chris

I want to say about 1983 they started to be issued.

When I went through basic in February of 83 they issued us BDUs but the jackets were still the solid green. They did give us BDU jackets before we completed AIT.

[chris]

Originally Posted by oldsmoboat

When I went through basic in February of 83 they issued us BDUs but the jackets were still the solid green. They did give us BDU jackets before we completed AIT.

some of the guys in my unit back in 88,89 mentioned 1983 as the date. that is the date that has stuck in my head since then. that was a long time ago when I was told. the phase in date when they were issued them may be the reason why 1983 is the date they remember.

BDU's were issued to me when I joined in 89 and I still have a winter pair I never wore. I used my summers until they fell apart.

[hk-p2000]

I still have all my green socks, I stop wearing them back in 2009

Originally Posted by kbenson

Anyone remember the funky green socks? Those fargin things stunk bad (even after a small hike) I switched mine out with white athletic socks

[63 tango]

I have new BDUs that I bought at clothing sales in 91 and never sewed the patches on.

[Rider1k]

Son in laws brother just graduated and headed to Germany with a black beret. Guess they still wear them.

[chris]

Originally Posted by Rider1k

Son in laws brother just graduated and headed to Germany with a black beret. Guess they still wear them.

they are only used in formal occasions. they are not standard headgear anymore.

[Rider1k]

Originally Posted by chris

they are only used in formal occasions. they are not standard headgear anymore.

Ahh.. 10-4

[Bobby Ricigliano]

We still had woodland BDU's and black boots when I deployed to JTF-GTMO in 2002. We were issued boonie hats which were cool, but when we got to the island we were told they weren't authorized for wear, ever. The Army is funny like that sometimes. There isn't any change of season down there except hot and muggy, followed by monsoon rain, followed by hot and muggy with lots of mosquitos. I carried OFF in my cargo pocket. It was actually a cool place to spend a year, in retrospect.

[HelmandHunter]

Marine Special Operations Battalions still wear the old M81 Woodland tri-colors.

[GMG]

They have had a lot of changes from the 60's.

[chris]

Originally Posted by GMG

They have had a lot of changes from the 60's.

they are going to change again.

[SGT Loco]

WWI Vet's 60 years ago: "Boy, army uniforms sure have changed since I was in. Leggings are out? What are boots?"

[GMG]

Originally Posted by SGT Loco

WWI Vet's 60 years ago: "Boy, army uniforms sure have changed since I was in. Leggings are out? What are boots?"

[brando]

Originally Posted by kbenson

I recall seeing some guys still wearing OD green uniforms when I was issued BDU, so I want to say mid 80's?

Guys in Group were still using OG-107s when I joined in the late 80s.

[Anthracis]

Talk about wasting tax dollars. How many times are they going to change the friggin things?

[rero360]

I just want to know when Big Army is going to pull their head out of their fourth point of contact and announce when the wear in date is going to be for the "new" OCP to replace the UCP trash. I have tons of high quality comfortable gear sitting by waiting to be used again.

[Snoopy47]

Originally Posted by Anthracis

Talk about wasting tax dollars. How many times are they going to change the friggin things?

I have NINE sets between the two now. I've only bought ONE of them, and I'm a reservist that never wears them.

And then I got all these high speed combat shirts that I have NEVER worn down range. I guess I'll cut a pair of the pants into shorts, wear the combat shirt and boonie hat and go all poser like at the local shooting ranges.

[chris]

Originally Posted by Anthracis

Talk about wasting tax dollars. How many times are they going to change the friggin things?

how about you look at the changes in the uniform from lets say 100 years ago to today. it has changed many times and will change again.