New multi-cam is here..

The first batch of the new multi-cam issued uniforms and kit is out. In this case, being issued to the 4th Brigade of the 10th Mountain, here at Ft Polk. Had to ask one of the guys for a pose at work today, lol

HoovieDude wrote:The first batch of the new multi-cam issued uniforms and kit is out. In this case, being issued to the 4th Brigade of the 10th Mountain, here at Ft Polk. Had to ask one of the guys for a pose at work today, lol

Excellent. I'm gonna have to get one of those hats for my collection some day.

So is Multicam going to replace ACU Army-wide instead of just Afghanistan?

For the moment, no. Only units deploying over to A-stan are getting issued multicam

That's what I had thought, but wasn't sure. I know many of the Brits aren't getting their Multicam kit until they actually arrive in Afghan...

Then again, I've talked to more than one British squaddie who's said the British logistical machine isn't as well-oiled as it should be...

Would it be possible to get some photos of details such as tags in the shirts and hats? These would be good for reference to tell real issued items from commercial copies.

The issued ones are flame resistant and marked as such

They are also made by mainly Serki from what I have seen

Shane is correct, the new issue ones are flame retardant. Plus, they will have the contract numbers on the tags, as opposed to the commercial versions.

Now, having said that, I know that there are not enough in quantity or correct size to issue out at the moment. At least here, Soooooo, the units are letting the soldiers take any they were issed that don't fit to the local surplus store and trade for commercial versions that do fit.

I've already been to the surplus store, checking to see if they had any to sell yet, and thats when I found that out. They had a couple sets, but wouldn't sell them yet, as they wanted to wait until the Bde deploys. Just in case they had more soldiers come in who needed the sizes they had, etc..

Heh... when soldiers were purchasing commercial ACUs c2005 the DoD had a temper tantrum. 25th ID even put up a huge page on their website reminding soldiers of the regs and stating that they would get a spanking if they were caught with the non-reg stuff. Supposedly because of the lack of IR treatment of the cloth. I personally like creative thinking as shown by 10th Mountain!

Steve

Have a good discussion going on a vet's board I belong to, and the whole MC vs ACU issue. One is adamant that the ACU is here to stay, and that the higher ups want to keep it, as to do other wise would be to admit the Universal Pattern is shi* and worthless, and all that money spent on equipping the Army with it would be a huge waste, fraud and abuse issue.

My argument is that by allowing the MC to be issued to troops heading over for OEF, they ARE admitting it is worthless. And after a couple years, think of the numbers of troops/units that have been issued the MC. Might as well finish the rest of the Army after that.

And I bought a set of the commercial ACU in 05 to wear in Iraq. We tried getting them issued before deployment, but it was a no go. The CIF said they only had enough in stock for the 4th ID who was getting ready. Since we weren't officially part of any of the 3 Corps units, we were stuck with the DCU's. Which after the fact, I was quite please with. Much better than the I See You's!!

Oh, and I mean to add Steve, yes, they are doing okay in that regard. BUT... it balances out and still remains typical big Army stupid thinking in the fact that while they can wear the uniforms here in the last few pre-dep days, they CANNOT wear the new boots til they get in theater.

Go figure. Last I looked, boots required some break in time, to get them fit and molded to your feetsies. While clothing is just something you throw on and go. Bass akwards!

HoovieDude wrote:Oh, and I mean to add Steve, yes, they are doing okay in that regard. BUT... it balances out and still remains typical big Army stupid thinking in the fact that while they can wear the uniforms here in the last few pre-dep days, they CANNOT wear the new boots til they get in theater.

Go figure. Last I looked, boots required some break in time, to get them fit and molded to your feetsies. While clothing is just something you throw on and go. Bass akwards!

Any time the Army makes a good decision, they always seem to find a way to muck it up. Its like some sort of inevitable bureaucratic curse.

Ha ha, feetsies

That they do Shane, that they do. Don't get me wrong, as I love/loved the Army, being part of it, and it's history, and serving beside the others, etc.. and miss it in many ways. But am glad I no longer have to fall in line with the stupid sh*t that often came down!

ACU was FUBAR since the very start, so it is fitting to see it go out with some people up top trying to cover their butts. The Army spent considerable time and money testing a couple dozen patterns, and they went with ACU which was not tested at all. Just recolored MARPAT which is recolored CADPAT. Trendy vs. practical. BS from start to finish.

Steve

--I did notice that when ACU was adopted, enlistment rose (it had been stalled, prior). That might be an horrible thing to say, but it is true. It looked all cool and sci-fi, and some kids I know who were on the fence seem to have tipped, right about then.

And... even if that *does* sound horrible, let us consider that the armed forces themselves don't shy away from the idea of "The Right to Wear the Uniform." There's something to it.

Maybe the tactical error was a practical success.