Military uniforms

[TheGrey]

I've thought about this a great deal, and I'd like to know what your opinion is on the subject- for those of you that served, what was your favorite part of your uniform, what was your least favorite part of your uniform, and why? It'd be good to know when you served, and what branch.

I'll start.

I served in the USAF, 1988-1992. My favorite part of my uniform were my combat boots. Black combat Mil Spec boots, all leather and with enough waffle-stomper tread on them to allow me to almost walk up walls. I polished the crap out of them and sno-sealed them to the point that I stood in a 9" deep puddle in Mississippi and my feet remained dry.

They died in Maryland, finally. The soles cracked clean across on both boots, and foolish me had no idea that there were people that could repair them. I miss those boots; we had an understanding of each other. Maybe I'll order another pair, and try taming them.

My least favorite part of my uniform was my dress blues shirt. I have no idea what the uniform committee was smoking at the time of design, but it was clearly designed by people that believe all women had massive hips and no chest to speak of. I couldn't raise my arm without the bottom of my shirt rucking up and catching any stray breeze, belling out to crawl up my side. I also couldn't take a very deep breath without fear of losing buttons. The designers clearly never tested the uniform shirt on anyone but hippy sticks.


========

Now that I think about it, just about every department has a uniform. First responders, I'd like to hear your opinions, too!

[SideShow Bob]

And when someone tried to tease your kids with the old saying "Your Mother Wears Combat Boots" your kids would just nod their heads and say "yes, yes she sure does"......
I too would like to find some of those, or the canvas sided ones. The real ones, not the cheap copies made overseas.

[TheGrey]

And when someone tried to tease your kids with the old saying "Your Mother Wears Combat Boots" your kids would just nod their heads and say "yes, yes she sure does"......
I too would like to find some of those, or the canvas sided ones. The real ones, not the cheap copies made overseas.

http://www.altama.com/products/4157-...-mil-spec-boot

[SideShow Bob]

http://www.altama.com/products/4157-...-mil-spec-boot

Those must have been the next generation, or the Air Force got better boots than us ground pounders were issued. I was in when Hueys were king, and Blackhawks were just a rumor.
This was even before the Army went to camafluage uniforms.

[BPTactical]

Those must have been the next generation, or the Air Force got better boots than us ground pounders were issued. I was in when Hueys were king, and Blackhawks were just a rumor.

Hell Bob when you were in the Cavalry was still on hooves.....

[SideShow Bob]

Hell Bob when you were in the Cavalry was still on hooves.....

You must be mistaking me for Blaster Bob.........

[Aardvark]

Navy '85-'05. I was in first when we had the dungarees that would fade after every wash, but were quite comfortable. Then we went to the blue utilities that looked like a postman's outfit, wore like crap, never fit anyone that wasn't a 5'9" anemic/anorexic. I retired the year before the current speckled smurf digitals came out. Our semi-dress outfits were white cotton or white plastic/nylon. PITA to keep clean and had to be replaced often due to permanent marks, stains, snags... Winter 'blues', aka: Johnny Cash's were ok. Dress blues....whew...could be itchy, hot as hell, stiff as cardboard, bellbottoms to make a 70's pimp proud, but when you had to piss, plan ahead; 13 buttons aint easy to undue when y'gotta do the doo. Guess, I could say the Johnny Cash's were my favorites for decent looks, practicality, durability. As for footwear...low quarter slick soled dress shoes, boondockers (chukkaboots to the AF), or if you could get away with it, some form of safety boot like Bates. I like the boondockers, but prefer boots.

[Hound]

Submarines, Fast attack, 90's

Loved the ball caps, wearing the Dolphins and the 'poopie suit'. Nobody asked me when they named them. They were just comfortable and functional. If you were hot, take off the top and wrap the arms around your waist to make a belt. Easy to clean... No fuss no muss.

The Dress Blues Cracker Jacks (Winter) were made of wool with an acid and fire ant blend. I would always wear my navy blue sweat suit under them to keep them off my skin. Ya, not regulation but the only way I could stand still and not cry as the devil raked his pitch fork over my skin. I hated those damn things. It was a big reason I wanted to get stationed in Pearl, so I never had to wear them. That and tying that damn neck tie noose just right. Don't get me wrong, I liked the look but I gurantee the person who came up with whatever wool they used to make them never actually WORE them. They should rot in hell as a traitor to the Navy for making us suffer needlessly in those damn torture suits.

Not gonna go into the EAB's (Emergency Air Breather), which while not technically part of the uniform should be consider so with how much we were in them during drills. Running from one end of the pig (boat) to the other in one breath was a bitch. They made you do this in training.

Edit: ya, loved my boots too, once they were worn in. Still have them and wear them in the shop. Steel toes and all.

[TheGrey]

This is great. I had no idea about the Navy uniforms!

Our utility fatigues ("affectionately" called 'pickles') were phased out and BDUs were phased in while I was in tech school. The problem was that the uniform regulations appeared before the actual uniforms themselves- and were sketchy at best. There were no regulations for females and BDUs, so they shipped us army fatigues to wear in the meantime. The set they gave me fit me like oversized pajamas!

[Fentonite]

USMC '88-94

Favorite: my boots (same ones you referenced). Close runner-up was my dress blues, although I only wore them a couple times.

Least favorite: Toss-up: either those crappy wool socks they issued us in boot, or the Cu#% Cover (garrison cover).