Military uniforms

[Chaffee2]

I liked the pickle suits we had when I first transferred to the AF. The BDUs we had in the Marine Corps were comfortable and easy to wear. What I hated about the BDUs once the AF went to them is we had to iron and starch them. I remember the first 2 or 3 weeks after the AF got the BDUs we had to wear them the same as the pickle suits, we had to tuck them in. I didn't care for the covers we had in the Marines as there was no protection from the sun. I'm paying for that now that I'm over 50.

Being a maintenance troop for most of my career I never came to like the dress uniforms. If we had to be in dress uniforms usually meant we had to something we would rather not. One command I was in had a thing for dress uniforms. Every Friday we had to be in our dress blues no matter what our duty for the day was. Needless to say we didn't get much maintenance done on Fridays and when something had to done we gingerly done it as not to get oil or grease on the blues. Happily that policy didn't last to long maybe 4 or 5 months.

The artic issue was generally very good with the exception of the cotton long underwear. Once we went to the polypropylene it worked very well.

[davsel]

USAF 1987 - 2008

Loved my black combat boots - once they were broken in.
Loved my field jackets - both fatigue and BDU versions.
I liked the fatigues in the summer in Texas when we could wear them untucked and cut off the sleeves.

Hated the low-quarters. The shiny plastic ones were painful, and the leather ones never took a good shine.
BDUs were OK to wear, but a pain to iron or make them look as well kept as the fatigues.
I got out before ABUs became mandatory, so I never owned a set.

[airborneranger]

Green jungle boots. Nothing was better for the field or road marching.

[BlasterBob]

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

Hey, wait a minute. Well I am probably ONE of the oldest guys here.
Exactly sixty (60) years ago today, I left home to head down to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas for basic, Sixty years ago tomorrow, I pledged to protect the Constitution of the United States of America. Had no favorite uniform but fatigues were pretty OK with me. Uniform that I disliked the most was the Winter wool OD's with the "Ike jacket". While stationed in Fairbanks, in 1955 -58, the wool OD's were the only dress uniform, Winter AND Summer. Not very comfortable when the temps reached the high 70's and low 80's. We were still issued brown boots back then and some guys were actually issued the WWII era boots with the rough finish with twin buckles at the top of these boots. At least they didn't have to spit shine those oldies. When I got discharged at Ft. Lewis, I watched one chap just discharged, get just outside the main gate, take lighter fluid, spray his duffle bag containing his former uniform, and toss a match on it. The MP's quickly extinguished the fire and hauled his ass back inside the gate. They told him that he destroyed Governenent property even though he had just received his discharge papers. Never did hear the outcome of this TRUE story.

[Hound]

Pretty sure the wool you discribe was shipped over to Navy to be colored for our dress blues... Thanks

I am trying to come up with a better sad story than the fire one................. Nothing........... I got nothing. You win hands down!

Hey, wait a minute. Well I am probably ONE of the oldest guys here.
Exactly sixty (60) years ago today, I left home to head down to Camp Chaffee, Arkansas for basic, Sixty years ago tomorrow, I pledged to protect the Constitution of the United States of America. Had no favorite uniform but fatigues were pretty OK with me. Uniform that I disliked the most was the Winter wool OD's with the "Ike jacket". While stationed in Fairbanks, in 1955 -58, the wool OD's were the only dress uniform, Winter AND Summer. Not very comfortable when the temps reached the high 70's and low 80's. We were still issued brown boots back then and some guys were actually issued the WWII era boots with the rough finish with twin buckles at the top of these boots. At least they didn't have to spit shine those oldies. When I got discharged at Ft. Lewis, I watched one chap just discharged, get just outside the main gate, take lighter fluid, spray his duffle bag containing his former uniform, and toss a match on it. The MP's quickly extinguished the fire and hauled his ass back inside the gate. They told him that he destroyed Governenent property even though he had just received his discharge papers. Never did hear the outcome of this TRUE story.

[USMC88-93]

Favorite part of the uniform was the fact i was skinny. Close second who doesn't like a sword for cutting cake every 10 NOV.

[.455_Hunter]

I don't know how many here were (are) Officers in the Army, but my biggest complaint about the post-BDU uniforms is the removal of the actual "branch" (Infantry, Armor, Ordnance, Quartermaster, etc.) from the collar. Previously, at a glance, you knew who to talk to about various topics. If I wanted to discuss maintenance support issues, I would look for the O3 with the flaming piss pot (Ordnance), not some cannon cocker (Artillery- crossed cannons) or grunt (Infantry- crossed muskets) pretending to be a logistical expert.

[airborneranger]

I don't know how many here were (are) Officers in the Army, but my biggest complaint about the post-BDU uniforms is the removal of the actual "branch" (Infantry, Armor, Ordnance, Quartermaster, etc.) from the collar. Previously, at a glance, you knew who to talk to about various topics. If I wanted to discuss maintenance support issues, I would look for the O3 with the flaming piss pot (Ordnance), not some cannon cocker (Artillery- crossed cannons) or grunt (Infantry- crossed muskets) pretending to be a logistical expert.

Agreed. That is the worst part of the uniform. Army of One!


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[BlasterBob]

Back in the mid-50's, the Army O's wore "Pinks & Greens".

[DocMedic]

Favorite Part = Boots, least favorite part = Boots.