Army Combat Uniform (ACU)

[cptms]

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Just a heads up, we just got the o.k. to inform our Soldiers of the new army combat uniform (ACU). While there is going to be a long wear-out period for the BDUs and black combat boots, new officers may not want to go crazy with purchases (i.e. get the minimum necessary to get by) and those with uniforms may want to make them last a bit longer before buying more. Deploying Soldiers will first see this issue in April 05, with full fielding to the Army (including Reserves and National Guard) by 07. See the link for more info.

http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/htmlinks/Press_Releases/2004/June2004/15June2004-01.htm

 

[tman]

Now that is what I call justice. After all the bashing we took over the proposed new AF utility uniform (rightfully so in my opinion) from people in the Army, the Army decides to bust out with the retro-Nazi/space trooper look...apparently it's a done deal. The shower cap just tops the whole uniform off... LMAO

 

[flighterdoc]

Now that is what I call justice. After all the bashing we took over the proposed new AF utility uniform (rightfully so in my opinion) from people in the Army, the Army decides to bust out with the retro-Nazi/space trooper look...apparently it's a done deal. The shower cap just tops the whole uniform off... LMAO

And that grade insignia on the front looks kind of dorky, too.

Shower cap -

 

[texdrake]

Good and Bad to it.

Overall not horrible I like a lot of the additions, some things I don't like. Incidentally the ACU doesn't look as bad when the collar is worn down (which will be the soldiers choice) from what I hear.

1. The centered rank insignia, why not just put a shooting square there?

2. The velcro patches. Seems like a good idea, but the velcro will loosen and the patches will get snagged on things, sounds like a pain to keep up with.

3. What is up with the escalating row of patches on the guys left breast...that just looks stupid.

 

[DD214_DOC]

Why can't we go back to the Wehrmacht and WW2 German style of uniforms? Despite everything they did, I still think they had the most kickass uniforms.

How are these new BDUs supposed to work in desert and jungle environments? Make terrorists mistake us for Germans?

 

[DoctorDoom]

The new uniforms are designed to allow for different weights and for the collar to be worn down in warmer environments. The camouflage pattern is not specific to any environment but is supposed to be improved for all environments.

Personally I think the Marines did it right. These look terrible.

The early Wehrmacht uniforms looked good, but they were notoriously difficult and costly to maunufacture and maintain, had poor pocket placement, poor access, were heavy and hot, hard to clean and because of the myriad problems underwent several modifications in the course of WWII. Most of the problems stemmed from concious design decisions in favor of appearance over function. Probably not the best uniforms to emulate.

The helmets on the other hand, we have already adopted and modified...

 

[NateatUC]

Anyone else notice how in the picture of the soldier wearing the new uniform and aiming a rifle, that the vest (I assume with body armor) he had on over it was the OLD woodland pattern? And come to think of it, haven't I seen soldiers in Iraq on TV right now wearing woodland color stuff over their desert BDU's? What's up with that?

 

[wolfvgang22]

Trying to evade the enemy, the soldier is hiding in the brush. As he reaches down for something....RIP!!!!
Damn velcro!

 

[flighterdoc]

Anyone else notice how in the picture of the soldier wearing the new uniform and aiming a rifle, that the vest (I assume with body armor) he had on over it was the OLD woodland pattern? And come to think of it, haven't I seen soldiers in Iraq on TV right now wearing woodland color stuff over their desert BDU's? What's up with that?

It really doesn't make that much difference to have the woodland over the desert - the idea in camo is to break up recognizable patterns, not to match background colors.

But, if the Army is going to have that pattern, I guess they'll order all the rest of their crap in that pattern too.

 

[Homunculus]

2. The velcro patches. Seems like a good idea, but the velcro will loosen and the patches will get snagged on things, sounds like a pain to keep up with.

that was my thought, too. imagine going through a land nav course at night, especially if you're beating the bush on an azimuth instead of using an attack point on a road. everyone would end up nameless and rankless, lol.

 

[flighterdoc]

Trying to evade the enemy, the soldier is hiding in the brush. As he reaches down for something....RIP!!!!
Damn velcro!

Not only that, velcro wears out, and gets filled with stuff in the field. But, I guess it's the best option.

Interesting that they're going to the zipper instead of buttons, too. The brits have been doing that for years, I wonder how they'll last.

 

[Croatalus_atrox]

How are these new BDUs supposed to work in desert and jungle environments? Make terrorists mistake us for Germans?

It doesn't say so in the article, but you are looking at the gray-urban version of the new ACU. There are still going to be green-woodland and sand-brown desert versions of the new uniform. They probably chose the urban version because it demonstrates a more striking contrast in the pictures.

Here's a link to a better article that describes the new uniform more fully.

 

[R-Me-Doc]

Complete phase-in for all soldiers is supposed to be by mid-2007.
God willing, I'll be long gone by then. And I have no intention whatsoever of spending another dime on uniforms before I get out.
There's an interesting article in the latest Army Times about the new uniforms for anyone who wants to look it up.

 

[texdrake]

It doesn't say so in the article, but you are looking at the gray-urban version of the new ACU. There are still going to be green-woodland and sand-brown desert versions of the new uniform. They probably chose the urban version because it demonstrates a more striking contrast in the pictures.

Here's a link to a better article that describes the new uniform more fully.

The way it has been explained to me is that their is only one ACU now. All three of those colors (woodland green, sand brown, and urban grey) are in the new ACU, look at it close and you will notice all three colors. There is only one ACU now.

 

[Termwean]

The patches on his chest are all ihs special quals, ranger, SF, jump, combat infantry etc.....i like the new uniform....hate berets...but the letter says something about a regular patrol cap with a pocket, and a double thick bill. I just got out of national guard and I wish I had this uniform.

 

[EvoDevo]

Oh thank the Gods that the Marines would never adopt this atrocity.

In ref to JKD's comments: I've always thought that the Army's WWII duds were the snazziest. The browns, and officers in tan ("pinks"??) trousers plus brown jacket always looked to me like a winning combination. The greens never looked good (IMHO, and I worked one summer doing work-study with our schools Army ROTC unit), then along came the beret, and now this? WTF?????

Just one Jarhead's opinion.

 

[EvoDevo]

Reading the list of improvements, lemme say that I heartily approve of the following:

5. Elbow pouch for internal elbow pad inserts
6. Knee pouch for internal knee pad inserts
14. Integrated Friend or Foe Identification Square on both left and right shoulder pocket flap. [nice touch]

 

[phillymed]

starship troopers

 

[Croatalus_atrox]

The way it has been explained to me is that their is only one ACU now. All three of those colors (woodland green, sand brown, and urban grey) are in the new ACU, look at it close and you will notice all three colors. There is only one ACU now.

You're right. If so, then the images on this link might be a better representation of what the new uniform actually looks like. It appears that the photographs from the army news site have terrible white balance, making light areas look washed out and grey. The fact sheet on that site shows them a little better, but they're still photos of the same guy, probably taken at the same time under the same lighting conditions.

 

[Termwean]

I really like the new uniform, and theXM8. Wish I would have got the chance to use it, but I just got out.

 

[DD214_DOC]

They don't look so bad in the new pics posted by above. That new carbine looks sweet. 👍

 

[kedhegard]

If I'm gonna have to wear that goofy thing, I'm at least sewing those velcro patches on like my dad did for years on his flight suit. Just get your seamstress to sew along the edges where it's already been done to hold the backing on, and nobody will suspect a thing. Not that they would care anyhow, but at least you won't rip them off standing up from the table or your desk or something.

 

[flighterdoc]

Here's a better looking uniform for the Army



http://www.geocities.com/~catarinakerr/images/Troopers.jpg



Since the world thinks we're imperialists, anyway