The Disaster of Military Uniforms
During my time in the military, I’ve seen lots of changes with the uniforms from each branch. When I started in the Army, we wore the old BDUs and the green dress uniforms.
The Air Force jumped on the bandwagon when the Army lost their bet and they let them wear the ACUs as well. In combat, one of the first things you’re taught is that cover and concealment will keep you alive. Well let’s face it, the only place you’re concealed in the ACUs is a white, gardening-rock, flower bed.
The Marines soon followed suit with the digital uniforms after the Army did. The Navy on the other hand, gave their sailors a nice blue uniform so they could hide in water, or better yet, couldn’t be seen in the water if they needed to be rescued. Who lost that bet?
Chaos in the Navy
When I started in the Navy, we wore those hideous dungarees. No wonder the Navy wouldn’t allow sailors to be seen off base in them! Those had to be the most embarrassing uniforms ever worn by any member of the United States Armed Forces. Why the Navy ever let sailors wear that, somebody must’ve lost a serious bet.
Good thing now is they’re getting rid of it soon and they’re going to have all sailors wearing the green camo. After years of arguing, the Army will finally have all their soldiers in the multicam uniform by the end of 2018. I’m not sure what the Air Force will decide. They’ll probably wait and rent another branch’s uniform since they’ve done that with the multicam since 2005.
The branch I feel bad for is the Navy. You can’t even count how many uniforms they’ve had, let alone determining whether it’s a dress uniform or a working uniform.
Give Them Something They’re Proud to Wear
For me it kinda goes back to keeping it simple. For combat branches (i.e. the Marine corps and the Army), a uniform with superior concealment should be worn as the daily uniform. Have one dress uniform.
For most of the other branches, have them wear a uniform that best suits their MOS. Meaning, if they work in HR, they should be in some type of business uniform. And there still needs to be a separation of what each branch wears so we can tell them apart.
However, let’s not complicate the uniform like the Navy does. Let’s give each service member a uniform whether it be dress or field, but make it something they can be proud to wear.
- What’s Missing in Today’s Military: Integrity - March 20, 2018
- What’s Missing in Today’s Military: Honor - March 19, 2018
- Veterans without Care: What’s Wrong with the VA? - December 18, 2017
