scoutpilot
10-Year Member
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2010
- Messages
- 4,479
First, for years Marines carried a set of service uniforms in their seabags for liberty and leave no matter where they were at. i would bet you would find the Army did something similar...although I could be wrong about the Army.
Second, while I can accept the wearing of Cammies while traveling in and out of theater....I personally cannot stand the wearing of cammies for an everyday uniform. These new "wash and wear" utilities do look sloppy and very unprofessional.
I don't know where the idea of starching and ironing a uniform that was made to be worn in combat came to be equated with "professional." I think wash and wear is exactly what a utility uniform should be. You wouldn't starch a pair of carhartt pants, would you? I always found the starching of BDUs to be insane. It ruined them for field use--their intended use.
Do I think we should wear them everyday? No, especially those for whom the field is someplace that others go. You want to be a PAC clerk or an intel desk-jockey? Wear your Class Bs to work.
But, I find the idea of hauling Class A's to an COP on a mountain-top in Afghanistan so we all look pretty when we fly home for R/R is ludicrous. God forbid the nation be reminded that they sent their military to war.
For official travel otherwise, my first choice is that no uniform be worn. AT/FP being what it is, calling attention to ourselves isn't smart. But if we do travel in uniform, it should be a dress uniform and not a utility uniform. I'll agree with you there.