The four years I was in, I wore mostly pickle suites or white coveralls. (Flight line).
I don't think I wore my dress blues or 1505's more than a dozen times.
I don't think I wore my dress blues or 1505's more than a dozen times.
The new "Brown Army"
- Thread starter UncleEd
- Start date
No. Blues are class A, the new "Pinks & Greens," class B. My son's not happy about it, another $800-$1000 for not only the uni's, but all brown accessories, boots, low quarters, and belts. Corcoran still makes brown jump boots. He's airborne, so they'll be added to the list.
I take it your son is an officer. It seems like there ought
be an "extra" clothing allowance since it's a new and I
suppose required uniform. Hate to think your son gets
stuck for the cost. Or is it the government just factors
in that that's part of the monthly pay for an officer which
he accepted on being commissioned?
Right after tech school, I embraced the world of Corfams.
No more Shinola stains on my khakis.
No more Shinola stains on my khakis.
The permanent-press pickle suits were good for garrison
troops. If you were a grunt, they were awful. Front pockets
would load with sand or mud, depending on environment.
The civvy style zipper would lock up with grit, since it only
had a half-inch wide flap covering it. Exposed buttons on
shirt front caught every twig and vine.
The BDU's (in original weight) were hot, but a big
improvement over the pickle suit. Buttons were
covered, pockets had flaps to keep junk out, and
the button fly didn't jam with grit.
And there was no comparison between visibility, wearing
the straight OG, vs. woodland camo. You could spot guys
in straight OG in a woodline from a hundred yards. With
BDU's, easy to miss from fifty yards or less.
Marines always have the best looking uniforms. 
REM 3200
US Veteran
Y'all realize that Pinks and Greens was an Officers only uniform.
They were never worn by enlisted, until now.
IMO, the best looking uniform the Army had was the tan Tropical Worsted,
first worn in the brown shoe Army, then carried over to the black shoe Army.
It was an optional uniform that a soldier, Officer or Enlisted could purchase.
I wore the TW's in the mid to late 60s.
REM 3200
US Veteran
My Dad was in the Army from 1931 to 1961. First 10 years Enlisted, the next 20 as an Commissioned Officer. The "Brown Shoe" was no joke, but because Officers must supply there own uniforms a small latitude was granted. The Officers that I knew all bought their uniforms at the post clothing sales store because of price. The shoes there the same for all, Officers and Enlisted, therefore all were the same shade of brown.
THE PILGRIM
Member
The Army Tropical Worsted was a great looking uniform.
In the AF we had the Silver Tan, similar but our Class B shirt was long sleeve.
I like the 'new ' Army uniform, except for the belt.
Don't like the belt.
In the AF we had the Silver Tan, similar but our Class B shirt was long sleeve.
I like the 'new ' Army uniform, except for the belt.
Don't like the belt.
REM 3200
US Veteran
That's a CSM problem.
Yep, the COL said I should show all the "Young Gentlemen" the way to the clothing sales store. The troops were marched there by their NCO's.
It was fun being the CSM.
REM 3200
US Veteran
Yep, the COL said I should show all the "Young Gentlemen" the way to the clothing sales store. The troops were marched there by their NCO's.
It was fun being the CSM.
But the old pile caps--drove y'all nuts, right?
BLACKHAWKNJ
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I read DuPont lost $100M on Corfam, wow, looked great, never have to shine, then people found it wasn't that-and it didn't breath.
In Korea they found that the troops couldn't wear their helmets over their pile caps.
I have seen some "PInks and Greens". Because of the vast numbers of uniforms needed and the large numbers of manufactures involved they would accept slight variations rather than delay delivery. The Ike jacket was derived from the British battle dress, it became standard because it used less material.
In 2001 then Chief of Staff Shinseki decreed berets for everyone because of serious morale problems.
If we're going to revive old practices how about the Sam Browne belt for officers ? That was dropped in 1942 to save leather.
In Korea they found that the troops couldn't wear their helmets over their pile caps.
I have seen some "PInks and Greens". Because of the vast numbers of uniforms needed and the large numbers of manufactures involved they would accept slight variations rather than delay delivery. The Ike jacket was derived from the British battle dress, it became standard because it used less material.
In 2001 then Chief of Staff Shinseki decreed berets for everyone because of serious morale problems.
If we're going to revive old practices how about the Sam Browne belt for officers ? That was dropped in 1942 to save leather.
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THE PILGRIM
Member
REM 3200
US Veteran
But the old pile caps--drove y'all nuts, right?
When I was stationed in Alaska 1970-73 it was a real status symbol to have an old style (Korean War)
pile cap and not have to wear that new piece of you know what that the Army was so in love with.
I was lucky enough to come across one, old style, in my size.
I held on to that cap until I retired in 1990. The guys at the Ft Campbell CIF (Central Issue Facility)
had no idea of what to do with that relic that I was trying to turn to clear CIF and post.
They finally wrote it off and let me keep it.
I finally lost it when Katrina destroyed our house in 2005.
REM 3200
US Veteran
Any U.S. military uniform looks good to me.
cmort666
Member
The blue service dress looked like it was designed by somebody who hated the Army and uniforms... which it probably was.
The brown service dress looks SO much more professional, it's like night and day.
Regarding the pile hat, I also had a Korean war vintage one, and may still have mine if it wasn't lost in a forced move due to fire.
The brown service dress looks SO much more professional, it's like night and day.
Regarding the pile hat, I also had a Korean war vintage one, and may still have mine if it wasn't lost in a forced move due to fire.
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Sorry about Katrina, CSM.
Not familiar with the Korean era pile cap, but guessing
it wasn't wearable in fifty thousand variations, like the
Eighties (?) velcro version
Wrong, it caused serious morale problems. Just ask any Ranger.
Ha, I think it was Shinseki's morale problem.
Rumor was he attended a ceremony at Bragg, and everyone on
stage had a beret (black, green or red), except Shinseki.
Not long afterward, the proclamation was issued.
So the story goes...
Still got the one, I earned.
HKB
US Veteran
Still waiting on my Iraq Commitment Medal. 
Sistema1927
US Veteran
Khaki's and bloused jump boots, sharp!
Agree 100%.
Even though I was not qualified to wear jump boots with Class A or B uniforms being Armor, my Dad was. He was in the 508th ARCT when it was reactivated in 1951.
In later years (he retired in 1971), he wasn't in Airborne units, but he still wore that Airborne pride. He will be 88 this year, and still going strong.
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The new brown looks like something my dogs leave in the back yard! Glad I'll never have to wear one!
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