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Seasoned Vet
 
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Okay, the Marines started because the current uniform and camo pattern is obsolete. The Army is following with less fanfare along different lines to stay distinctive.
Now the Air Force wants blue tigerstripe? Who do they think they are? This reminds me of the movie "Street Fighter" with Jean Claude Van Damme.
http://www.geocities.com/vandammemovie/fighter/sf03.jpg
nice headgear.
http://www.geocities.com/vandammemovie/fighter/sf02.jpg
(no linking pics)
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/airforce/a/afnewuniform.htm
Air Force Considers Replacing the BDU
Distinctive Utility Uniform to Undergo Wear Test
Jul 2 2003
Air Force officials are considering an Air Force-distinctive uniform to replace the
current battle dress uniform, according to service officials. A fit and wear test of the uniform is pending, officials said. The test will determine the best direction to respond to Air Force needs for a 21st century utility uniform.
Many new Air Force uniform items show up in the field before becoming available in military clothing sales stores.
This debut, in the form of “wear tests,” usually lasts from six months to one year but can be extended based upon the complexity of the uniform and feedback from testers, according to Master Sgt. Ruth Nischwitz, chief of the Air Force uniform
Wear testing of new uniform items allows the Air Force to check how well the items wear, their durability, ease of maintenance and their level of comfort.
“We encourage those people who wear test these items to give us both positive and negative feedback,” Sergeant Nischwitz said. “We need both to ensure any necessary improvements are made before that item is finalized and available for purchase.”
Testers are selected from airmen of all ranks at designated test locations. This provides Air Force uniform officials with feedback from people with a wide variety of day-to-day experiences.
However, the lower ranking testers occasionally have one complaint that more senior ranking testers seem to avoid.
“Not many people confront colonels or generals about their authorization to wear an unfamiliar test item, but airmen occasionally do get challenged,” she said. “It’s usually easily resolved but we try to avoid it from even happening by getting the word out to people at the test bases that certain items are currently being evaluated.”
Test bases are chosen based upon the size of their military population, their proximity to the service’s clothing designers at the Air Force Clothing Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the type of uniform item being tested.
For example, the Air Force would select a base located in a cold climate to evaluate a new parka instead of one in a warmer climate.
At the conclusion of the wear test, Air Force leaders will review the feedback and input from testers and a decision will be made to implement all, some or none of the test uniform.
[Guide Note: SIRPHREA1, a member of our Message Forum is stationed at Robins AFB, in Georgia. He recently attended an "Enlisted Call" which was conducted by the visiting Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force (CMSAF Murray). According to the briefing, the "wear test" will begin in January (2004) and Robins AFB will be one of the three bases that conducts the test. The proposed uniform will consist of a blue uniform shirt (like the Navy's) with "tiger camo" print on it, blue pants, black boots, and black belt. The only things sewn on the uniform will be AF Tape, Name Tape, and Occupational badges (no unit or MAJCOM patches). The shirt will be tucked in, as is the Navy's Utility Uniform. The uniform isn't ironed or starched, as it has permament creases, and ironing and/or starching will ruin those creases.]
~ Air Force News Service
--------------------------------------------------
http://www.wmbb.com/features/military/MGB6THTHAHD.html
AF considers new uniform
Air Force News Service
Jun 23, 2003
WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- Air Force officials are considering an Air
Force-distinctive uniform to replace the current battle dress uniform, according to service officials.
A fit and wear test of the uniform is pending, officials said. The test will determine the best direction to respond to Air Force needs for a 21st century utility uniform.
Many new Air Force uniforms and uniform items are fit or wear tested in the field before becoming available.
This wear test usually lasts between six months to one year but can be extended based upon the complexity of the uniform and feedback from the wear testers, officials explained. Positive and negative feedback is collected to ensure necessary improvements are made to the uniform or item before any decision is made to adopt it or not.
At the conclusion of the wear test, Air Force leaders will review the feedback and input from testers and a decision will be made to implement all, some or none of the test uniform.
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Go with God, but make Him walk the point.
If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets he has to watch somebody a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone axe - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a Vernier. - Robert Heinlein
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Seasoned Vet
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It sounds very "gay" is all I can say. There is nothing wrong with the current BDUs and the new Marine camo pattern looks good too so why not save money and utilize something already in the system that is developed instead of wasting money on this issue. Seems like they AF should have learned from the Army's black beret fiasco!
[82nd][E7][E6][uswingm]
Stand in the door!
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Stare Master
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My understanding is that the AF went to the woodland camo BDU because all of the services were standardizing the duty uniform. With few exceptions, like Special Ops, the AF doesn't need camo BDUs of any sort. I do think pilots and crew members need camo flight suits in the event of a shoot down, but as a general rule they don't need camo. If the AF wants to have its own uniform go back to OD fatigues. For those units like TACPs that need a camo uniform, they would wear the uniform of the service they are attached to.
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you, Jesus Christ and the American GI. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
"History teaches that when you become indifferent and lose the will to fight someone who has the will to fight will take over." COLONEL BULL SIMONS
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Seasoned Vet
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quote:
The proposed uniform will consist of a blue uniform shirt (like the Navy's) with "tiger camo" print on it, blue pants, black boots, and black belt. The only things sewn on the uniform will be AF Tape, Name Tape, and Occupational badges (no unit or MAJCOM patches). The shirt will be tucked in, as is the Navy's Utility Uniform. The uniform isn't ironed or starched, as it has permament creases, and ironing and/or starching will ruin those creases.]
Ok, this makes no "F"ing sense at all. First off, the BDU's are going to be replaced with a NON field utility uniform very much like the old green fatigue pickle suits. The only difference appears to be that it is now Navy blue with 'tiger stripe cammo' pattern. Now that is gay. It sounds like something the French Air Force would wear to a gay bar.
If the USAF brass likes the US Navy utility uniforms so damn well, why don't they just buy them? Why is there a cammo pattern on NON tactical blue garrison fatigues?
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Seasoned Vet
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yep.
This seems to be a case of 'too much money and free time'.
I guess the Navy has to change now.
Go with God, but make Him walk the point.
If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets he has to watch somebody a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone axe - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a Vernier. - Robert Heinlein
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Seasoned Vet
Group: Registered User
Last Login: 10/2/2005 10:13 PM
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Any word on the new Army BDU?
Go with God, but make Him walk the point.
If you load a mudfoot down with a lot of gadgets he has to watch somebody a lot more simply equipped - say with a stone axe - will sneak up and bash his head in while he is trying to read a Vernier. - Robert Heinlein
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Seasoned Vet
Group: Past PNET Supporter
Last Login: 9/7/2005 7:22 PM
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Here are some letters to the editor on the new USAF uniform I found at "Air Force Link":
Questions for uniform board
I have a few concerns about the new service-distinct battle dress uniform. Will it be designed with the ground fighter in mind or for the aesthetics of the generals choosing the winning uniform? Will they get rid of the useless lower pockets on the blouse? Will they put the pockets on the sleeves for storage of often-used items? Will they finally remove those huge, non-camouflaged blue and green stripes and put them on the collar in subdued tones? We who will be depending on a well-designed, quality uniform for use in a base-defense environment (security forces) need a good, lightweight, robust, wearable BDU. For our sake, use common sense, not fashion sense, in designing a warrior's uniform.
Master Sgt. Louis V. Cirillo
Cheyenne, Wyo.
Will the new BDU meet our mission needs?
Replacing our existing battle dress uniform has its good points and its debatable areas. A good thing is that Air Force members will now become distinguished from the other branches of service. The new design is rumored to have a gray-blue appearance, as reported in a June issue of Air Force Times. Are we hastily jumping on the Marine Corps’ bandwagon? We probably are. Is this the right time for a BDU change? We’ve just entered the 21st century, so let's enter it with a new BDU that all Air Force members will wear. Would it make sense for security forces, civil engineers and special operations personnel to wear the current BDU while everyone else wears the new design? I don’t think so. If the Air Force is going to spend the time and money to research an appropriate design, it should be one that suits all Air Force members regardless of their specialty. We must always keep in mind that we can be deployed into a combat zone at a moment's notice.
With that said, this new BDU design must be one that offers an acceptable level of concealment while giving us the distinguished appearance our leaders want us to have.
Staff Sgt. Howard N. Johnson
Kadena Air Base, Japan
Make it a real battle uniform
I am keeping my fingers crossed that the Air Force actually keeps some sort of battle uniform. I've heard people saying that only security forces and civil engineers should keep the BDUs because they are the only ones who fight. That's wrong and I think that's a bit of "old Air Force" mentality.
I have been in fox holes, at entry control points, on rapid runway repair teams, on unexploded ordnance teams, and in just about every other position that required me to carry a weapon. I don't want a blue utility uniform, I want one that will help me stay concealed, that I can take to a forward operating area, that will help increase my survivability by helping me blend in and not stick out like a sore thumb, not to mention one that is capable of standing up to the rigors of an expeditionary environment.
Our job is to fight and win wars. I have full trust that our leaders and the uniform board will approve a uniform that will help us do that.
Staff Sgt. Greg Volkman
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.
Consider only Marine Corps camouflage
Why does the Air Force need a new uniform? Why do we need our own look? I like the way we wear the BDU. I don't want to wear uniforms like the Thunderbirds. No disrespect or anything like that, but most of us are in combat-capable units. Are we going to be in blue uniforms at a forward-deployed base in hostile territory? If we change to new BDUs, it should be to the digitized version the Marine Corps has. If not, leave the BDU alone.
Senior Airman Jason Kelsey
Dyess Air Force Base, Texas
Ideas for a change in the battle dress uniform
I agree with the earlier letter: I think the Thunderbird look would be great. It seems more fitting of the Air Force image and our colors. It looks more comfortable to work in every day as well. Just make sure we keep our stripes the way they are. Would we go back to the BDU when it comes to deployment to a hostile location? If we're changing the BDU, I think we should be able to provide input based on a survey and vote on the replacement.
Senior Airman Jason Little
Lake City, Fla.
Look at blue fatigues for BDU replacement
I agree the Air Force needs to come up with a new uniform to replace the BDUs. It makes little sense for the majority of its members to wear them. Only certain fields such as civil engineering and security should be wearing BDUs. The blue fatigues that the Thunderbird members wear, in my opinion, would be the only real choice for a new uniform. The fatigues are a lot more comfortable and cooler to wear. Just ask any crew chief on the flightline. They are what I wore in the early 1980s, and they were great. I was sorry to see them go.
Master Sgt. Tracy L. House
Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.
Related Letters:
Ideas for a change in the battle dress uniform - Senior Airman Jason Little
Consider only Marine Corps camouflage - Senior Airman Jason Kelsey
Why do we need new BDUs?
Please, someone tell me why. Are we jumping on the band wagon because the Marine Corps changed their utility uniform? It seems to me that the Air Force doesn't need a high-speed-low-drag BDU because most of us don't work in an environment where better concealment will save our lives. It will be a cost to the government and a cost to my family and me.
Senior Airman Christopher J. LeBlanc
Misawa Air Base, Japan
Leave BDUs alone, start with service dress
I do not understand what the Air Force wants to replace the BDUs with. Is it the Marine Corps digital camo? If the Air Force is looking to fix a uniform, it should be the service dress and the mess dress. We should go back to the service dress that served us well for 50 years. The current one looks like a sport coat. The mess dress should be jazzed up with some silver braids on the pants or something. Instead of replacing the only military uniform we have, the Air Force should instead look at making everything else military.
Marc Bradle
Waco, Texas
Related Letters:
"Sport coat" for me, please - Staff Sgt. Mike Gonyea
Potential new uniform is under wraps
I'm curious why Air Force leaders decided to tell us a BDU replacement is being tested, but they won't show us what one looks like. Rumors abound that it may be this or looks like that. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for an Air Force-unique look. But a little more detail in the article would have been nice.
Tech. Sgt. Bob Oldham
Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark.
It takes BDUs to make us warriors
What was old becomes new again. After a decade of trying to foster a culture of the warrior that included global reach, rapid deployment, forward operations, and aerospace expeditionary forces, it all culminates in ... back to the blue uniform. Sigh. Don't get me wrong, I'm as proud of my blues as I am my BDUs or flightsuits. But let's get realistic: Blues do not present a warrior image. Most people in blues don't look like they could fight their way out of a wet paper sack, much less compel the enemy to do our will. Wearing BDUs is a foundation of the warrior mind set (if they look like warriors, maybe they will feel like warriors). If you want people to think they are 9-to-5 office workers, then by all means let's all wear blues. Slowly the office-working, 9-to-5, Monday-to-Friday attitude will creep back in. Our sister services will again feel justified in calling us the U.S. Chair Force. I served my first day of active duty in a green uniform, and when I serve my last on retirement day, I'll be wearing green.
Master Sgt. Raymond J. Flaiz
Scott Air Force Base, Ill.
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