PT gear or PT uniform

[fufu]

Here are my wonderful deployed location, the local sup refers to the pt "clothes" as both a uniform and gear.....

Which is it? I'm :confused:

[fufu]

The basic 36-2903 says gear....fwiw

[CrustySMSgt]

In typical AFI fashion, the book says gear... hence the reason it is a cluster-fuck

[DHarris75]

When it first came out - I remember reading something from someone high up. It was workout clothes - not a uniform. The only requirement to all be the "same" was when in formation...and the way I understood it, as long as everyone in the formation was the *same* than you were okay.

Slowly, it became a uniform. You got to get in front of the line for the base pharmacy because you were in uniform...you were able to get ahead at the BX during lunch because you were in uniform...CCs at all levels from flight, to unit, to Groups/Wings, to MAJCOMs started to tinkering with making the wear of the uniform more *professional* and included standards with the wear of the uniform.

These standard, I feel, went against the intent of the creation of this uniform. I was sold on it when I was told by this senior AF leader that the gear was meant to be worked out in - and the AF wanted us to WANT to wear it...therefore, the rules on the wear of it were very lax.

Over time, that view has of course changed substantially. I don't know that I agree with it - but I do believe that this goes against the original intent as I understood it and was briefed by a 2 Star.

[CrustySMSgt]

When it first came out - I remember reading something from someone high up. It was workout clothes - not a uniform. The only requirement to all be the "same" was when in formation...and the way I understood it, as long as everyone in the formation was the *same* than you were okay.

Slowly, it became a uniform. You got to get in front of the line for the base pharmacy because you were in uniform...you were able to get ahead at the BX during lunch because you were in uniform...CCs at all levels from flight, to unit, to Groups/Wings, to MAJCOMs started to tinkering with making the wear of the uniform more *professional* and included standards with the wear of the uniform.

These standard, I feel, went against the intent of the creation of this uniform. I was sold on it when I was told by this senior AF leader that the gear was meant to be worked out in - and the AF wanted us to WANT to wear it...therefore, the rules on the wear of it were very lax.

Over time, that view has of course changed substantially. I don't know that I agree with it - but I do believe that this goes against the original intent as I understood it and was briefed by a 2 Star.

JMHO... IF that was the original intent, my money is on the "give them an inch, and they'll take a mile" theory for why it changed. We are our own worse enemy... because everytime we're given leeway to decide how to interpret something, there are those that have to fuck it up for everyone. I will agree that there shold be one standard across the board, and none of the local policy BS that makes it so hard to know what is what... but the problem is, there IS an across the board standard, and elements of the uniform that haven't changed since it came out, and people still can't get that right... black socks (I think it is a dumb rule... but a rule none the less), jewlery, headphones anywhere but on the track/in the gym... and the list goes on.

[DBHWORTH]

I have been waiting for the no hands in pockets rule to come out for the “PT Gear”.
While I think some restrictions are needed to maintain the initial intent of the “PT Gear”; I think that it is nuts to tell folks what the length of their socks have to be or how many sets they must maintain.

I see folks wearing them when they PT by themselves. They aren’t cheap. I know my old holey T-shirt and $5 Kmart shorts work fine for me when I PT alone.

Bottom line it should be uniform but not be a uniform.

[fufu]

I was told "the command chief considers it a uniform".

If it is a uniform, that changes the rules. We would have to salute when wearing a uniform. We can't wear head phones in a uniform. We are not required to salute in PT gear currently.

This is why I have a problem with the AF. Everybody wants to have their hand in the cookie jar. Not to mention, we have a Sup to an AFI that refers to the same thing in two different manners.

WTF.

[CrustySMSgt]

I see folks wearing them when they PT by themselves. They aren’t cheap. I know my old holey T-shirt and $5 Kmart shorts work fine for me when I PT alone.


I had a brainwashed moment this morning myself... I got up to go to the gym on my own, and as I was getting ready to leave, I realized I was in my PT gear. WTF?!? Too late to change, so I went with it... lol

[Silver Fox]

JMHO... IF that was the original intent, my money is on the "give them an inch, and they'll take a mile" theory for why it changed. We are our own worse enemy... because everytime we're given leeway to decide how to interpret something, there are those that have to fuck it up for everyone. I will agree that there shold be one standard across the board, and none of the local policy BS that makes it so hard to know what is what... but the problem is, there IS an across the board standard, and elements of the uniform that haven't changed since it came out, and people still can't get that right... black socks (I think it is a dumb rule... but a rule none the less), jewlery, headphones anywhere but on the track/in the gym... and the list goes on.

But that just means you enforce the standards, it doesn't mean you have to tighten them.

It's such an illogical, reactionary response. And it's taking the easy way out.

It's like when one person shows up late and they say, "Ok tomorrow everyone shows up an hour early for work."

It's actually easier to do that. It takes less effort as a leader to just say FUCK IT and tell EVERYONE to show up early as punishment, then to actually hammer the little bastard that continuously shows up late. There's no paperwork in making people show up early, you just tell them to do it and know that they'll probably all be there.

[BigBaze]

I was told "the command chief considers it a uniform".

If it is a uniform, that changes the rules. We would have to salute when wearing a uniform. We can't wear head phones in a uniform. We are not required to salute in PT gear currently.

This is why I have a problem with the AF. Everybody wants to have their hand in the cookie jar. Not to mention, we have a Sup to an AFI that refers to the same thing in two different manners.

WTF.


yep. if they changed it from an instruction hundreds of SNCO's would be out of a job in the AOR, they wouldn't be able to camp outside the DFAC creating their own versions of 36-2903 and enforcing them at the same time...they may have to...wait for it, GET A REAL JOB! and perform it!

[CrustySMSgt]

But that just means you enforce the standards, it doesn't mean you have to tighten them.

It's such an illogical, reactionary response. And it's taking the easy way out.

It's like when one person shows up late and they say, "Ok tomorrow everyone shows up an hour early for work."

It's actually easier to do that. It takes less effort as a leader to just say FUCK IT and tell EVERYONE to show up early as punishment, then to actually hammer the little bastard that continuously shows up late. There's no paperwork in making people show up early, you just tell them to do it and know that they'll probably all be there.

The problem was, there was no clear standard. It basically said, unless you are doing “organized PT” (another very poorly worded statement with many interpretations) you could wear whatever you wanted with your PT “gear.” Hard to reel everyone back in when they are initially sent out with guidance like that. Selective “hearing” kicks in and everyone reverts to “when did they change that?” when confronted… and are amazed when you tell them “in ’06.” Funny how any news that loosens restrictions (walking & talking on cell phones for example) spreads like wildfire… but anything more restrictive (ranger rolling hat, no eating/drinking/smoking and walking…) is completely ignored.

[Smeghead]

"PT gear or PT uniform?"

Seems a fitting epitath on the USAF's headstone once the Army absorbs us :(

[lonnyonline]

When I read this I think to myself I am glad I am in the US Navy. You know those guys that do those temp jobs for the army overseas. I am currently on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and got in to with a solider over sailor not saluting them when they were in our ugly yellow PT Gear/Uniform. Now according to our US Naval Regulations a hand salute is to be rendered outdoors under cover in a uniform. When I see Air Force and Army saluting each other it gives me a perfect example to teach my sailors what not to do. Salutes need to be rendered honorably and in the right place. That right place is out doors under cover in the proper uniform not a proper T-shirt and shorts. Not because someone thinks they should be rendered. I think this issue needs to go up to DOD because when Army officers start bitching at my sailors for because their following US Navy Regulation the only one to solve that is the DOD. To close I would like to see one of you Army jokers get our brother Marines to salute you in their PT uniform.