ASU is Another Stupid Uniform

[Markus]

The ASU uniform cut is loose, sloppy and gives the wearer a comical appearance. I have spoken with vendors and civilians who described it as a "mall cop" uniform and wondered how we let this happen and the design go unchecked. The awards and decorations make any E-4 that deployed overseas look like General Pershing. (No offense to any E-4's.) I was informed by an individual close to the design that it was done to give a sense of pride to all enlisted soldiers and help with recruiting. I think that's also how we wound up with the popular beret and ACU's. I never thought I would say "I wish I could wear the Green Class A's" Let's hope the decision to go to MultiCam will begin to reverse the hasty, ill managed decisions of the last 5 years. Even the German's knew enough to have artists design their uniforms and have them made by Hugo Boss. The idea is clean and sharp, not gaudy and sloppy.

[SSGArtillery]

The "Armys' Stupid Uniform" is a perfect blend of a Christmas Tree, a waiter from Fridays with Flare, and my little sisters trapper keeper with all her buttons n stickers... its a joke. You dont add crap to your uniform to please you make the soldier learn to respect a uniform with little on it... With that said, we need to start a movement to make Multicam the primary soldiers' uniform!!!

[INGUARD]

lol I love the acronym lol

Its an embarassment. Every decision to make the Blues better (e.g. tan/gray shirt, combat patch, service cap for all, no jump boots) was kicked out the door.

If I sat on the uniform board; everybody will join the Army because our uniforms would be better than the Marine Corps lol. Hey it once was.

Give the rangers the black beret back and give us the tan one or stick with PCs.

Also, I am out of ASTAN soon so no multicam for me ;( I rather wear UCP-delta instead in the rear.

[MSMUROTC]

"The ASU uniform cut is loose, sloppy and gives the wearer a comical appearance. I have spoken with vendors and civilians who described it as a "mall cop" uniform and wondered how we let this happen and the design go unchecked."

Huh? There are only topical changes from the old blues, and they have basically the same cut as the greens. This is patently untrue statement.

"The awards and decorations make any E-4 that deployed overseas look like General Pershing."

The ONLY AWARD that you can wear on the blues that you can't wear on the greens is the CSIB. If you want to talk square inches of real estate, you can't wear shoulder patches or tabs on the blues sleeves. And again, like always, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO WEAR IT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO. People keep talking about this "Christmas tree crap" and I'm completely mystified. If you consider how much smaller a CSIB is than two unit patches, there's IS LESS STUFF ON THE UNIFORM.

My opinion on why it was done was because it's a historical uniform that dates back to the civil war, that looks shit hot (sorry that you guys are all a bunch of fatties but I've never gotten anything but complements in my blues) and, fiscally, it's already in the supply system and some people already have it.

ACU was dumb but whatever. Shit happens. Beret -- I can't believe people still whine about it.

I don't want to sew shoulder patches on my blues, that shit would look dumb and have the potential to damage the sleeves. Grey shirt / white shirt, who gives a shit? That's so unfathomably minor. Jump boots? I've been on status and I hope to get back to a unit where I am, and I'm glad I can wear my jump boots if I go back.It's more tradition and history and I'll still look shit hot. I fail to understand how jump boots were OK for greens but not for blues.

Service caps? Really? REALLY? You ever tried to wear one of those things, they're a pain in the ass. Also, everyone on here is losing their mind over a $12 CSIB but you want everyone to buy a $70 hat. Good idea.

I think this is the last time I'm going to weigh in on this uniform stuff. Seriously, it's pathetic. It monopolizes this board and the Army times and honestly, who gives a shit. Stop whining about clothes, you sound like women.

[INGUARD]

I been in the military since 1983, I wore every uniform lol I was wearing the cu nt cap when you were sucking on your fudgesicle lol

I wore my jump boots with my class As when I was a 101st Trooper. On the blues, it looks ridiculous. Post your pic and let me see how high speed you look?

Its a no-go period. And you think that 3 people writing about this is a minority? Think again! Its mostly Army wide.

And I never wore badges and pins below or on the pockets so tell me how its less than the Green class A?

Potential to damage the sleeves? Are you f ucking kidding me? Did your greens get damaged by patches?

Who gives a shit about the civil war? F troop? I prefer the WWII uniforms better.

http://www.army.mil/asu/

Anyway, I am not enlisted so I pay for this stuff and I will like it. But this is what forums are for, you hear me?

Anyway, I give a shit since I been serving my country for a very long time and been in both wars. I more than earned my right to speak out on Army issues.

[MSMUROTC]

in the spirit of fair play I will consider myself pwned based off the fudgesicle comment, lol.

"Post your pic and let me see how high speed you look?" ... is that a come on? want me to PM you some crotch shots? :)

i'm still confused about what you're talking about that's below the pockets on the blues, besides the CSIB. And the CSIB is smaller than two unit patches,i.e. it takes up less space. the pin-on tabs are smaller than the sew-on tabs.

and sometimes I've had those weird little sewing dimples hang around. the ones that get left after you remove a big patch in lieu of a small patch. and the fucking cleaners always sews patches on just a little bit off and it drives me nuts.

[INGUARD]

in the spirit of fair play I will consider myself pwned based off the fudgesicle comment, lol.

"Post your pic and let me see how high speed you look?" ... is that a come on? want me to PM you some crotch shots? :)

i'm still confused about what you're talking about that's below the pockets on the blues, besides the CSIB. And the CSIB is smaller than two unit patches,i.e. it takes up less space. the pin-on tabs are smaller than the sew-on tabs.

and sometimes I've had those weird little sewing dimples hang around. the ones that get left after you remove a big patch in lieu of a small patch. and the fucking cleaners always sews patches on just a little bit off and it drives me nuts.

lol hey DADT right? lol
http://www.drum.army.mil/sites/postnews/blizzard/blizzard_archives/issues/8-28-2008/photos/asu.jpg

Its where the pin goes. on the pockets. For the women its below the breast seam. Yea, its optional I know but I just dont like where its placed.

Yeah, I agree with you about the cleaners and when you change ranks or patches how the outline of old shows. Oh well, you are an officer and getting paid lol.

Still waiting on your DA blues pic ;)

[NMWH1985]

Yeah, it's ugly.

But unless you joined the Army cause you like wearing a jacket and tie, you won't be wearing it that often, so oh well.

I will never judge myself as a soldier based on the aesthetics of my uniform in comparison to my sister services, nor do I forseeably see us ever doing a Zoolander style walkoff with a bunch of Marines and Squids in our ASU's, so I will focus my anger and frustration on more useful things. At this particular point, this soon to be cherry goldbrick is preparing for his Infantry Officer pipeline, and when that 25m target is hit, I'll be worrying about mission accomplishment/troop welfare. I joined the Army to fight, and just by virtue of the fact that I am a bad ass m*therf*ck*r, I will turn this ugly dress uniform into catnip for snanks.

I mean this as no disrespect for you gentlemen who've already "got yours," but this is the way I see it, because unless I make Chief of Staff, or the Army brass starts suddenly placing a high value on my opinion, I don't see much being done about it in the near future.

If you think I'm dumb and cherry, it's probably because I am, but there may be value in my comments because I'm sure there are some salty guys who agree with the above.

[INGUARD]

So where are you at? Benning? Good luck.

[NMWH1985]

I bought mine a week and a half ago and am in the process of getting them tailored.

The jacket looked dumb until I got the right fit around the midsection.

I think it looks sharp, but I'm just a cherry O without all those badges that you guys think makes it look like a Christmas tree.

And I'm also in shape, so that may be part of the reason I look decent in a tailored jacket.

[CORNELIUSSEON]

The ASU uniform cut is loose, sloppy and gives the wearer a comical appearance. I have spoken with vendors and civilians who described it as a "mall cop" uniform and wondered how we let this happen and the design go unchecked. The awards and decorations make any E-4 that deployed overseas look like General Pershing. (No offense to any E-4's.) I was informed by an individual close to the design that it was done to give a sense of pride to all enlisted soldiers and help with recruiting. I think that's also how we wound up with the popular beret and ACU's. I never thought I would say "I wish I could wear the Green Class A's" Let's hope the decision to go to MultiCam will begin to reverse the hasty, ill managed decisions of the last 5 years. Even the German's knew enough to have artists design their uniforms and have them made by Hugo Boss. The idea is clean and sharp, not gaudy and sloppy.

The new Army Service Uniform is the result of a very long discussion about what permanent uniform the Army should adopt to replace the Pinks and Greens, Greens, the Tans, the Khakis, and the Whites. When I joined in 1967, I missed getting Long Sleeve Khakis by a hair, and got Summer Greens instead. My Cousin had suffered wearing both Pinks and Greens, Long Sleeve Khakis, Short Sleeve Khakis, and Tans. He missed out on the White because he never served a Long Tour in a tropical zone. I was issued three sets of Short Sleeve Khakis (Class B-1), two Summer Greens (Class B), and two Winter Greens (Class A). By the time I retired in 2008, I was down to the Greens (Class A and Class B), which I wore as a duty, but really didn’t care for (They always reminded me of glorified business suits), and a set of Dress Blues that I first purchased to wear to events where otherwise a Tuxedo would be the order of the day in Germany. I always liked the Dress Blues because they reflected the US Army as a stand-alone force in a field of five such American forces, and because they made the US Army stand out when compared to armies the world over. Only the US Marine Corps has a better designed Dress Uniform, and they are welcome to it. That brings up a very important point. The Army Service Uniform is a UNIFORM, not FASHION, and it is uniquely American in design. The same cannot be said about the Greens. The Greens were “borrowed” from the German World War II “Gebirgsuniform” or “Mountain Uniform”, and the “Sommer-Uniform” or Summer Uniform”. The former yielded our Summer Greens, while the latter yielded our Winter Greens. Elements of these two uniforms were superimposed on the earlier “Pinks and Greens” that Officers wore, and the Tans that bridged the period of the Pinks and Greens and the Greens, which were both based on older German World War One uniforms that lent elements to modify our World War One uniform. The point here is that our Service uniform has been in constant development since the entrance of the US Military on the world stage in World War One. Like you, I’m not enamored with all of the elements – I’d love to replace the “Flying Saucer” with the “Cavalry Stetson” – but I am at least pleased to see the US Army back in the Blue that it has worn for most of its existence.

[Sphase]

As someone that hates the ASU acting as our new class A's, I find it annoying that everytime I see top brass, they're still all wearing the greens. As long as new recruits are being made to dress like airline pilots, so should command personnel.

[DAVEBUCK187COM]

I And you think that 3 people writing about this is a minority? Think again! Its mostly Army wide.

And I never wore badges and pins below or on the pockets so tell me how its less than the Green class A?

Potential to damage the sleeves? Are you f ucking kidding me? Did your greens get damaged by patches?

Who gives a shit about the civil war? F troop? I prefer the WWII uniforms better.

http://www.army.mil/asu/



What are you talking about? I am not seeing the big back lash to the blues that you see here in the Army Times. The big gripe I saw was for the greens. Soldiers have complained about that uniform since the 1950's. The pickle suit or leisure suit was just plan God awful.

As for your pocket theory on clutter. The greens did indeed have more clutter. They had the cheap looking green leadership tabs. The shoulder sleeve insignia counts for two patches and are quite larger then the CSIB (which is optional). Yes indeed the patches damaged the uniform. I have a set of damaged greens in my damn closet I have to trade in.

Don't get worked up over the official ASU pics either. My unit had a formal recently. When you have a Soldier who is in shape and his uniform is fitted properly they looked damn sharp. Hell they looked better then the old blues. My only complaint is that they should have kept the grey shirt and should have added a waist belt to the uniform.

[CORNELIUSSEON]

It seems that you have gotten your wish, since the order has gone out that if you work in an office, you will wear Class "A"'s, which means that ACU's are back to the same status they had when they replaced the BDUs. That said, the wear-out date for the Greens is coming up, so you will have to swap out old Greens for new Blues shortly, although those that own the older Blues are permitted to wear them as Class "A"s immediately without change pending the arrival of the off-the-rack ASU Blues. Of course, if you have the bread, you can special order ASUs.

[Sphase]

It seems that you have gotten your wish, since the order has gone out that if you work in an office, you will wear Class "A"'s, which means that ACU's are back to the same status they had when they replaced the BDUs. That said, the wear-out date for the Greens is coming up, so you will have to swap out old Greens for new Blues shortly, although those that own the older Blues are permitted to wear them as Class "A"s immediately without change pending the arrival of the off-the-rack ASU Blues. Of course, if you have the bread, you can special order ASUs.

Where did you see an order that we go to Class A's for office settings? I've heard that for the Pentagon, but nowhere else.

[CORNELIUSSEON]

Where did you see an order that we go to Class A's for office settings? I've heard that for the Pentagon, but nowhere else.

You're correct, the only thing I've seen is the article in Army Times and elsewhere which stated that Secretary Gates started the ball rolling by requiring his staff to switch to Class A. Admiral Mullen - following Gate's lead - spread the order to cover everyone on the Joint Staff, although the order is redundant in the Navy since they never stopped wearing Class A's. Traditionally, that is all it takes. Lower level commanders - seeing what their bosses are doing, and realizing that they are next in line on the food chain - will take the signal, read into it their Boss's desire, and issue an order under their signature covering people they are immediately responsible for. And so on, and so on. It will take a while for the slow ones to wake up to the downflow - some will need a slap on the back of the head - but you will wake up one day soon and get handed such an order - or see it on the Bulletin Board. In my experience, when you see something like Gate's order making headlines, it pays dividends to prepare yourself to get in step when the order reaches you.

[Sphase]

You're correct, the only thing I've seen is the article in Army Times and elsewhere which stated that Secretary Gates started the ball rolling by requiring his staff to switch to Class A. Admiral Mullen - following Gate's lead - spread the order to cover everyone on the Joint Staff, although the order is redundant in the Navy since they never stopped wearing Class A's. Traditionally, that is all it takes. Lower level commanders - seeing what their bosses are doing, and realizing that they are next in line on the food chain - will take the signal, read into it their Boss's desire, and issue an order under their signature covering people they are immediately responsible for. And so on, and so on. It will take a while for the slow ones to wake up to the downflow - some will need a slap on the back of the head - but you will wake up one day soon and get handed such an order - or see it on the Bulletin Board. In my experience, when you see something like Gate's order making headlines, it pays dividends to prepare yourself to get in step when the order reaches you.

I'm stationed in DC and haven't heard any scuttle butt that this is going to be implemented outside of the Pentagon. I certainly hope not. Wearing Class A's daily would be a nightmare.

[CORNELIUSSEON]

I'm stationed in DC and haven't heard any scuttle butt that this is going to be implemented outside of the Pentagon. I certainly hope not. Wearing Class A's daily would be a nightmare.

If you find wearing Class A’s to be such a problem, then you need to get out of whatever command you are in because it is long standing tradition in the Military District of Washington that the normal Duty Uniform – unless specifically excepted – is Class A/B, because members of MDW normally are seen or can be expected to be seen – by the public on a regular basis, and/or must interact with The Government in some fashion. It is only because of 9-11 that you are wearing ACUs on a regular basis, and this is the first conflict since World War Two where Class As have been placed in the closet for the duration. In both cases, it was due to a Presidential Suggestion, and such “Suggestions” are revocable at any time. I take it you have little or no experience wearing A’s and B’s on a regular basis. Otherwise, you would know that A’s and B’s are prescribed seasonally, except that when you work in an office, your Commander will normally let you work dressed in B’s, with you’re A jacket on a hanger or hook for wear outdoors when seasonally required. In addition it would pay you dividends to buy one or two additional sets of A’s and more B shirts. Persons who expect to spend a career working in offices will eventually have sufficient shirts to wear a different one each day, and sufficient Jackets, Trousers, and Shoes to deal with eventual accidents and Dry Cleaning/Shoe Shining issues. I was a 71N (now called 88N) for ten years, followed by transition to 54B (now called 74D) for 24 years before I retired, and so worked in both environments, and learned the hard way that the only way to avoid the uniform nightmare was to be prepared for the worse, and be thankful when things were easy. By the time I retired, I owned four complete sets of A’s, and had 12 Long Sleeve and 12 Short Sleeve Shirts so when I worked in an office I was always ready. Of course, I had extra BDUs and DCUs for when I was in that environment, and they all were very good investments. The point is that you need to prepare for the transition to a normal uniform environment, which is not what you are currently working in.

Question: Have you seen or do you have a copy of the original ASU Wear Policy letter? I have one and can post it here if you want it.