What were they thinking...New USAF BDU's

iamhistory · Aug 16, 2003

They look like the uniforms in that one movie by Jean Claude Van Damme, I don't remember the name, but it was something similar to the spin off of Tomb Raider kind of thing.

Van Damme played the military hero who foiled the caped bad guy in the nick of time. They wore berets and cammies just like the USAF pic.

Overall, pretty silly looking. Certainly not acceptable in representing the USAF, unless we're trying to change our image and humor people to death.

Spark · Aug 16, 2003

Only thing I noticed is that the belt is made by Spec Ops brand which is a practical switch for a change. Normal issued belts suck ???... the seat belt webbing style ones are much more durable and comfortable.

Glockster35 · Aug 17, 2003

Spark,

I agree, the larger Spec Ops style (rigger) belts are superior. As a matter of fact I have worn one (against the rules) for a few years now. No one has ever commented on it or even that it is black, and many have seen it.

We are required to use a blue one like the black Marine issued belt. Black buckle in BDU's and chrome in blues.

I prefer something I can use, over something required. Same with my duty gear, I am required to wear OD green web gear, with widow maker flap holster, but purchased my own Black gear and wear it against requirements. Many have complained, but they'll all get over it!

Andrew Wyatt · Aug 17, 2003

No more ironing and polishing boots.

twenty seconds into the new uniform issue some colonel is going to require you to iron and polish anyway.

coveralls are better work uniforms for the people who actually do work, and class a's are just fine for the office rats. The PJ's should be able to wear what ever they want, since they might actually get shot at.

Glockster35 · Aug 17, 2003

Andrew and others feeling this way

I agree the maintainers should get to wear coveralls. I don't think anyone would really argue the need for a uniform for duties such as maintaining aircraft, or the civil engineers building buildings and stuff.

Don't think for one minute that PJ's are the only ones who get shot at in the Air Force. I will agree that during war and other serious situations they go much deeper in the battle then almost all others in the AF, but Air Force Security Forces are getting shot at on a regular basis. Many Security Forces (Air Force Police) have been shot in the line of duty over the years.

As a matter in fact, in 1991 a good friend of mine shot a gunman at Fairchild AFB, Washington.

It doesn't happen very often, but seems to be happening more often in the last 10 years. I believe it has a direct relationship to the Air Force lowering the standards of entry into the service and with recruiting a lower class of troop into the military as a whole.

Examples:
Cops at Guam

Edwards cop

There are many other examples, but I was unable to find them linked on-line.

Don't fool yourself into thinking Military Police (in all branches) aren't in dangerous jobs. The Law Enforcement and Security duties are inherently dangerous, just like at Podunk P.D. But we go beyond this calling when needed, we deploy for hostile threats, humanitarian missions and many other dangerous situations. There are a lot of Security Forces personnel deployed to Iraq and Liberia right now. Many I work with just returned from Iraq and reported personally being shot at on a daily basis. They were located with the Army in Bashir and Kirkuk.

Schuey2002 · Aug 17, 2003

I don't remember the name..

Are you referring to the 1999, Box Office bomb,StreetFighter?

romulus · Aug 17, 2003

Hopefully this nonsense will go the way of Hyman Rickover's redesign of sailor's uniforms in the 70's, Carter's hollow military...

El Tejon · Aug 17, 2003

First, ask if they can fight. Then ask if they look good.

I know, I know, a guy can dream, can't he. :uhoh:

C.R.Sam · Aug 17, 2003

ps-USAF is just still holding a grudge because of it's bastardized start as the ARMY Air Corps.

To pick a nit...
Before they became a Corps of their own, they were a subset of the Signal Corps.

Identity crisis still in progress.

Sam

rennaissancemann · Aug 17, 2003

Ya know...

... I'm trying to keep my mind open about the new uniform.

On the positive side, using the MARPAT fabric is a definate plus. MARPATS feel like a broken in set of the heavyweight NYCO BDUs, but are lighter than the cotton ripstops. The MARPAT shirt has the same number of pockets as the current BDU (4), substituting 2 feild dressing sized pockets on the sleeves for the 2 lower pockets. As another poster pointed out, this is probably due to the PASGT vest.

AS for the new Air Force uniform, I don't know about the blue/grey color. I fully expect the Air Force will direct the blue/grey uniform for in garrison wear and introduce the same uniform in green/brown for field use. Time will tell.

Regards,

iamhistory · Aug 18, 2003

Yes!!

STREET FIGHTER.................that's the one.

Thanks Schuey2002!

Andrew Wyatt · Aug 18, 2003

Don't think for one minute that PJ's are the only ones who get shot at in the Air Force. I will agree that during war and other serious situations they go much deeper in the battle then almost all others in the AF, but Air Force Security Forces are getting shot at on a regular basis. Many Security Forces (Air Force Police) have been shot in the line of duty over the years.

Thhe AF security guys also need to have uniforms that don't stand out. personally, i think that there should be a REMF uniform and a Combat arms uniform. both should be set up for what they're designed for; the REMF uniform has twinkie pockets and room for pencils and porno magazines or whatever they need pockets for in the office and comes in a recognizeable REMF color, and the combat arms uniform comes in camouflage, has pockets for useful stuff, and IS NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES issued or acquired by the REMFs.

Glockster35 · Aug 18, 2003

Please explain what REMF means! :cuss:

And not all Security guys/girls eat twinkies and read porno magazines while at work. Some of us save those activities for off duty consumption!

Andrew Wyatt · Aug 18, 2003

Rear Echelon Mother F*something*. it's an infantry term for the clerks and supply officers who don't get shot at. The security officer people aren't REMFs, though. Heck, i've met the edwards AFB (which is about fifty miles away) swat team, the ones i met showed me around their cool van.

gun-fucious · Aug 18, 2003

gee whiz, it looks so Space Command

When do they get the Starship Troopers, Denise Richards, Extra Wide Tactical Lapels?

USAFA · Sep 28, 2003

Just for the record...

These new BDU's were an idea cooked up by some 3 star desperate for an OPR bullet. I've yet to meet any junior enlisted who didn't regard the pattern with ridicule. That being said, the idea of new BDU's with the new cloth, more functional pockets, etc, is a great one. I love the fact that it's going to be wash and wear. But the blue tiger stripes really do need to go. If they want something distinctive, fine, why not a solid dark grey, or (my favorite idea) grey flight suits since we're all "airmen." Anything but ghetto cammies.

Abominable No-Man · Oct 7, 2003

Looks like someone drank a bottle of Ajax and barfed on himself.

Well, it's a sign of the times, I guess. We in the Army went to the black beret(and the Army is looking at a new BDU pattern, too, incidentally- my favorite kind of resembles the older British pattern), the Marine Corps went to it's computer generated pattern, now the Air Force is attempting this.

Well, who knows, maybe it will be good for morale. Personally I think it's an attempt to fix something that's not broken. If they wanted to dump a bunch of money into uniforms, I say redesign the Army Class A's and make that @#$!!&! beret go away (or at least make it a dress/formal item).

ANM

BigG · Oct 7, 2003

REAL Air Force camo would incorporate the front side of a vending machine, some rec room couch pattern, or the pattern of an unmade AF bunk.

Snort! That's funny, but true.

Skunky: AF is not real service. You need to think Army or Marines. :uhoh:

natedog · Oct 7, 2003

My great uncle was shot down during an air raid over Germany. He made it back to England, but suffered a severe head injury. He was a complete vegetable incapable of doing anything (showering, deffecating, basic hygiene) without assistance for forty years till he died. He could not speak, nor move. Don't tell me he didn't serve his country.

BigG · Oct 7, 2003

Pls excuse me Natedog, nothing personal, just inter-service rivalry. If you are a veteran, thanks for your service.

Detritus · Oct 9, 2003

ps-USAF is just still holding a grudge because of it's bastardized start as the ARMY Air Corps.

i veiw this in the same light as "the Marine's are a part of the Navy".

in fact unlike the Air Force the Marines Are STILL part of the Navy!!

(running for cover)

you'd think they'd get themselves out of the "dept of the Squids" don't ya

as for the is new uniform experiement, i'm thinking that it's gonna be a case of "oh the cut of the the uniform works, but that 'cammo' pattern looks like something a clubkid would wear, let's keep the fabric and the "cut" of it, but get a better design for the coloration......"

a light gray or bluegray solid maybe?? but a set of tigerstripes that look liek arefugee from Picaso's "blue period"!!?? get a grip.

Ghost · Oct 11, 2003

We may still be a department of the Navy, but we're the Men's Department.

The way I look at it, if the Air Force wants to look pretty in garrison, go for it. I'm sure that they will have mission specific and MOS specific regulations regarding when the new stuff can or will be worn.

clem · Oct 11, 2003

"A monkey in silk, is still a monkey."

What were they thinking...New USAF BDU's

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