The week I arrived my adoptive Army unit placed an order for a set of ACUs--Army Combat Uniform--10 weeks later it arrived. (These are the logistics that win wars!) This is the new digital uniform that is supposed to work for either a forrest or desert environment--it has a bit of grey/brown and a bit of green in the pattern. As opposed to the Marine Corps digital uniforms where they made one for the desert and one for the foliage. Most people complain that the ACU simply works equally poorly in both environments. Regardless, the uniform is lighter weight and has way better pockets than the old fashioned DCU--desert camouflage uniform--that I am wearing currently. And, although no one has told me officially, I assume I am allowed to wear the uniform because I am assigned to an Army unit. In fact, several people in my unit have asked if I am allowed to wear it and I confidently tell them "yes, as far as you know!" and they buy it. Frankly, it is about time that the Navy went with these new fashionable digital uniforms; I mean, only the Macedonians, the El Salvadorans and the US Navy are still wearing the analogue beast of a uniform--it is so last war... so Desert Shield...
I was concerned that they might try and stick me with the Army PT (physical training) uniform too--these Army guys have a rule and a uniform for everything! But, when I opened the box of uniform supplies that arrived this week there wasn't anything resembling the Army PT uniform in there--I would hate to have to explain to people how I am authorized to wear the ACU--a better uniform than I am currently wearing--but not the Army PT uniform--definitely worse than my current civilian PT clothes! the rest of the Army guys in the unit are jealous that I get away with wearing civilian PT clothes to go running in, but really, those nasty cotton shirts and horrible shorts would not do for a long run--there have to be some benefits to being an IA.
The Army is actually allowed to wear their PT uniform to the chow hall to eat in--or even go to work! The Marines never allowed that kind of action. So, occasionally, I change from my clearly civilian PT clothes into something that resembles a PT uniform for the navy--a brown t-shirt and green or blue shorts--to get food from the chowhall in my PTs. The green shorts are for when you are with the Marines, the blue for the navy. One Marine colonel did try to yell at me--speak sharply? Heck, he was pretty nice--for wearing green (USMC) PT shorts to the chowhall because the Marines, even on this base where everyone else wears PT clothes to the chowhall, are not allowed to do so. I thought about justifying my attire by saying that this is my PT uniform (though there really isn't one) and that I am stationed with the Army so my boss says I can wear my PT uniform to the chowhall, and so on and so forth, but I thought the better of it, smiled and said "understood, sir!" and went on my merry way. Since then I have endeavored to be in the blue shorts and brown t-shirt when going to the chowhall in my PT uniform (which is rarely), but I haven't seen the guy again anyway... no worries
But, the Navy is supposed to come out with a new PT uniform this year, phased introduction and the intro for CENTCOM--where I am--was advertised as this spring, but I haven't seen it around yet. I hope I get out of here before they advertise that widely, because the shirt is bright yellow--who the heck wants to wear a bright yellow shirt around in Iraq--that is just a temptation to any would-be snipers in the area--forget that... for me, there won't be an "official" Navy PT uniform until I leave this place, and likely not even then!
1 comment:
Ooohhhh! I detect a shred of cynicism in your tone young Naval Officer! The Navy does in fact have its own DIGITAL uniform, coming soon to a theater of operations near you. (Actually it is more likely to be seen in the halls of the Pentagon than anywhere that real naval operations are occurring).
Official link:
http://www.npc.navy.mil/CommandSupport/USNavyUniforms/uniform_photos.htm
You'll note the beautiful blue (!) digital pattern. The idea might be that if a sailor falls overboard, we can just get a new one ('cause we'll never find that one!).
The Navy PT uniform has hit the clothing sales store here in Yokosuka. It is all polyester, and beautiful (after a few beers). Two prominent signs preside over the boxes and boxes of the snazzy duds: "One per person", and "Do Not Wash In Shipboard Laundry"
No joke, folks. That's your navy (or at least your tax dollars being wasted ... er... gainfully employed by my navy. I mean really. Sailors can't launder these in the ship's laundry! Wow, that's leadership!
D - let me know if you want an official US Navy PT uniform. I will send you one. At least you can go to chow in it.
E
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