People think the Pentagon directs all military action for US Forces around the world. They don’t. What they do is make decisions to buy things like this:
When I first entered the Air Force, our utility uniform was olive drab fatigues with blue and silver stripes, blue nametags with white lettering, and colored unit patches. Someone decided we weren’t tactical enough and decided all insignia needed to be “subdued.” We got stripes which were dark blue on olive drab, and patches with all kinds of muted colors.
AF Special Ops decided we should wear the same kind of uniform as our Army team members, so we went to woodland BDUs. Everyone in the Air Force eventually got BDUs.
The camo wasn’t to help us blend in with our surroundings. It was to help us blend in with other units. But now, both the Navy and Air Force are considering what you see above.
What in the world drove that decision? If Air Force personnel need camo, why make it blue? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose unless they’re going to low-crawl through bluebonnets in the Texas spring? Will all the aircraft now get a similar paint job? And the support equipment? On top of that, it has the Eastern European look to it.
If blue is important, they would be better off returning to the original fatigue design. Missile crews wore blue utilities, and we all thought they looked pretty nice. Certainly nicer than this. And far more functional.
They got a second lieutenant to model for the photo because all the NCOs told them to shove it!
Not only that, she is also an S.P.
Comment by birdie — April 26, 2004 @ 2:17 pm
I think this new AF camo is supposed to blend in with the weeds and concrete around runways.
Comment by Wallace — April 26, 2004 @ 2:39 pm
I considered that as a reason. But every flightline I’ve ever been on had different color concrete. Maybe if they picked a rainbow…nah. That’s what everyone called new basic trainees. They’d have to find a new name for them.
Comment by Bunker — April 26, 2004 @ 6:15 pm
Our bases’ Career Counselor (MSgt) was “modeling” the new uniform last week — I’d estimate that a slightly larger percentage of people did NOT like it, than those who did. I like it; not so much for the colors as for the ease-of-use — no ironing/starching!
And the boots are really cool.
My two cents.
Comment by david — April 27, 2004 @ 5:14 pm
I saw one of those today on Pope AFB, They don’t look that bad in person. I talked to my buddies who are instructors at the SpecOps school there, and they said that they are staying with the Army BDU’s and possibly going to the Marine BDU’s. Only certain jobs will “have” to wear the new uniforms, SP’s are one of them.
Comment by birdie — April 27, 2004 @ 5:48 pm
I defer to those on active duty. You have to wear it. I don’t.
I see no reason to have a uniform that is both camouflage and blue. The logic escapes me!
What do Missile Pukes wear nowadays?
Comment by Bunker — April 27, 2004 @ 6:32 pm