ABU vs BBDU

[Eclipse]

BDUs are starting to run out

Cite, please.

Half a dozen posters on this site have said it.

Haven't seen BDUs in a PX/BX/NEX in a long time either.

Relevance?

The vast majority of our members have no access to MCSS facilities, and
have never used AAFES.

They buy their uniforms commercially, and always have.

[AngelWings]

BDUs are not running out, they're just not manufactured on as wide of a scale as before. Websites still sell them, and they are so ubiquitous that I doubt they're going to be hard to find in 30 years.

[Panache]

BDUs are not running out, they're just not manufactured on as wide of a scale as before.

They're still popular with the paintball and, dare I say it, militia crowd.

[AngelWings]

BDUs are not running out, they're just not manufactured on as wide of a scale as before.

They're still popular with the paintball and, dare I say it, militia crowd.

I see many people wear them, from construction workers, people out for a stroll, hunters/outdoorsmen, and practically anyone who wants a relatively comfortable pair of cargo pants.

The "We can't find them!" argument would be valid if you lived in nowhere, USA and couldn't buy from the internet, or if you aren't currently in America.

[tribalelder]

I'd guess some sizes may become less to unavailable- the xsmall//xshort    for smaller cadets.

[vento]

I'd guess some sizes may become less to unavailable- the xsmall//xshort    for smaller cadets.

That is not a problem unique to the BDU. It is an universal problem regardless of the the pattern.

[a2capt]

..and not unsolvable.
Use Google, "kid sizes <insert uniform variety here>" ABU, BDU, ACU..

[NIN]

I'd guess some sizes may become less to unavailable- the xsmall//xshort    for smaller cadets.

XS/XS became an issue this time around. Of the 12-13 new cadets in our basic flight this fall, 6-7 were in the XS/XS size category.

20+ years ago, my group supply officer screened a gigantic lot (like 20 or 24 boxes) of brand new jungle fatigue uniforms.  At the time, we were still in pickle suits, and jungles, while tacitly worn as a "field uniform" when nobody was looking, were no-go in the regs.  Every uniform was XS/XS. Apparently they'd langished in some warehouse throughout the remainder of the 70s and 80s because the country that was the intended recipient experienced a regime change in April of 1975.

We couldn't do anything with these uniforms (the supply officer refused to issue them to *anybody* because they weren't authorized.  Then why the hell did you screen 4,000 sets of jungle fatigues?) so there they sat.  Never did see where the remaining 20 or so boxes wound up.

But the supply of "inexpensive to obtain" BDUs thru any non-retail logistics channel is drying up, rapidly. Even eBay.

And I'm here to tell you that you can get a full set of gently used ABUs in various sizes for less than $30 via that same avenue.   And if/when the USAF ditches ABUs for whatever joint uniform, you can bet that there will be ABUs in the logistics pipeline for years.  And CAP & CAP-USAF should be on that like crazy when it does happen.

[skymaster]

I have an idea. If we would like to have everyone in the same field uniform, would there be a problem with Multicam? It still has a military link in that variants of that pattern is already in use by some elements of our Armed Forces (including full colour unit patches worn stateside by some USAF units), yet it is, strictly speaking, NOT exclusive to one branch of service, and even though it is used by some military units, is NOT a military-exclusive clothing item. They have been worn for years by civilians who are military cosplayers, as well as paintballers and hunters and the like. They are readily available, about the same price as BDUs, and since they are not exclusively a military uniform, should be easier to procure and approve than ABUs.

[ZigZag911]

Multicam or any other camouflage is not really suited for GT coordination with aircrews in wooded environments.

Admittedly, navy blue is not an ideal color either.

[Eclipse]

+1 - As soon as you take service affinity off the table, then whatever is chosen should be mission-suited and not camouflage of any type.

[Pulsar]

Just think, cadets in the mid 20th century were probably constantly discussing when CAP would change from WW2 uniform to BDUs...and we're here to carry on the tradition.

[Panache]

Just think, cadets in the mid 20th century were probably constantly discussing when CAP would change from WW2 uniform to BDUs...and we're here to carry on the tradition.

And in another 100 years, our ancestors will be arguing about if CAP (or its successor) should wear the same Stormtrooper armor as our parent service, or go with the more casual Sith robes.

[Eclipse]

If science fiction as taught us anything, it's that all clothing in the future will be one-piece jumpsuits.


And honestly, these above would be far more functional then anything CAP is wearing today.

[SarDragon]

YGBSM! Functional to work in, maybe, until you have to take a potty break. Then they become a bigger fail than USN 13-button trousers.

Just say no.

[NIN]

If science fiction as taught us anything, it's that all clothing in the future will be one-piece jumpsuits.
<snip>
And honestly, these above would be far more functional then anything CAP is wearing today.

Already got that.  I have two.

[RiverAux]

If science fiction as taught us anything, it's that all clothing in the future will be one-piece jumpsuits.

Re-watch the original ST....

[PHall]

If science fiction as taught us anything, it's that all clothing in the future will be one-piece jumpsuits.

Re-watch the original ST....

Rewatch Star Trek Enterprise.

[RiverAux]

And they saw the error their ways and dropped the jumpsuits (for the most part)

[Luis R. Ramos]

Another 100 years potty breaks will be eliminated as there will be an optional pill replacing the need to ingest food. No by-products...

Flyer