Better get used to the BDU - and some thoughts (rant?)

[Shuman 14]

There is a difference between the "USAF says no" and "AFGSC says the Security Forces within my command will wear them".

IF.....IF....army transitions to everyone in the new combat camo.....which at this point they are not going to do.....then the USAF will follow suit.  Until then "special" units and commands will continue to do what they have always done......what ever they wanted.

With today's budget....the DoD is NOT going to start a new joint "find the combat patter" effort.  Not this week.

But I believe there was a Bill passed by Congress that requires all Services to adopt a single combat camouflage uniform by 2018 http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/house-approves-measure-to-have-military-branches-share-one-camouflage-pattern/2013/06/14/017700f6-d4ff-11e2-bc43-c404c3269c73_story.html. 

[Storm Chaser]

Seriously.  I didn't intend to reopen the debate again, only add new info on the ongoing sage.

But the only purpose camo BDUs served was service affinity, which is no longer the case. Otherwise, the
are a safety issue and mission detriment, and if any change is considered, whatever it is, it needs to
recognize that CAP is in the SAR business not the SERE business.

I agree. The woodland BDU is not practical for wilderness GSAR or UDF missions.

I wore the CAP blue jumpsuit back in the late 80s/early 90s and, in some ways, it was more practical than the current BDU.



I would prefer something like this, though:



I like the navy blue BDU, but a color like this would be more practical for SAR.

[Eclipse]

That's what we >used< to wear.

[Storm Chaser]

That's what we >used< to wear.

That's what I said. I also said it was more practical than today's uniform.

[Eclipse]

No. The flight suit is also what we used to wear.
I still have mine.

[Storm Chaser]

I know. They were available in blue and orange, IIRC.

I just meant that I prefer the flight suit over the jumpsuit 

[Eclipse]

Orange is pre-me.  They were in the Bookstore catalog as discontinued.

$185 some buckos for mine, thing still looks like new.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

I know. They were available in blue and orange, IIRC.

I just meant that I prefer the flight suit over the jumpsuit

Those were still available in the CAP bookstore catalogue when I joined.

Ultramarine is supposed to be "our" shade of blue...except for flags, guidons etc., the USAF doesn't really use it much anymore, so I agree with the ultramarine zoom bag.

[AirAux]

CAP Blue Jumpsuit is much more comfortable flying in Florida than flight suits.  Also looks a little less military.

[lordmonar]

And that's why it will never happen

[Maj Daniel Sauerwein]

Found an interesting article about AFJROTC in Fargo, ND and the phase out of woodland BDU's for that program and the costs involved.

http://www.valleynewslive.com/story/27370155/fargos-afjrotc-in-need-of-money-new-uniforms#.VGQg95dQGXk.facebook

While AFJROTC has a different relationship to the AF than us, this is interesting and raises some considerations for our organization in terms of the desire among some to request wear of ABU's for CAP.

While I wear the distinctive uniforms due to being out of H/W, I do think we need to keep the woodland BDU's, or, if we're ever authorized them, ABU's for cadet retention, as young people identify with those combinations better in terms of the military aspect.

One thing that I found interesting was that the nuclear missile launch crews had blue coveralls similar in shade to our blue BDU.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

While AFJROTC has a different relationship to the AF than us

You said a mouthful there, Sir.  One is the favoured son, one is not.

One thing that I found interesting was that the nuclear missile launch crews had blue coveralls similar in shade to our blue BDU.

Easily available on EvilBay.  I have a set that I use for my flight/utility jumpsuit.  Same cut and colour, and the quality is worlds better.

[PHall]

Easily available on EvilBay.  I have a set that I use for my flight/utility jumpsuit.  Same cut and colour, and the quality is worlds better.

You brought a CAP uniform from a source other than Vanguard?  Report to Hawk Mountain for your reeducation training!

[a2capt]

Re-education, with orange paint can.

[Maj Daniel Sauerwein]

You said a mouthful there, Sir.

You are correct Hauptmann, just trying to walk that fine line and not ruffle feathers .

One is the favoured son, one is not.

I will say that your assessment of JROTC being the favored son may be due to JROTC being an easier recruiting tool for the AF by being in the high school (access to potential recruits). How many CAP squadrons meet in schools versus those that do not? How many cadets leave CAP during high school? We are a completely extra-curricular activity in most cases (exceptions being the school program squadrons), while JROTC blurs the line, as there are extra-curricular components, but it is also part of their course schedule.

JROTC was established via the National Defense Act of 1916, so it is inherently going to have a closer relationship to the parent service than CAP.

CAP's relationship to the AF is rooted in its founding during WW2, with specific missions that JROTC would not have likely been tasked for at that time. Though which AF commands we have fallen under have changed and gone from general officers overseeing us to a colonel, I feel this reflects more on the situation faced by the AF than how it feels/does not feel about us as an organization. When we fell under ACC, keep in mind how much bigger the AF was than it is now.

I will say that I feel our cadets are allowed to do much more (provided they meet the required training for it) than a JROTC cadet. Ultimately, we are two different groups with two different missions.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

You brought a CAP uniform from a source other than Vanguard?  Report to Hawk Mountain for your reeducation training!

Is that like the reeducation camp set up at the drive in movie in Red Dawn (the original; I haven't bothered to see the remake), sir?

You are correct Hauptmann, just trying to walk that fine line and not ruffle feathers .

Danke, Herr Major.  Actually, not specifiying which was which in terms of "favoured son" was my way of trying to walk that fine line and not ruffle feathers. :angel:

[Toth]

So the fact that all of the military branches is changing to one uniform begs the question, will we get that uniform? ... probably not.

[Garibaldi]

So the fact that all of the military branches is changing to one uniform begs the question, will we get that uniform? ... probably not.

Will the new uniform comply with directives set forth by our leaders for CAP use? No
Will the uniform be readily available within the next 5 to 10 years through DRMO or other sources, to us? No
Is there a need for another uniform for CAP that has zero use for us, such as the ABU? No.

[Al Sayre]

So the fact that all of the military branches is changing to one uniform begs the question, will we get that uniform? ... probably not.

Will the new uniform comply with directives set forth by our leaders for CAP use? No
Will the uniform be readily available within the next 5 to 10 years through DRMO or other sources, to us? No
Is there a need for another uniform for CAP that has zero use for us, such as the ABU? No.

Will the new uniform be available for open purchase by any civilian on the interwebs two weeks after it's issued to US Forces?  Yep...

Can I haz the green boots?

[vento]

^^^ Don't be silly Colonel. Green boots will only be authorized for the Hawk Mountain Super Rangers.