Boot's for Utilities

[RogueLeader]

What type of boot would you like to see CAP wear with ABU's?  This boot would also apply to BBDU's.  I would like to the AF Greens.

[jimmydeanno]

Why are we wearing an Army uniform?

[RogueLeader]

Sorry, live with Army brother at the moment. . .

[LtCol White]

when we go to the ABU, there won't be a choice on the boots. It will be the foliage green same as USAF

[ddelaney103]

BBDU's with tan or "AF mold green" boots are going to look very stupid.

[Hawk200]

when we go to the ABU, there won't be a choice on the boots. It will be the foliage green same as USAF

Agreed. We don't get the option of changing the Air Force uniform to our likes or dislikes when it comes to the general configuration. Nametapes and insignia are one thing, but you can't go changing the boots, or the T-shirts, belts, or even socks because we feel like it. This is not a realistic poll.

BBDU's with tan or "AF mold green" boots are going to look very stupid.

Tan might look OK eventually. "AF mold green" is funny. I like that one.

[O-Rex]

First black, the mouldy, with a nice long transition period: would ease wallet-strain for seniors and provide a fallout of surplus back boots for cadets for some time to come.

of course, black would still be worn with BBDU's.

Not to worry, CAP will still be auth'd BDU's well into the next decade

Northerners: keep in mind that there is no M-65 field jacket for the ABU.  The Gore-Tex APEC coat will sell for $175, and it'll be awhile before they start showing up in DRMO or e-bay.......

[RogueLeader]

There is no current reg for required footwear for BBDU's.

[O-Rex]

There is no current reg for required footwear for BBDU's.

39-1 has more holes than swiss cheese, but everyone knows that your purse and your shoes must match 

[JayT]

First black, the mouldy, with a nice long transition period: would ease wallet-strain for seniors and provide a fallout of surplus back boots for cadets for some time to come.

of course, black would still be worn with BBDU's.

Not to worry, CAP will still be auth'd BDU's well into the next decade

Northerners: keep in mind that there is no M-65 field jacket for the ABU.  The Gore-Tex APEC coat will sell for $175, and it'll be awhile before they start showing up in DRMO or e-bay.......

Eh, we're gonna see the same thing with the ABUs that we see with every uniform CAP has.

'It's okay to wear a micky mourse jacket with your uniform.'

[MIKE]

What's with all the ABU polls/threads?   

[RogueLeader]

Trolling for ideas for a proposal to NHQ.

[JayT]

Last I check, Utilites are the single piece 'flight suit' style uniforms, and I wear low cut EMT style boots with them.

[O-Rex]

What's with all the ABU polls/threads?   

New meat: we beat the TPU's to death 

[Hawk200]

Last I check, Utilites are the single piece 'flight suit' style uniforms, and I wear low cut EMT style boots with them.

Utilities as a generic concept are anything you would do any labor in. The "CAP Blue Utility Uniform" is a single piece flightsuit-style uniform.

And we do have Battle Dress Utilities, in both blue and cammie.

And before someone tells me "It's a Battle Dress Uniform!", don't bother. The original pattern drawings for them were titled Battle Dress Utility. The military started calling them uniforms after they put name, branch tapes, rank, unit insignia, etc. A plain BDU is not a uniform.

[SARMedTech]

Last I check, Utilites are the single piece 'flight suit' style uniforms, and I wear low cut EMT style boots with them.

Utilities as a generic concept are anything you would do any labor in. The "CAP Blue Utility Uniform" is a single piece flightsuit-style uniform.

And we do have Battle Dress Utilities, in both blue and cammie.

And before someone tells me "It's a Battle Dress Uniform!", don't bother. The original pattern drawings for them were titled Battle Dress Utility. The military started calling them uniforms after they put name, branch tapes, rank, unit insignia, etc. A plain BDU is not a uniform.

And last time I checked, none of us shows up for any reason or operation in a battle dress utility...we show up in battle dress uniforms. It stops being a utility when  your mommy sews on your name tape, therefore the commonly used terminology is correct unless its still in the box when you wear it.

And for those of us who are using military jargon for the first time in CAP, and CAP is undoubtedly USAF "oriented", how about a list from head to toe, of the correct terminology for each piece of uniform gear. I mean if we are going to be around cadets and USAF personnel and they are our "parent" service, lets use their lingo. Im not giving up Bravo Zulu, however.  Though I think it would be interesting to have a list of similar expressions as used by the AF.

[Hawk200]

Not sure where to begin on a list of AF lingo.

A few to start,

BDU "top": Shirt. That's it, just a "shirt". It says "coat" inside but I never knew anyone that called it that. And many AF personnel will get riled if they hear you call it a "blouse".

BDU headgear: Usually, just "hat" or BDU cap. I've never heard it called a cover my entire time in the Air Force, or the Air Guard. And that totals almost twelve years.

Blousing devices: Just called "straps" or "bands". Don't call them "blousing rubbers", people will look at you funny. And I don't think my MTI (Military Training Instructor) from Air Force Basic would really appreciate them being called "cheaters". Especially since, in Basic, we were required to use them.

Flight cap: If you call it a "garrison cap", no one is going to know what you're talking about. There is another term that is rather vulgar, and shouldn't be used, especially around AF personnel.

That's all I can think of at the moment, maybe people should put up some lists of what they've heard things called, and some of the folks with Air Force background can answer them. There may be a few differences due to what eras people are from, so it could be a rather historical undertaking as well.

[RiverAux]

when we go to the ABU, there won't be a choice on the boots. It will be the foliage green same as USAF

Ah, but you're forgetting why we're still wearing the ultramarine name tapes and the AF isn't --- they changed but left CAP behind....it could happen again...

[Hawk200]

when we go to the ABU, there won't be a choice on the boots. It will be the foliage green same as USAF

Ah, but you're forgetting why we're still wearing the ultramarine name tapes and the AF isn't --- they changed but left CAP behind....it could happen again...

Not in that case. Nametapes and rank insignia are one thing, different boots will completely alter the uniform altogether. That wouldn't be leaving anything behind, it would fundamentally change the uniform itself.

It's the same principle as putting grey braid on the AF service dress when worn by CAP members. It's changing the basic uniform, and we do not have the authority to alter AF uniforms in that manner.

It will be either be the ABU in its entirety, or no ABU at all. Which would you rather see?

[RogueLeader]

ABU's.  I don't care for polishing boots. 

[LtCol White]

when we go to the ABU, there won't be a choice on the boots. It will be the foliage green same as USAF

Ah, but you're forgetting why we're still wearing the ultramarine name tapes and the AF isn't --- they changed but left CAP behind....it could happen again...

Tha basic uniform is the same with only the insignia being different. The ABU will be the same.

[Sgt. Savage]

Not that I'm discouraging open conversation about these issues but...

We wear what they tell us to wear. They don't give a rats ass about what we like or want. That's why we look so silly.

[Hawk200]

ABU's.  I don't care for polishing boots. 

I can buy that. 

I don't either.

[Hawk200]

Not that I'm discouraging open conversation about these issues but...

We wear what they tell us to wear. They don't give a rats ass about what we like or want. That's why we look so silly.

The same could be said for some active military uniforms...

[RogueLeader]

Not that I'm discouraging open conversation about these issues but...

We wear what they tell us to wear. They don't give a rats ass about what we like or want. That's why we look so silly.

True, but if there is a chance that we could get the ABU's, in a manner that looks good; I am willing to try and put a proposal together and see if the AF likes it.  If they say "No" and I hope that they don't- that is that, end of story.

[RiverAux]

I think we can pretty much guarantee that someone up at NHQ is already working on this issue.  I don't think they need someone from CAPTalk to put a proposal together to allow for CAP wear of this uniform. 

Personally, I'm not all that concerned about what boots go with them, but if they don't need polishing, I'm for that.

[Hawk200]

I think we can pretty much guarantee that someone up at NHQ is already working on this issue.  I don't think they need someone from CAPTalk to put a proposal together to allow for CAP wear of this uniform. 

Personally, I'm not all that concerned about what boots go with them, but if they don't need polishing, I'm for that.

The proposal wouldn't be to "allow" CAP to wear it, but proposals on how we would like it to be worn. I've got a half a dozen ideas, but only a couple that are really viable. And a few options that the AF would definitely disapprove of. 

The members in the field  are the ones that aren't getting to make input. If you saw what the AF brass wanted to use as a utility, you'd understand the there was input from the Air Force at large. The Marines were all asked what they wanted, they designed their own utility.

For us, it's a matter of how we would like to wear it, not a matter of whether we want to. A proposal that's done professionally could be considered. A fact with some top brass is that they have loads of work, and if a package comes up that they don't have to work on, they're happy. They have time for other things.

[RiverAux]

I suppose I'm willing to give them a chance at NHQ on this one.  Its not like anything said on this topic so far brings up anything so obscure that it won't have been considered anyway. 

[Grumpy]

when we go to the ABU, there won't be a choice on the boots. It will be the foliage green same as USAF

_____________________________________________________________________________
According to my AF Times dated 30 July 07, they have now decided that the ABU Boots can be worn with all utility uniforms.  Beginning Oct of 08 they will be issued to recruits in basic training.  It'll be interesting to see what CAP does with it.

[RogueLeader]

Probably nothing.

[Hawk200]

when we go to the ABU, there won't be a choice on the boots. It will be the foliage green same as USAF

_____________________________________________________________________________
According to my AF Times dated 30 July 07, they have now decided that the ABU Boots can be worn with all utility uniforms.  Beginning Oct of 08 they will be issued to recruits in basic training.  It'll be interesting to see what CAP does with it.

Did it say anything about authorizing tan ones? Got three sets from the Army I could use if they're allowed.

[ddelaney103]

Right now you can wear tan or mold green boots with the ABU and you can wear black or mold green boots with the BDU.

It is unlikely they would authorize tan boots with the BDU because if your black boots go bad you would purchase/get issued mold green boots to replace them.  The army authorized tan because that was the future issue boot.

EDT: The "we" above refers to the AF. not CAP.

[RogueLeader]

So could we, right now, wear green boots?

[Hawk200]

So could we, right now, wear green boots?

I would doubt it. Strangely, it has to filter down from the CAP side of the house. Until National puts it out, we gotta wear what we got.

[RogueLeader]

I guessed as much But it doesn't hurt to ask, right? the worst they could do is say no.

[Hoser]

There is NO apostrophe in a plural!!!!!!!  Boot's what? Laces? Soles?

[ddelaney103]

There is NO apostrophe in a plural!!!!!!!  Boot's what? Laces? Soles?

Lighten up, Francis...

[baronet68]

It really wouldn't surprise me if CAP never gets to wear the new ABU.  Woodland BDUs will eventually dry up and CAP will just transition everyone to the Blue BDUs.  CAP will still have the AF Blues uniforms, just not AF combat uniforms.

I could just as easily be wrong.   

[SARMedTech]

Or we could just be told "here are some civilian suppliers that fill DOD as well as private contracts and they are an endless suppliers of mil-spec woodland BDUs...shop til you drop. Heres where I go when my local/up the street supplier temporarily runs out:

bdu.com

sorry...youll have to cut and paste that.

[Hawk200]

It really wouldn't surprise me if CAP never gets to wear the new ABU.  Woodland BDUs will eventually dry up and CAP will just transition everyone to the Blue BDUs.  CAP will still have the AF Blues uniforms, just not AF combat uniforms.

I could just as easily be wrong.   

The ABU has already been discussed for CAP wear. It's just not a priority for us right now, as the Air Force needs to be outfitted first.

The military uniforms draw a lot of cadets. Take it away, and we won't get cadets. Which would be a shame, considering the programs that a teenager gets to do in CAP that they couldn't get near as inexpensively somewhere else.