Really? ABU's?

[Elioron]

Just so you know the reason for the Congress getting envolved has to do with the "perceived" problem of too many camouflage patterns in theater.

Yes.  The current draft does limit any new camouflage uniforms of any kind, but it is unclear if it will include changing uniforms to a non-camouflage pattern while at home.  Nor is it clear if the USCG will get caught up in it, whether by intent or by wording that lumps them in.

There is still a lot to be ironed out before it's all said and done.  It will be interesting to see what comes out.

[PHall]

but if all the uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Public Health Service and NOAA Corps) are forced by Congress to adopt one single Field/Utility camouflage uniform, it ceases to be just an "Air Force" uniform and becomes a "United States Armed Forces" uniform

Funny, they didn't call it the "United States Armed Forces" uniform when all of the services were wearing BDU's.

[Eclipse]

Just so you know the reason for the Congress getting envolved has to do with the "perceived" problem of too many camouflage patterns in theater.

Yes.  The current draft does limit any new camouflage uniforms of any kind, but it is unclear if it will include changing uniforms to a non-camouflage pattern while at home.  Nor is it clear if the USCG will get caught up in it, whether by intent or by wording that lumps them in.

Just as camo is useless for CAP SAR, you could certainly ask what use a field uniform is to service members sitting in an office.  There are much better alternatives for
general office wear and less expensive alternatives for hard / dirty duties like aircraft repair, etc.  An infantryman might spend most of his life in the field or field training,
but most Airmen don't.  That also opens the kettle of fish about UAV pilots being in flight suits, etc.

There is still a lot to be ironed out before it's all said and done.  It will be interesting to see what comes out.

You're not supposed to iron field uniforms.

[Elioron]

Just as camo is useless for CAP SAR, you could certainly ask what use a field uniform is to service members sitting in an office.  There are much better alternatives for
general office wear and less expensive alternatives for hard / dirty duties like aircraft repair, etc.  An infantryman might spend most of his life in the field or field training,
but most Airmen don't.  That also opens the kettle of fish about UAV pilots being in flight suits, etc.

Now you're just making too much sense.

You're not supposed to iron field uniforms.

But how are we supposed to cut paper with the creases in our BDUs if they aren't starched and ironed into oblivion?! 

[Panache]

The disadvantage is that it is not and has never been a uniform of the USAF.  It would be a shame to lose that connection which has been a tradition for over 70 years.

Well, a connection for about half the CAP membership, anyway.

[NIN]

but if all the uniformed Services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Public Health Service and NOAA Corps) are forced by Congress to adopt one single Field/Utility camouflage uniform, it ceases to be just an "Air Force" uniform and becomes a "United States Armed Forces" uniform

Funny, they didn't call it the "United States Armed Forces" uniform when all of the services were wearing BDU's.

Probably because it "just happened."  There was no real effort to "Get all the services into one uniform."

Then, suddenly, everybody was wearing something else.

[abdsp51]

I would personally like to see a current, and reliable source about a unified uniform outside of the Times, Military.com, kitup etc.  Everything I have pulled up has been old information.

[Eclipse]

I would personally like to see a current, and reliable source about a unified uniform outside of the Times, Military.com, kitup etc.  Everything I have pulled up has been old information.

Most of the stories are just syndication of the same news, however the GAO >did< issue their report on the waste regarding the multiple patterns,
and the House Armed Services Committee directed a change by 2018, so it's definitely in the diaspora.

[SarDragon]

Diaspora?

What do you mean here?

Do you really know what the word means without looking it up?

[Eclipse]

Diaspora?

What do you mean here?

Do you really know what the word means without looking it up?

Yes, I do, at least in it's more modern use it refers to the social coherence of a group or community, or the general "background noise" of an organization, etc.
It can also refer to distributed understanding or information not owned by anyone in particular.

I'll grant that is a more modern use of the word, and it's traditional definition doesn't fit here.

[SarDragon]

Sorry, I couldn't find a "modern" definition.

Dictionary.com sez:

any group migration or flight from a country or region. Synonyms: dispersion, dissemination, migration, displacement, scattering.

[Luis R. Ramos]

People also use diaspora to mean records or writings about a group. Such as poems, books, novels. This use it is more or less like what Eclipse states.

Flyer

[ProdigalJim]

People also use apostrophe-S to make plurals, confuse impact and effect, and turn every available unwitting noun that walks by into a verb...

Some new forms of usage invigorate the language, while others muddy it or ignore other perfectly good and serviceable words.

I'm not sure how I feel about this new "diaspora" coinage; it seems to have emerged from the world of IT, whose other major linguistic contribution to date seems to be the horrid "solution" applied to darn near everything. 

[Eclipse]

I'm not sure how I feel about this new "diaspora" coinage; it seems to have emerged from the world of IT, whose other major linguistic contribution to date seems to be the horrid "solution" applied to darn near everything billable. 

Fixed that fer 'ya!

[ProdigalJim]

^^^^

One of the few times I wish we had a "Like" button...

[NIN]

I'm not sure how I feel about this new "diaspora" coinage; it seems to have emerged from the world of IT, whose other major linguistic contribution to date seems to be the horrid "solution" applied to darn near everything. 

Hey man, that "solution" is my bread & butter

[Panache]

On a more "to the point" off topic point, this week our cadet staff petitioned, and received approval to go from wearing safety vests to wearing PT belts when working outside in the parking lot. I would have pushed for a full repeal, but I suppose for the purposes of drill/inspection/other outside this will have to do.

Sometimes you can't make this stuff up.

A Superheroic Caped Crusade to Keep Troops Safe in Afghanistan

Bagram Batman also enforces the most important rule of all: Don't forget your reflective belt, lest you be hit by the hulking Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles that roar in darkness through the base's main drag.

[Blackhawk]

Once more, into the breach:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20131212/NEWS/312120029?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[Shuman 14]

Once more, into the breach:
http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20131212/NEWS/312120029?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Well it does make sense, if troops, regardless of Service, are "outside the wire" they should be in one combat uniform... if nothing else except for Mark-1 Eyeball identification by perimeter security.

That being said, it doesn't make a lot of sense for a Navy or Coast Guard member to wear a floral camouflage uniform when working on the deck of a ship. So I can see a Service specific "working" uniform continuing to be used in Garrison or on non-forward deployed vessels.

My opinion here as to what this means to CAP... as soon as this Multi-Service Combat Uniform is approved... CAP will be authorized ABUs as the USAF dumps off stocks of surplus uniforms.

[Panache]

(pours gasoline)

My opinion here as to what this means to CAP... as soon as this Multi-Service Combat Uniform is approved... CAP will be authorized ABUs as the USAF dumps off stocks of surplus uniforms.

Ooooh!  This means CAP will also be allowed to wear MARPAT's soon, right?  Maybe when the new 39-1 is released?

(tosses lit match, walks away)