This is a slightly unhinged rant about BDU’s. For the person who has never spent time around the military BDU stands for: Battled Dress Uniform. One of the reasons I joined the Navy was that I would never have to wear one. ( Which is not entirely true-I had to wear them during Gulf War I and again during my sojurns to the Middle East from Japan). They are big-and unattractive. The Navy for the most part resisted them-until Task Force Uniform came along and created the abomination that is Navy Working Uniform.
The problem is, in a place where you have representatives from all four services-the people have started to look all alike. And it must be a night mare for someone trying to figure out who to salute and who not to. The Navy , Army and USAF people pretty much all look alike now-save for the fact that the Navy’s are blue. Only the Marines seem to have stumbled on something distinctive-and even that is not so great.
There are two things I do not understand. Why the Army and the other services have their people wear these things for office work. And why do they have to make every one look so dumpy? Especially the women.
I guess its a sign of my age. When I went to my first squadron, we had a lot of folks who were raised in the old school. If you were not on the flight schedule-you had better be in Khakis or in the Winter, Navy Blues. ( Johnny Cash for those who remember the nickname). Or even the ever popular aviation greens.
Now-people wear it every where. Even places where it just does not make any real sense. At least with the old uniforms-the Navy and Marines looked distinctive. Now they look like just a part of the herd.
And that’s just really sad. And thus, as a result, I feel really grateful to have my “uniform” -a business shirt, slacks, sometimes a suit coat and a tie. ( Cartoon ties still are used on Wednesdays for me). At least it feels right.
End of rant for today.
Cartoon ties for me every day. But then again, I am a useless teacher so we shouldn’t expect too much. However, the kids comment on them and want to know how many ties I have. Lost count at 50+. It’s my “FUN” uniform.
Bummer. Working from home today – tee and shorts…
1. I don’t get the Navy’s need for the Aquaflage. If you are deployed in a land situation, you want to blend in with the land….not the water. Back in the day, wearing BDU trousers up on the roof of the birdfarms made sense for the flight deck crews….tough clothing which took the brunt of non skid pretty well.
2. As an old Army soldeir, I was happy to go to the BDUs and gett out of those stupid looking Beetle Bailey OG 107 fatigues. Looked liek crap and were a lousy field uniform.
3. I agree the ACUs (replaced the BDUs about 6 years ago) don’t make sense in a higher HQ in CONUS or Hawaii…in the Bad Old Days it made sense in USAREUR….never really knew before Uncle Mikhail if the phone ringing was real….and you had to grab A & B bag and head out. But it is also a culture thing with us…being a Soldier is different than being a sailor or a Marine. And the BDUs/ACUs are a lot more comfortable than the Class B or Class A uniform.
Today as a DA civilian? Dress slacks and shoes with a project golf shirt.