Army abandons the Beret.

[Tyrannis]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110613/pl_afp/usmilitaryuniform

[GNucks]

Geez, finally.

[gyrene81]

puhleeeez quote it right tyrannis...  the army did not "abandon" the beret. it has been made optional headwear with the combat uniform based on individual unit commanders.

[Tyrannis]

puhleeeez quote it right tyrannis...   the army did not "abandon" the beret. it has been made optional headwear with the combat uniform based on individual unit commanders.

my apologies.

"Army ditches failed experiment: The Beret"

thats what yahoo headlines has it labeled as on the main page.

[gyrene81]

here is the actual article that was posted to military dot com a few days ago...
http://www.army.mil/article/59441/ACU_changes_make_Velcro_optional__patrol_cap_default_headgear/

"The Soldiers didn't like the fact that the beret was hot -- it was not something that they wore the majority of the time," he said. "And they didn't like the fact it didn't shade the sun and it took two hands to put on. And they didn't like to carry two pieces of headgear to do different functions during the day."

The beret has been the standard headgear for the Army's ACU -- the camouflage uniform worn by most Soldiers. But most Soldiers still needed to switch to the patrol cap based on the work they were doing -- in a motor pool or in the field, for instance.

Those Soldiers would have to carry two pieces of headgear with them, one in each pocket, and switch depending on what they was doing. In the field, they put on the patrol cap. Back on base, they'd have to switch to the beret.

The new policy will make the patrol cap the standard. But the beret isn't going anywhere. It will remain as the standard for the Army service uniform, and as an optional uniform item with the ACU -- at the discretion of commanders.

"They could choose to say for an event, like change of command, that they want them to wear the beret," Chandler said.

The change in the beret policy will save the Army about $6.5 million over the lifecycle of the ACU. New Soldiers had been issued two berets, now they will be issued one.

Chandler pointed out that Soldiers didn't ask to eliminate the beret -- just to change when it's worn.

"Soldiers said we don't want to wear it with this uniform, but they do feel they look very professional wearing it with the Army service uniform," Chandler said.

[68Hawk]

All good changes.

Keep the Beret for Dress uniform but don't force it for everyday wear.

Get rid of the hook and loop stuff (at least optional).

Sew on badges (pins were stupid on a duty uniform to begin with).

Now lets just can the ACUs and our soldiers might have a chance at concealment!

[GNucks]

All good changes.

Keep the Beret for Dress uniform but don't force it for everyday wear.

Get rid of the hook and loop stuff (at least optional).

Sew on badges (pins were stupid on a duty uniform to begin with).

Now lets just can the ACUs and our soldiers might have a chance at concealment!

I don't mind the pins, I think they look better and you just don't put them on if you're going to the field. No reason to be wearing brag-tags out there anyway, imo.

I agree about the ACU's. Hell, everybody does. I think the Army's only issuing Multicam's in Afghanistan by now, but stateside I think we're stuck with ACU's for a long damn while.

I'm kinda' pissed right now because I just had to do a shakedown the other day and they highlighted all woodland gear on my list. I loved my Alice pack and now I'm stuck with this plastic Molle POS. I liked being in an Infantry Co. that was stuck in a Cav. Squadron that didn't like us but at least left us alone more than being in an Infantry Brigade that's stuck in Basic.

[Reschke]

Looks like Multicam might become the next BDU type uniform...at least that is what some buddies I have who have been over in Afghanistan have told me when they come back. It actually looks a lot better than anything else with the Mirage camo pattern coming in a distant second in my opinion.

[Maverick]

About frickin time. The beret is useless to wear. The patrol cap will at least shade the troopies eyes outside.

As far as the velcro patches are concerned, I kind of like them. The reason is that having to pay to have every darn patch sewn onto every shirt gets pricey especially when they keep changing the friggin uniform! I hated uniform changes because of that, besides having to pay for every darn uniform. 

[gyrene81]

   the army should learn from the corps...keep it simple...alpha, bravo, charlie, combat camo and blues (optional)...no idea how you army types keep up with the multitude of uniforms and dress standards.

[VonMessa]

I don't mind the pins, I think they look better and you just don't put them on if you're going to the field. No reason to be wearing brag-tags out there anyway, imo.

I agree about the ACU's. Hell, everybody does. I think the Army's only issuing Multicam's in Afghanistan by now, but stateside I think we're stuck with ACU's for a long damn while.

I'm kinda' pissed right now because I just had to do a shakedown the other day and they highlighted all woodland gear on my list. I loved my Alice pack and now I'm stuck with this plastic Molle POS. I liked being in an Infantry Co. that was stuck in a Cav. Squadron that didn't like us but at least left us alone more than being in an Infantry Brigade that's stuck in Basic.

Mine is field-ready for 72 hours (food/water), plus clothes for longer and lives in my Wrangler, 24/7 (unless I am wearing it, of course)

[Pigslilspaz]

Don't mean to pry, but how tall are you?

[gyrene81]

Don't mean to pry, but how tall are you?

he's about this tall...



           

[Westy]

Too "French"

Good riddance!

[VonMessa]

Don't mean to pry, but how tall are you?

5'-4" 200 lbs.

To be fair, the guy taking the pic was about 6'-5"