Comments on: Singing the ACU Blues

By: Hack

Hack — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:15:27 +0000

All I know is experience.… in the desert with little allume I could see everyone.
In Ranger school setting up for an ambush, I could see everyone. We may as well wear clown suites, and talk over bull horns. Sadley everything is about business and not about effectivness. Its not doing what works. Its business deals that create the fate of what we use as a uniform. Honestly the only effective replacement I have seen thus far is multicam. I don’t work in a lab, and I don’t test a thing. I just know ACU was a horrable idea, and rather beat our heads about it, lets do something to get what is needed.…A uniform that works and helps lower our visabilaty. If I can see everyone without any night devices, I have to assume my enemy can as well. Decisions shouldn’t be made by people who’s lives don’t depend on not being seen.

By: John Dodge

John Dodge — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:26:07 +0000

I hated that green/grey snot-shirt the Army replaced the khakis with. When they gave everybody a beret I had to earn, I about puked.
You want goog camo for the woods? Go Tiger Stripe.
You want good desert camo? Get khaki BDUs.

By: Darren O'Connor

Darren O'Connor — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:10:29 +0000

I for one am glad they didn't have this bloody awful ACU camo when I was in the army just a few years ago. I can't comment on all the other supposed deficiencies of the ACU, such as durability, or the problems with the zippers or the velcro, but the first time I saw that camo pattern I thought "you've GOT to be kidding me!" The idea of camouflage is, you know, to blend in. This doesn't. At all. It stands out. The ACUPAT probably functions acceptably enough in Iraq and Afghanistan, because even if the grays of the uniform don't match the browns and tans of the terrain, there is fairly little contrast between the ACUPAT and the terrain. But it's still far from the best camo for this terrain, and if we ever have to send troops to fight in tropical or woodland terrain again, this pattern is NOT going to work. And to all those "suck it up and drive on" comments... Grow up. Being a good soldier doesn't mean being a yes man who says nothing when given unacceptable, substandard equipment. Sure you've got to wear it until something better replaces it. But the only way it will ever get replaced is if the army gets enough negative feedback to let them know how poorly it's working, and how dissatisfied the troops are with it.

By: abushnell

abushnell — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:39:10 +0000

Here's all i have to say about the ACU. I haven't been wearing this uniform as long as others, and I don't really have a choice on what I say. But honestly though, I don't understand why the ACU was chosen. It just doesn't blend, that's all. I'm fine with the barrette, fine with velcro, yeah it gets dirty easy, just the one thing that I hate is the pattern. The most this pattern will do is blend with a pile of rocks. What is really needed is something that will blend with any environment. I don't mean to say that Multi-Cam is the best camo around, since there is no "one best camo", but it significantly out performs any other camo. It's been tested, proven it works, so why not use it?

By: Will

Will — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:11:24 +0000

The lifers, fobbits, and various other turd eaters that think the army can do no wrong should put down the crack pipe and face reality. The uniform isn't all that bad, I'm not too keen on all the velcro. The AUC, yeah a u c, army universal pattern, sucks, at it's best. Unless the uniform is grungy, and a little faded, a squad looks like a collection of mangled galvanized trash cans, that's in Iraq. In wooded areas, it's worse. It's not universal, and it wouldn't sell in the private sector, because it has to work to sell. It'd take some chairborne colonel, or general to sign on for this. I'm just glad that I don't have to be concerned with this POS uniform anymore. Oh yeah, and the silly ass beret should be shit canned as well, give it back to the frogs.

By: ARMY PRCESS

ARMY PRCESS — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:43:51 +0000

ive been in 3 wars and been in the army for 31 years. You soilders need to suck it up and drive on. Complain to someone who cares. You are in the military u have no option on what you wear or what you do. DRIVE ON

By: WOC_MIKE

WOC_MIKE — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:25:05 +0000

I have never seen so much whining in my life. Supposedly your Soldiers but you sound more like my toddler twins. The USMC MARPAT has positives but it also has negatives too. THERE IS NO PERFECT UNIFORM so suck it up and drive on.

By: Eric

Eric — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 17:33:57 +0000

I’ve heard the old saying ” suck it up and drive on ” thousands of times in my career. Usualy this phraze is used to motivate a soldier in periods lack of sleep, food and physical hardship. However when used in reference to equipment that burdens a soldier to the point he is no longer able to shoot, move or look around (D.A.P.‘s, throat guard), or uniforms dont camoflauge i hardly think this aplies. Being a yes man dosent make you tough, cool or a good leader. looking out for soldiers does.

By: Warrrant Officer 1 Q

Warrrant Officer 1 Q — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 19:45:39 +0000

My 2009 wish. Get rid of the ACUs and go to the MARPAT or Multicam. Ridiculous uniform and the same with the single dress blue uniform. OK, Big Army wants to save money and cut costs. But you are create morale issues and not living up to cover and concealment.

By: PV2 Radabaugh

PV2 Radabaugh — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 15:32:31 +0000

As a private set to deploy next year, I get kinda worried when all my NCO’s keep telling me that my uniform doesn’t blend in with anything. And as far as multicam’s concerned, from what I’ve seen it does blend in with a hell of a lot more than the ACU pattern. Maybe they could make a variant of the Multicam pattern, and use it on ACU’s?