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Home Front: WoT
A New Uniform That Says "Air Force"
2005-06-13
June 13, 2005: The U.S. Air Force received over 150,000 feedback responses to its proposed new work uniform. The troops didn't like the flashy blue and green tiger strop motif of the test uniform.
It screamed "Vietnam", and not in a good way.
So the air force will do a field test of a more sedate tan, blue and gray camouflage pattern. The air force wants a camouflage pattern that will make air force personnel look like warriors, or something like that.
Disclosure notice, I retired as a MSgt after 24 years in the AF. I expect nothing less than a (cough) McPeak(cough) disaster.
A secondary benefit is to make people, wearing the air force camouflage work uniform, harder to hit targets, in the off chance that hostile gunmen get on to an air force base. This has rarely happened in the last half century, but you never know, and it doesn't hurt to be prepared. The new camouflage uniform will be introduced in 2007, and take four or five years to completely replace the current uniforms, which look something like a soldier or marine might wear. The new uniform will unmistakably say, "Air Force."
We're getting leisure suits?
Posted by:Steve

#16  SC - No joy on the link.
Posted by: .com   2005-06-13 23:56  

#15  Air Force uniform essential.
Posted by: SC88   2005-06-13 23:40  

#14  A secondary benefit is to make people, wearing the air force camouflage work uniform, harder to hit targets, in the off chance that hostile gunmen get on to an air force base.

Then make 'em entirely gray. When people wearing the new uniforms stand in front of the rows of airplanes on the tarmac, no one will be able to see them!
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2005-06-13 16:55  

#13  So the air force will do a field test of a more sedate tan, blue and gray camouflage pattern.

What color is the sky on their planet? Shouldn't it be that color?

When was the last time an airbase was overrun? What would you camoflage yourself as on the flight line? Asphalt?

That was going to be my suggestion.
Posted by: Angie Schultz   2005-06-13 15:44  

#12  Nice pic. I think I know what that uniform says...
Posted by: tu3031   2005-06-13 15:15  

#11  This design has a lot to say, but I don't think "Air Force" in on the list. Well, it is blue. Terpbsboy explains it rather well, IMO. I'm thinking she's prolly one of the fabled MILF's we hear so much about.

NSFW
Posted by: .com   2005-06-13 14:18  

#10  I dunno. When was the last time an airbase was overrun? What would you camoflage yourself as on the flight line? Asphalt?
Posted by: Fred   2005-06-13 13:47  

#9  Old Spook, dead on. And if they can't bring back the ODs then go to Wally World or Sears and order about 10 million sets of work clothes. For the people serving over seas by all means put them in camo. It somewhat makes sense there.
Posted by: Cheaderhead   2005-06-13 12:40  

#8  Anyone here deal logistics?
How many variations and how many sizes are going to be needed to sustain the deployed troops of all the services when each has their own again? How many storage areas and load lists are going to be filled with 3 or 4 'unique' uniforms to satisfy egos?
Now this is what the term 'militaristic' was about. If one uniform can perform 90% of the legit function of what is needed to do the job, that satisfies military need. The remainer, to get that unique look, is pure militarism, that is to assume the form of military but not substansively contribute to actual function. Its the old story of why the Army ranks resisted rough brown boots, because the First Sergeants couldn't get the troops to polish them.
Posted by: Ebbereck Uneregum5631   2005-06-13 12:14  

#7  Propeller hats. The brass are still cogitating on the appropriate camouflage pattern, though I am partial to the flames model.
Posted by: ed   2005-06-13 11:20  

#6  I think half the uniform types the ANavy and AF are trying out look, well...

Canadian.

And McPeak was an idiot when it came to command of the USAF.

As for the USAF, the main unifor will still be flight suits, and when in the filed, the PJs and FO's will still wear whatever the Army is wearing.

So these uniforms are just for the REMFs. My solution? May as well just put them back in the old OD fatigues with an authorized squadron/section ballcap. They looked good with a bit of pressing & starch, and were entirely adequate for garrison duties. Plus they were inexpensive, so messing a set up was no big deal. Go back to the "Gomer Pyle"s.
Posted by: OldSpook   2005-06-13 11:08  

#5  Hmmm. Link doesn't seem to be working. Here it is manually.

http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=18217
Posted by: Dreadnought   2005-06-13 10:46  

#4  20 year AF Vet here too and if McPeak had his way we would be dressed like the Navy. I think that the AF should have it's own motif but I thought those blue cammies looked well GAY. I know that most of us are REMFs, but that doesn't mean our uniforms have to be metrosexual.
Posted by: Cyber Sarge   2005-06-13 10:46  

#3  Just to show that this sort of thinking isn't restricted to the USAF, have a gander at this:



Frankly, I'll quit the Navy before something that godawful! Fortunately, rumor has it that these uniforms have been just as poorly received in the Navy as the AF.
Posted by: Dreadnought   2005-06-13 10:44  

#2  Look, morons - the Army and Marines spent a lot of money coming up with the standard camo selection. Why re-invent the wheel?

Oh, that's right - this is the AIR FARCE...
Posted by: mojo   2005-06-13 10:27  

#1  The air force wants a camouflage pattern that will make air force personnel look like warriors, or something like that.

They're going to get those t-shirts with the muscles drawn on the front.
Posted by: BH   2005-06-13 10:21  

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