Ummm Uniform Changes

[ODB]

After all the discussions on here about equipment carried in Afghanistan this little change left me a bit speechless.

Link

Taking on the Taliban in pink boxer shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops is not regarded as conventional military uniform.
Especially when the shorts declare 'I love New York'.
However when Zachary Boyd, 19, was woken up by a Taliban assault on his platoon he only had time to grab his weapon, helmet and body armour before springing into action.

I'm sure many others could come up with cheekier responses.

Thought about putting this under the "Social Club" so Mods move if you see fit.

[Tom Odom]

Thanks for the color version. Stars and Gripes only had black and white.

Some will undoubtedly find fault with the Non-regulation bvds in a war zone but I thought it captured the best in our troops. The young man was up with his weapon and his IBA and ACH on the line rather than holding back till he was dressed.

Get some!

Tom

[Entropy]

Agree totally Tom!

[Courtney Massengale]

I greatly agree with Tom and have nearly gotten into fist fights with some of my peers over this photo.

First, the only reason this photo came to be is because that Soldier was out doing his job. How do you think the other two would feel if he WASN'T there? What do you think his leaders would say if he decided to stay in his rack rather than go to his position because the enemy picked an inconvenient time to attack?

Second, if wearing pink boxers makes this guy feel a little more at home out in a remote hellhole in the mountains of Afghanistan, more power to him. I get disgusted with individuals who look down on the methods others use to cope (often while flaunting their own). Obviously the only way to cope with the stress of a deployment is what THEY do, not what someone else chooses to do. So long as its not unethical, illegal, immoral or unsafe, then there isn't a problem.

Third, take a close look at the picture. The Soldier next to him is wearing sneakers. The one on the far right might be as well (can't really tell from the dirt). None of them are wearing a uniform top. I highly doubt that they're wearing whatever the SOP says to wear. So if you feel that this "uniform violation" is the real crime, you need to hold all three Soldiers feet to the uniform standard fire. If he's a horrible monster endangering his entire platoon, then the other two are as well.

And just my own $0.02....

I'd rather have a company full of pink boxered fighters who know their role, know the battle drills, and will go out on the line instead of rolling over in their cot.

I'll take "mission first" over "mission right after I ask the enemy to hold on while I get some pants on" any day.

[Schmedlap]

I wish that I had the photos to prove it, but in 2005 I was in a similar situation. Not having time to don all mandated gear, I was clearing an alleyway and some houses outside of our patrol base in flip-flops, t-shirt, DCU pants rolled up to my knees, ACH, interceptor, RACK, weapon, and a bunch of grenades. Unfortunately, the only photo documentation was deleted because I was standing next to a severed arm and leg and we were careful to not let such photos get released.

Most of the company on that day was dressed in some mix-and-match variety of civilian, IPFU, and DCU items, to include one private wearing ONLY boxers, flip-flops, and interceptor (all of his other gear was buried under a pile of sandbags).

[Van]

I'm with Courtney and Tom. If his unit doesn't want him, he's welcome in mine.

[Umar Al-Mokhtār]

those who like to take issue with these occasional odd combat attire events typically have never ever been in combat themselves.

[Ken White]

totally transcends common sense. Clean and pretty don't usually like to fight, messes up their image -- and image will not keep you from getting killed; generally quite the opposite.

Great for all those kids in that picture; doing their thing. Pity some of the carpers likely are not doing nearly as much good.

[J Wolfsberger]

Specialist Boyd did exactly the right thing. Still, my sympathies to him. He's going to catch tons of crap from the other troops over this. I'd suggest likely nicknames, but I will not add fuel to that fire.