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Thread: Ummm Uniform Changes

  1. #1
    Council Member ODB's Avatar
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    Default Ummm Uniform Changes

    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.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by ODB; 05-17-2009 at 05:17 AM.
    ODB

    Exchange with an Iraqi soldier during FID:

    Why did you not clear your corner?

    Because we are on a base and it is secure.

  2. #2
    Council Member Tom Odom's Avatar
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    Default

    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

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    Agree totally Tom!

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    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.

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    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).

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

  7. #7
    Council Member Umar Al-Mokhtār's Avatar
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    Default In my experience I've found...

    those who like to take issue with these occasional odd combat attire events typically have never ever been in combat themselves.
    "What is best in life?" "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women."

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    Council Member Ken White's Avatar
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    Default Yep. Or they have a uniformity fetish that

    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.

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    Council Member J Wolfsberger's Avatar
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    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.
    John Wolfsberger, Jr.

    An unruffled person with some useful skills.

  10. #10
    Council Member Umar Al-Mokhtār's Avatar
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    Default Oh yeah...

    he will catch more than his fair share of it from his peers...as it should be.

    "Uniformity fetish" jeees Ken, I almost made an unexpected head call in my skivvy drawers reading that...

    They are often the same folks whose pictures are included with the definition of REMF.
    "What is best in life?" "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women."

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    The greatest thing about ACUs is that for a brief moment, they totaly turned the "uniform fetish" crowd's world upside down.

    I can't tell you the number of times some "squared away" Soldier got caught up in some serious misconduct and everyone was stunned because "oh his boots were always so shiny and his uniform was always squared away".

    As if the ability to polish boots and take your BDUs to the Koreans who use the most starch has anything to do with your compliance with Army Values.

  12. #12
    Council Member ODB's Avatar
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    Default What's that old saying.....

    Perception is reality. I always say that depends on the perspective and mine is usually from an alternate reality when I'm getting that saying shoveled down my throat.

    At least they can't pin this one on us SF uniform infractioneer types!

    I have to admit I like the way the thread has been headed. Positive reinforcement for doing the right thing, not additional ridicule. Wonder if he knows about the old SWJ? Might have to do some AKO searching and put a little birdie in his ear.

    Multiple priceless jokes come to mind.......
    ODB

    Exchange with an Iraqi soldier during FID:

    Why did you not clear your corner?

    Because we are on a base and it is secure.

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    Default What would they say ...

    if the kid slept without underwear ?

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    Council Member Culpeper's Avatar
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    I watched a little discussion about this on one of the cable news channels. "During WWII the press never depicted our soldiers like this". I was speechless. This guy is actually very well dressed and equipped compared to many photos I have seen from WWII. The best thing about this is I suspect the NYT was "perhaps" trying to humiliate or degregate the military in general by putting this on the front page. It sort of blew up in their faces if true. I mean the young man is from Texas and he's got I Love NY all over his rump.
    "But suppose everybody on our side felt that way?"
    "Then I'd certainly be a damned fool to feel any other way. Wouldn't I?"


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    Grunts will be grunts and I would expect to see some stubble on their jaws as well but I have to say, that guy in the middle has damn skinny ankles - he's been humping too big of a combat load.

  16. #16
    Council Member Tom Odom's Avatar
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    Default HOOAH Mr. Secretary

    Good call!

    Gates Hails Soldier Snapped in Pink Boxer Shorts

    Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday praised an Army soldier in eastern Afghanistan who drew media attention this month after rushing to defend his post from attack while wearing pink boxer shorts and flip-flops, Reuters reported.

    Gates said in prepared remarks that he wants to meet the soldier and shake his hand the next time he visits Afghanistan.

    "Any soldier who goes into battle against the Taliban in pink boxers and flip-flops has a special kind of courage," Gates said in a speech to be delivered in New York.

    "I can only wonder about the impact on the Taliban. Just imagine seeing that: a guy in pink boxers and flip-flops has you in his cross-hairs. What an incredible innovation in psychological warfare," he said.

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    The outrage would have been vicious and vile from the Public had this young man experienced any retribution of any kind for his rapid response to enemy aggression. I like to think a politician or two would have had their necks stretched somewhere in the nation had this occured.

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    I'm amazed that anyone would expect anything other than kudos for a Soldier who has his priorities straight. Get dressed or react to contact?

    It is baffling to me that this is anything more than a funny photo on the internet - that people in the NYT and the SECDEF have actually taken the time to comment on it. The only thing odd about this photo is that there aren't more photos like this from Iraq/Afghanistan. I can't count the number of times that I've seen Soldiers jump off their cot half dressed, don their protective gear, and head to the nearest fighting position.

    This is like taking a photo of a Soldier eating an MRE and expressing surprise at what he's doing.

  19. #19
    Council Member Stan's Avatar
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    Default wedgies

    And to think I had a rough time in high school

    "I was always telling him to pull up his pants," Sheree Boyd recalls. "I would give him a wedgie to make him do it. As a mom, you want your son to look nice. But he has always been one to run around in his boxers."

    A young soldier in pink boxers may never be cast in bronze. But at the age of 19, Zachary Boyd has already been in at least 200 firefights in Afghanistan.

    If he wants to — he can wear a thong.
    If you want to blend in, take the bus

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    He should ebay them skivvies. In the civilian world, set and rigid stereotypes abound regarding our military forces and this picture breaks them and that's its draw, putting a very human face on those assigned horrific tasks under extreme conditions.

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