It’s hard to tell who’s who and what’s what and what the heck is going on with U.S. military uniforms these days. I mean, who’d want to accidentally call a Marine a soldier? It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but if you’re trying to be respectful or appreciative, it’s better to be able to identify who you’re looking at or talking to.
Army Combat Uniform (ACU) (Photo from http://www.commons.wikimedia.org)
It’s the one with light green/gray digital camo, and velcro. From what I know it’s the least praised/ desired of U.S. military uniforms–at first they seem really bad ass and high speed, but they don’t blend into anything besides gravel, and they just suck and you get a lot of crotch rips.
Desert Combat Uniform (DCU)
Back in the early parts of OIF and OEF this is what our Marines and soldiers wore. The Navy still uses it–so if you see any American soldiers wearing it you’ll know they’re sailors. It was battle-tested, button equipped, the right color for the combat zone and I don’t know why the army ever got rid of it. Well actually, those high-speed looking ACUs must have been really tempting.
Marine Pattern (MARPAT) and Desert Marine Pattern
They are the tan and dark green digital uniforms. They are generally considered the best looking, most desired, and bad ass uniform. And of course the Marines wear it–they always look good.
Desert Marine Pattern (MARPAT)
It’s the Marine’s desert uniform–the woodland one, but tan.
Airman Battle Uniform (ABU)
Our Air Force wears this green digital one with a few tiger stripey looking things tossed in.
And word is our soldiers are testing different patters like these:
(Photo from http://soldiersystems.net/)
Oh no, I just opened a whole can of peas. I totally forgot about the dress uniforms and Berets. Well I’ll save that for another post.
Letters, care packages, and pins. 