CaptainBrian -> (4/7/2001 8:51:00 AM)
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quote:
Originally posted by USMCGrunt:
Guess the Marines decided they'd had enough of taking hand-me-downs and wanted an actual decent combat uniform for once Delta. I've seen pictures of the proposed new cammies, and they're certainly not a fashion statement. The big selling point of them is the design of the uniform itself. (pockets, removable sleeves, reinforced joint areas etc.) The cammies I was issued (89-94) were crap. Spend anytime in the field with them, and they were tattered.
Now, as to your comment about cost to the tax payer. The Marine Corps only gives a clothing allowance once a year. In my time it was only $158. That wasn't near enough to replace cammies, much less the socks, skivvies, t-shirts, and other uniforms that needed replacing yearly. The rest of it came out of our own pockets. So I don't see how the taxpayer's footing much of the bill on this one. Not to mention that Marines have the lowest standard of living of any service. Hmmmm.... I guess it would just be too much to ask to let them a decent, durable, utility uniform.
The way I understand it is there will be a phase in period...i.e. NLT XXXX date you have to have them, much like the old poplin cammies were phased out in the mid 80's.
Although the current utility uniform is not cheap ($45 a set), the new one is supposed to cost the same. As with everything else new, we'll see what really happens.
Recruits are supposed to start receiving it this fall. By the time the uniform is mandatory, the majority of Marines having to pay out of pocket are ones in the career force. Relatively few one term Marines will take it in the ass on this one (hopefully).
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