Why doesn't the whole US military wear the same combat uniform?

Question

We've done it before with BDUs, and DCUs. Would be efficient for both cost and production. ACU setup in Marine woodland, and Marine desert colors. Being in the military isn't about being a unique and cool branch of service by having your own uniform. It's about getting the job done by the most effective means. I know the different branches need their specific uniforms for specific duties, no problem. There shouldn't be "blue" ACUs running around dusty Iraq, or the mountains of Afghanistan. I'm in the Army, but I have to hand it to the Marines for their color choice in uniform. Like I said, cheaper for the government aka taxpayers money, and more effective *I think*.

Answer 1

What I think is that most of these people are not reading the question, so to them THE QUESTION IS ASKING ABOUT CAMMIES NOT ALL THE OTHER UNIFORMS. Yes the Marine Corps has 2 different sets of cammies they have green for the jungle and tan for the desert.

Now on the the question, I agree with you I don't completely understand why they changed the cammies in the first place all it did was make the ones who wear them lazy but that is just my thought.

Edit: On a side note to those who ask how to tell the difference if all cammies were the same is several ways
1) If the sleeves are up they are rolled differently
2) If the sleeves are down the Army has an American Flag on the sleeve
3) Air Force has their rank sewn onto the sleeve.
4) Here is the obvious one look at the name tapes (I mean if you are in the Marine Corps why would you have Army name tapes??) Use a little common sense people.

Answer 2

I'm in the Army and I agree that the Marine digital Cammie's look better. I think it is important to be able to identify different branches and/or units from a distance by their uniforms. Our ACU's won't give us any additional concealment in Iraq, but I don't think it is intended to.

As on occupation force, we want to show overwhelming and intimidating force. I think that these uniforms accomplish exactly that. How much more "Storm Trooper-esque" do they look on TV as compared to the DCU?

When I was over in Iraq, we (Army) were still wearing DCUs but the Marines had just switched over to what they called the "digi-cammie's". It really helped when you were out on the road to be able to tell which branch was where.

Those are just my thoughts as to the need for different uniforms for different branches.

The Army and Marines were really the only ones that did anything over there when I was there anyway, so the Navy and Air Force don't matter. (Just kidding. The Navy EOD guys where awesome guys. (Explosives Ordinance Disposal - to everyone else)). The chAir Force are like cops, they show up in their Jets 20 minutes after you needed them.

Answer 3

This has got to be the most ignorant question asked. The military has different uniforms due to the different jobs they do and tradition. Military is about tradition, that is why we do parades, ceremonies and pin medals on people. The branches also need a way to distinguish themselves apart. If everyone wore the same thing, how could you tell them apart? The air force wears BDU's as so does the army and the marines. The navy has BDU's for thier special forces and for the MA's. The uniforms that the military provides are not cheap, you are fooling yourself if you believe that. How can you take pride as a soldier if you are wearing a squid uniform? How can a jar head be proud if he is wearing fly boy overalls? Dress greens aka the pickle suit are just that a dress uniform. The colors, ribbons, cords, buttons and insignea have symbolic and traditional meanings. Try thinking and doing some reasearch before you ask questions like this.

Answer 4

lovephoto gave you the exact reason. They are allowed to do it differently for Branch Pride Army Navy Air Force and Marines - - - but - - and this is the kicker. Because the money the government spends must (by law) be spread around to different companies with minority and start up business given first choice. The US government subsidizes the entire economy through this law and that is what keeps a society of G-r-e-e-d running. That is also what causes a $68 toilet seat. This type of transaction is required as government contracts are carefully crafted to ensure maximum profit to the supplier with minimum work. I even know about a generals wife who at the start of Gulf War One was spending $78 for one bath towel and ordering hundreds. This was just one item in hundreds she was scamming. She had gold plated fixtures installed and many other things too. She and her husband quickly retired and ran under cover of the war when they were exposed to the Washington Post. Someone authorized $14,000 for a Digital Tape Player when they first came out as there were only two in the entire world and the Army wanted one no matter the cost. They bought two tapes for it at $7,000 each.

Answer 5

Inter service rivalry is as old as organized military units.
Having military units in different uniforms only promotes this rivalry, a rivalry that most generals consider a good one.

The economy of scale that makes it cheaper to put everyone in one uniform is large enough that each service can have its own uniform. Although I agree with you that it does seem silly. However, it can be nice to know who is a navy seal and who is a marine. It is really good on ships when navy and marines serve along side each other. They each have different chains of command and slightly different policies and practices.

In Desert Storm a lot of troops went to the desert still wearing Forest BDUs, which made them easier visual targets. That's because the no one planned for desert combat. The military is still in the mindset to fight the last war.

It is a lot cheaper to have navy sailors wear blue jeans because it can order them from commercial establishments and get the lowest price from a wider range of suppliers. They can't do that with BDUs since the BDUs have to be treated with a special chemical that reduces the person’s infrared signature.

A lot of the tradition of the service is tied up in their uniforms. All the services issue decorations, but except for the major ones the various services attach a different meaning to each ribbon. It sounds silly since an Army man can't read a Navy man's ribbons.

You have a good point, but cheaper isn't as big as a factor as you think. As long as there is a healthy service rivalry then differences in the services will be encouraged.

Answer 6

I totally agree with you about these damn ACU's. There's not a natural environment on this planet that is blue, so this uniform makes no sense. All my friends say they're green but I swear this **** is blue. As for why we all have different uniforms, I heard an interesting theory on that. One of the guys was saying that some CSM or General (whoever makes the uniform decisions) got bribed by the people who designed and make ACU's. I don't know how true that is. But you know what? For the most part, we don't even need cammouflage anymore.

Answer 7

Using the phrase "patch" to describe a Army device refers only to the unit "patch" worn on the left arm when you are in that unit and on the right arm after returning from a combat zone and recieving authorization and orders to wear it on the right. Ray descibed it in the correct Army terms. The times frames are contained in AR 670-1 on page 239. It is way too long to paste in here. The Combat Infantry Badge is only for Infantry. it is the one with a rifle. The Combat Action Badge is for non Infantry that are in engagements that meet the criteria. Critereia for these can be found in AR 600-8-22. They can be found in PDF form downloaded and saved for referecnce. In short you have to be in engaged with the enemy and perform as expected. Rounds must be fired. YOU CANNOT wear any badge or ribbon without authorization. Knowing that you have met the criteria is not authorization. Wearing a badge, ribbon,medal or any other device not authorized and in your 201 is a Court Martial offense. SSG US Army 73-82

Answer 8

Because different combat clothing is required for different combat areas. Would you want a fighter to wear desert cammies in the jungle or vice versa? Or blue coveralls in the desert? Even the US Marines (SALUTE!) wear different color uniforms for different combat situations.

Answer 9

whats determining that is extra program later in service where its not the same pattern its what will get you killed. proficcient coverage and a based attack formation from basic an already set standard to concentrate on and game plan to fit the need for invisibility and stronghold on oppositional transferring technique to save upstand and manuever in the coverage of patterned and unpatterned warfare to even insemblize which unit for injury and cover identification purpose and immediate troop respondance. and if its yur thought in why are you not in war because of some curtain belief of why cant we all wear the same cammo go back to psychology class study and study for pattern formation and army=/green berey opposite concile to trejuctary combat civilian formation beliefs of the 1970s and historical current of cia and special forces offiliated belief on occondering infantry.

Answer 10

Just to set the record straight from a previous comment - The US miltiary's issue uniforms are not made in China.