Military Camo

I have watched the military forces of our nation transition their battle uniform designs over the past 15 years and I have a few opinions (not that anyone cares)...

Everyone in the Army, Marines, Air Force, and some Navy used to wear either this (in the woods):

or this (in the desert/ 6 color - Desert Storm era):

desert (3 color - late 90s)

In the early 2000s the Marines were the first to branch out and adopt new digital cammies.  They kept the 2 styles in play and they started sporting these:

That was a good call.  The new pattern, while ugly in garrison, is very effective in the field.  Its randomness confuses the enemies eyes - kinda like those weird pictures that you put up to your eye and then pull away slowly to see an image.

Shortly thereafter the Army came along and adopted a similar concept.  The torpedoed the dual color scheme approach in favor of a neutral green, gray color.  Seen here:

Again - good idea.  Too much velcro for me, but overall - nicely done.

So now the Air Force wants to get on the band wagon and they decode to go with a throwback to the Vietnam days - yes, Tigerstripe camo.  Its abit hokey to me, but hey, whatever.

Check it out:

Now the Navy, who used to wear either a working blues (dungarees) or a coverall uniform on ship, like this:

Now the Navy has begun wearing this:

Holy Smack!

These new Navy uniforms are so flipping sore to my eyes that I am gonna need some of my grandmas stash to clear up the newly formed glaucoma....

Essentially, the Navy tried to copy the Marines digital pattern.  Except, why do they need to be camouflaged?  Last I checked the Navy didn't go out on the front lines - typically.  And those few naval persons who do (SEALS for example) are probably not gonna be wearing this grey, white, blue, urban camo crap.

It also angers me because this isn't the first Naval theft of US Marine uniforms.  The Navy has recently done it again.  They changed their tradition of 2 service uniforms for those members E-1 to E-6, a summer whites and winter blacks (white seen here)

Now they have one year round service uniform - here

Why does that make me mad you ask?  I mean it is good to consolidate into a year round uniform I think.  However, take a look at the longstanding Marine Service uniform...

Notice anything unusual?  I don't mean how the Marine looks ready to kill and the Navy guy looks ready to sell you a car...

I mean, what's the difference in the two?  The Navy stole our Marine Service uniform and changed the pants color.   Thats BS.  It makes me mad.  Get your own damn uniform.

Lastly, check out the proposed revision of the Air Force dress uniform...

Old one:

The new one:

I guess if you get tired of ripping off the Marines - try ripping off the British Air Force.

Oh wait, who says you ever get tired of ripping off the Marines.  This Air Force idea barely fell short a few years back.  Thank God they didn't go with this one...

Who knows what the next 20 years will bring...

Fondly remembering myself in this style...

I head off to dream of digital camouflage...