WASHINGTON — The Army is ripping space-age Velcro from its uniforms and replacing it with the humble button, which turns out to be tailor-made for the rigors of Afghanistan.
Hook-and-pile tape — the generic term for Velcro— strains to keep jam-packed cargo pants pockets closed. And when the Taliban attacks, the last thing soldiers need to worry about is spilling their gear.
Soldiers told superiors that Velcro didn't suit their needs, and the Army began testing alternatives last year, said Debi Dawson, an Army spokeswoman. In August, the Army will begin issuing new pants to soldiers heading to Afghanistan.
"When concerns surfaced in surveys that the hook-and-pile tape was not holding under the weight of full pocket loads, the Army evaluated several solutions," Dawson said. Velcro has been part of the latest Army combat uniform since it was introduced in 2004.
Dirt and rocks also clog the pile portion of the fastener. That requires soldiers to clean it regularly. An Army website offersthis helpful hint: a soldier's small weapons cleaning brush has been "working very well" in removing dirt and sand.
"This is the latest proof that dust and debris are the biggest enemy for the U.S. military," said Loren Thompson, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute and a consultant to defense contractors. "Taliban attacks come and go, but dust is constant in Afghanistan. Dust will impede the function of anything."
Sgt. Kenny Hatten cut to the heart of the matter in this posting on an Army website, urging the military to go back to the future:
"Get rid of the pocket flap Velcro and give us back our buttons," Hatten wrote. "Buttons are silent, easy to replace in the field, work just fine in the mud, do not clog up with dirt and do not fray and disintegrate with repeated laundering."
Somebody, apparently, was listening. It took them how long?
Snaps and buttons were identified as possible fixes for failing Velcro. The Army surveyed 2,700 soldiers who tested prototypes, and 60% said they preferred buttons and 29% liked snaps. Just 11% wanted to keep Velcro, according to the Army. In the end, the Army decided to substitute three buttons for Velcro on the cargo pockets of its pants.
It's cheaper, too. The Army will save 96 cents per uniform when it swaps buttons for Velcro, Dawson said.
The new-and-improved uniforms will still have plenty of Velcro, the sticky fabric popularized during spaceflights. (Astronauts used it to keep pens and other items from floating in the weightless environment.) Velcro remains on the cuffs of sleeves. It's also used for nameplates and patches.
Hatten's ideal uniform might save the Army a few more pennies.
"I don't mind the insignia Velcro on the sleeve pockets, but why would I need Velcro for my name tape and U.S. Army tapes?" he asked. "Am I going to change my name and join a different army? Why not let us sew these items on the uniform, along with the patrol cap? That's cheaper, more durable and reduces the possibility of having your uniform items stolen or tampered with."
The Army, Dawson said, hears soldiers like Hatten. It's aware of continuing complaints about Velcro and will take them into account when redesigning uniforms in the future.
LL
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Only librarians like to search, everyone else likes to find. Roy Tenant
And in the more things change caeogry...this is exactly why we preferred buttons on our field uniforms vice zippers, velcro, etc. - they worked; they were cheap; they were easily repaired at the user level; they stood up to moisture, sun, cold, heat, mud, sand, etc.; and they didn't make that 'Ziiiiipppp' or 'Riiiiiipppp' sound which can be heard a long ways off by anyone looking to avoid or find you.
And so it goes...
Richard's $.02
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And in the more things change caeogry...this is exactly why
Now if they can make them exactly like jungles -- collars (with rank and branch), buttons, slanted bellow shirt pockets, low shirt pockets, waist tightener pulls, pockets inside the pants cargo pocket, breathable, buttons, we'll have it right.
They can keep the calf pockets -- I like those for a mag and my GPS.
How long ago was 1968?
Now if they can make them exactly like jungles -- collars (with rank and branch), buttons, slanted bellow shirt pockets, low shirt pockets, waist tightener pulls, pockets inside the pants cargo pocket, breathable, buttons, we'll have it right.
They can keep the calf pockets -- I like those for a mag and my GPS.
How long ago was 1968?
Sometimes, to this FOG, 1968 seems like yesterday; other times it feels like a million years ago!
__________________ "I took a different route from most and came into Special Forces..." - Col. Nick Rowe
Now if they can make them exactly like jungles -- collars (with rank and branch), buttons, slanted bellow shirt pockets, low shirt pockets, waist tightener pulls, pockets inside the pants cargo pocket, breathable, buttons, we'll have it right.
They can keep the calf pockets -- I like those for a mag and my GPS.
How long ago was 1968?
I would love to have some good OG 107's. Authentic, not cheap knock-off crap.
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I would love to have some good OG 107's. Authentic, not cheap knock-off crap.
I too liked the OG-107s. BDUs were way too hot in the summertime and whenever you got wet they took forever to dry. I always thought that wearing the OG-107s with the old style jungle boots like the guys in Viet Nam did was kind of nostalgic.
I miss BDU'S they are panty dropping ...just saying I have a lot of good memories about BDU'S sigh
I'm old, though not as old as some of the FOG's here. I was issued OG 107's and stayed in long enough to get issued a few of the original BDU's.
Don't like the look of the ACU's when they came out and have heard nothing but complaints about them. Always thought the use of "hook and loop tape" a bit ridiculous on them.
LL
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Last edited by LibraryLady; 06-15-2010 at 17:14.
Reason: clarity on "old" comment.
Other than the design, construction, material, and camo pattern, they are not that bad.
TR
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I have met cadets who were jubilant with the switch and liked the ACU very much. Likewise with many non-field personnel.
I'm not looking forward to another switch, which is equal to more $$$ out of the gas and ammo budget
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Reaper
Other than the design, construction, material, and camo pattern, they are not that bad.
IIRC, TR and TS do not use pink font....so
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Der, der Geld verliert, verliert einiges;
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Issued 5 pair of OG107's during RIP, loved them! Down side was they looked solid black with NVGs. Cadre wore old/not so old Jungles, half the RIP cadre were graduates of the Panama Jungle course, taught by 7th Group and some Ft. Benning dudes.
Issued 5 pair of OG107's during RIP, loved them! Down side was they looked solid black with NVGs. Cadre wore old/not so old Jungles, half the RIP cadre were graduates of the Panama Jungle course, taught by 7th Group and some Ft. Benning dudes.
Miss those days, (sigh)...
Took the words right out of my mouth. As comfortable as the OG-107s were, they sucked when seen with NVGs , turned damn near white when they got older/faded and then would disintegrate but everyone seemed to like them.
I wonder how much they paid for somebody to design and develop the prototype button used in testing. Somewhere around the house I have a jar full of old buttons from jungles and fatigues.
I have a lot of good memories about BDU'S sigh
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