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And that's the crux of the problem. Most non-rated people who suffer from uniform insecurity focus on one thing - flight suits. Let's not make it about bags, let's make it about wearing the appropriate uniform for your daily duties. I'll wear blues if I'm not going to fly/sim. MX wears ABUs or coveralls. Management and office workers wear blues. Problem solved. Wait, you don't like that? You want to wear your ABUs while you sit in an air conditioned office from 0730-1630? Copy, it's not about pragmatism or form fitting function. It's about your flightsuit envy. Grow the fvck up and worry about something important, like doing your job.

DD - first, please don't mistake my sarcasm for true anger. Second, never tone down sarcasm - it breeds weakness. I get it, I had a tone. That was on purpose. Should I have to wear blues when not on the schedule? Hell no. But I bring it up as an example of having some logic (not flight suit envy) dictate UOD. I have to wear a bag most days. Do office workers have to wear ABUs? Either apply some type of objective criteria across the board or shut up and color. Insecurity and hurt feelings are poor foundations upon which to build policy. Culture and leadership are the two main reasons I separated. Chalk this up to a sub- bullet under culture. I don't bitch about berets, badges/tabs, cords, weapons that I am not authorized to wear. I chose my path and live within the confines of that path. This is the military (not Boy Scouts) and we cannot/should not cater to insecurities. I get why senior leaders may mix up uniforms and there is a reason for it that logic does not apply to the masses. Want a beret? Finance isn't for you. Want a gun? Be a sky cop. I went through a longer schoolhouse than most other career fields go through. Want to wear a bag? Earn it. When I was at Vance, we had 1COs that had wings made. Didn't wear them obviously, but had them sitting on their desks. Full-up radiator badges. How does that look to the dude that washes out in phase 3? Out-processing and seeing some 1CO with the wings you couldn't earn on her desk. Or how about the grads? You work your balls off for a year to earn something and see that? Sure, that's a little dramatic. I get it. My point remains - if you want something then earn it. If you aren't willing to walk the walk, then why should we take away something from those that do, just to level the playing field? It's another example of the PC everyone gets a trophy mindset that is weakening our culture.

So, how bout' that Welsh guy......?

Ugh, who gives a shit? Show up in jeans and an ironic graphic T if you want. Just do your job well, get your shit done, take your paycheck every two weeks and move on with life.

For those of us in the space ops world, the memories of flightsuits are still fresh. Though I completely supported space folks switching to ABUs, I still miss what was the best "uniform" I've ever worn. First, the myriad patch options significantly boosted morale; the distinctive unit nametags and morale patches that straddled good order and discipline just make it a fun uniform. Second, the number of pockets, all in the best locations, is something the ABU will never come close to. Why yes, I do have a pocket just for my coin and chapstick. Third, white socks. Fourth, easy access. Fifth, Velcro straps are ideally suited for the consumption of large meals and large quantities of beverage. Sixth, the flight cap is a superior cover for wearing shades. The one down-side of the flightsuit is that the material was specially designed with one way flow properties that allow no heat to escape in the summer, and frigid air/wind to penetrate in the winter. Basically what I am saying is that people realize just how much better the flightsuit is than their uniform, and that can be tough. But at the end of the day, if you want to wear a flightsuit, do a job that wears flightsuits. If you want to grow a beard and wear Merrells, sign up for special forces. If your uniform is ABUs, STFU and wear your ABUs.

As someone who went from the AF to the Army, they both suck is many ways. Corporate culture is alive and well on both sides and it is often more important that killing bad guys.

ACSC in Korea at their version of Maxwell for in-res IDE. Not exactly what I expected when I got picked up for school, but it sure is...unique. Aside from being tough as hell to learn Korean, life in Monterey is pretty decent. This is an AETC pipeline base, and most airmen are fresh from tech school. Sometimes the leadership forgets that I am a full-grown man with 12 years of service under my belt. I have a low tolerance for mickey mouse BS.

Yep. That sounds about right...par for the course in the new and improved 'Merica. Enjoy the sunset, gents. The glory days are coming to an end.

The ability to feel like you're part of a group is a big deal. It doesn't matter if its a letter for varsity athletes, a lab coat for med students, or fighter dudes cutting off the pencil tab from their bag -there's been numerous studies in the psychology/organizational behavior areas that show that making members feel like they are part of a group improves performance. The Army ACUs may not be the best uniform ever, but the idea of having the division patch from your current division and the one you went on your first deployment with is a good one.

No radar, no pod, no hts, no datalink, no wingmen, no enemies, no threats. Moves in slow motion. Not cosmic. You can handle an extra lever for the prop and mixture.

Yeah, but why look at all the others when you can just get the one you know you really want!

Dude, poo poo it all you want. It's human nature. Know your audience, dress appropriately.