[JGarcia]

Ah Starch! I remember picking up my BDU's over in Germany from the cleaners on the economy, putting them on monday morning - sleeves and pant legs literally 'peeling' apart as legs and arms went inside. What a dog and pony show we were back then! Field BDU's vs. Garrison BDU's! ~ good times...

I really think it's a shame that the Army seems to be implementing Crye's design one little bit at a time, rather than embracing Crye's design and camo patterns right from the git go. This is right off of Crye's drawing board, minus the zipper. I hope they'll copy Crye's boonie cap design too. I do like this combat shirt, and I'd be happy to have it. I suppose it won't be long until the Army has the combat trouser (from Crye) as well.

I have got four gripes with the ACU, the camo pattern, crotch of the trousers blowing out, the shirt I think is too short (if you tuck it in when wearing IBA for a fight, it will often come untucked - I know it's not authorized), the rule forbidding sew on qual badges. I don't mind the velcro, I wonder if zippers might be better?

As far as not having name tapes or tags, you can always address an unknown person as "Soldier," or "Soldiers" whatever the case may be. If they outrank you and want to make sure that you are aware of that, they'll tell you so. You can't go wrong calling someone "Soldier." But as NDD said, It's a COMBAT SHIRT! Of course the Army and its culture is what it is, and weird things will happen. Semper Gumbi.