Imagine. This is known as the BDU. The one from the movies and toys and decades past. So, along with it he was issued some gear in that pattern as well. Bags, helmet, rucksack, camel bac, etc. lots of gear.
During his first deployment, though, the uniform that was worn was the DCU (Desert combat uniform I think). This was the same style of camouflage pattern but rather than dark woodsy colors it is tan and lighter browns. Makes sense - Vietnam and Iraq are pretty different right? So he needed coordinating gear naturally. He then was issued everything in DCU.
In 2007 the army converted their general day to day uniform from the BDU to what is now known as ACU. (army combat uniform) The design and coloring changed and although I fought hard, declaring Crayola already named a crayon army green therefore the army must wear green, I lost the battle and Austin was forced to buy new uniforms. The ACU pattern is a pixelated pattern of light tans and lighter greens. Then, when he was deployed in 2008 his BDU and DCU gear was of no use and he was issued the helmet, Rucksack, bags, etc in ACU. After deployments end some things do get turned back in, but for the most part this now made #3 of everything in our little wallis family collection.
So, why wouldn't the army come out with a new uniform again? It only makes sense that Austin would need more gear to go to Afghanistan. They came out with Multicam which is currently only used in Afghanistan. You are not allowed to wear it in garrison (meaning at home). I didn't scoff too much at the fourth set of gear only because I like multicam better than ACU's so I didn't mind. This is multicam, and the main change from ACU to multicam is the color scheme.
I have watched our crawl space fill over the last few years and there are really only three things in it: holiday decorations, baby 'stuff' and army gear. The holiday decorations seem to be the only thing that doesn't multiple exponentially.
When you PCS (army speak for move) there is a long process of 'clearing' your old duty station. So Austin has to check out of the commissary, the library, finance, etc. One of the stops is CIF which stands for central issuing facility. This is the one I've most looked forward to - this is where you get to turn in all that gear that has been issued over the years.
Clearly I had bigger plans for Austin's CIF appointment than the army did.
I had been politely reminding him (read: nagging) to go through all of his gear and sort it out So that when his CIF appointment comes up he has it all ready to be turned in. Some things can't be turned in and I knew if he put it off until the night before he'd be frustrated at having to sift through it all.
So, after many reminders, last Friday he sent me pictures of the work he had done. Here is the collection of gear that can not be turned in and, in turn, will occupy our limited storage space:
There are 3 foot lockers, 3 big green bag things, and two rucksacks - all stuff full of BDU, ACU, DCU, and multicam 'stuff' (ignore the weight bag and front of Williams crib - those are just coming because they have to. Unless someone wants to buy a weight bag...)
So, my friends, drum roll please. This is the collection of gear that the army will allow him to leave in Colorado.
It's a really good thing they allow you to turn in gear because I just don't know where we would put that.
Oh army, I love you despite your many flaws.
- manda
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