Your Uniform & You

Your Uniform & You
By Jamie Innes

August 8th, 2006



Call me fanatical. Call me a wannabe. Call me meticulous. I'm one of those people that critiques the look, function, weight and comfort of all my equipment. Is my battle uniform any different? No. In "2D camo", I went over the basics of woodland patterns, and what to bear in mind when picking your first BDU. In this article, I'll elaborate on the smallest nuances of how to get the most out of your uniform, how to wear it well. As a wise man once said...

"Some people wear camo and look like they belong. Others wear it, and it looks like nobody actually owns it".

So, I'll start from the bottom up. This encompasses both you, your uniform, and associated equipment can can effect the overall look and fuction of your equipment. The models for this article are the 1ST C.I.B. Group.



FEET

Black leather army boots are the basic staple of battle dress, next to the camouflage itself. Not only do they look good, they are sturdy, water resistant, last a long time, and give lots of ankle support incase of tripping. Canvas boots are an alternative, and lastly, hiking boots. Wear sneakers only if you have a strong preference for them, or if you have nothing else to wear. Sneakers simply don't offer the benefits that more rugged footwear offers. Underneath the boots, wear strong, absorbant socks that tend to stay 'up'. Nothing worse than socks that become soaked in sweat, and fall down inside your boot. This is also aided by how you use your ankle ties.



ANKLE TIES

These are the things at the bottom of your trouser legs on all battle dress uniforms. Almost all BDUS have them. The basic function of the ankle tie is to stop the trouser leg from snagging on things, such as branches and foliage. However sometimes there are circumstances where they are left open. Soldiers who repeatedly walk through water or streams leave them open, to prevent water retention. Some soldiers ties them up on the outside of the boot, this protects the laces and makes untying them easy.

However my favourite configuration, is tying them up, and tucking them inside your boots (NOTE: Used with black leather army boots). For paintball this is ideal. Stops the trouser legs snagging on foliage, and also minimises how wet the lower legs will get when walking through damp grass. It ALSO, perhaps most importantly, helps keep the socks 'up', inside the boots. Plus it looks kickass :)


KNEE PADS AND PADDING

Some BDUs now come with build in knee and elbow pad pouches. What you do is turn your uniform inside out, and see if there is a pouch. If there is, you can insert a thin layer(s) of foam rubber. Or, instead of that, tactical knee pads are a good choice too. Going down to the knees is extremely common for all paintballers, and without knee pads, your knees wear out faster, and develop permanent grass or dirt stains. However, bear in mind... if you opt for knee pads, it's ANOTHER item of equipment you have to account for and look after.


LEG CARGO POCKETS

Almost every BDU pant comes with cargo pockets. Mostly on the side (To allow a soldier to go prone), though some come on the front (theoretically allows more soldiers to be crammed into a helicopter). You're probably not going to use these all that much, however here's a few tips;-

• Battle swabs will fit fine, but if not a strong brand, can and will break while unprotected in a cargo pocket
• Lightweight items that won't move around, such as a bandana, or rag, should be carried in a leg cargo pocket.
• Heavier items such as gun oil, goggle cleaner or barrels plugs should not be put in the cargo pockets.

The reasoning behind this advice is as follows;- In order to easily acess what's in your leg cargo pocket, you will need to have 1 button undone all the time. This means the pocket tends to 'open up' when you crouch and move around. Do not carry things in your cargo pockets that are liable to fall out.


BELT AND WAIST STRAPS

Along the hip section of your pants you usually find waist straps, these tighten or loosen according to your fit. Overall, these things are okay for tightening if you're not moving around, but for paintball... when you're moving. You need a good belt. Your belt won't be seen most of the time, so looks aren't as important. (Because you should always leave the BDU top un-tucked).

• Pick a belt that actually fits through your belt loops! don't be caught out!
• Go for a belt that matches your camo. Olive drab is good all-round, or anything that matches your patterns such as US woodland or Digital Woodland
• Standard leather dress belts do the job too, though not generally as well suited as a proper soldier belt.

BDU TOP POCKETS

Most BDU tops come with 4 basic pockets. 1 on each breast, and either 1 on each upper arm, or 2 on the abdomen. This is all preference, but most people only use the breast pockets for carrying things. It's the quickets and most convenient way to carry things, as abdomen pockets are usually obstructed by a harness, and arm pockets are far too difficult to get into. (Unless they are velcro, which is rare).



NAMETAPES, UNIT NAMES, INSIGIA AND DECORATIONS

If you're going to play soldier, you might aswell play it properly. From the same places you can buy BDUS, you can often buy nametapes. They come in a variety of colours, the most common being black thread on an olive drab tape. The most common configuration (based on an amalgamation of military placement, adapted for paintball), is as follows;-

Nametape: Over left breast pocket
Unit name: Over right breast pocket
Unit insignia: Atop right shoulder
Additional insignia or decorative patches: Left shoulder, or either breast pocket

In the services (Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force etc), there are hard and fast rules as to what goes where. In paintball there are not. But adding nametapes and insignia can be the icing on the cake, for the bushballer who already has 'everything else'.


SLEEVES

There are 4 variations on how to wear your sleeves. They are as follows;-

• Rolled down, with cuffs buttoned tight. Most common option amongst paintballers.
• Rolled down, with cuffs buttoned loose. More common amongst special forces.
• Rolled up, with sleeves rolled inside (white side in). More common with US Army.
• Rolled up, with sleeves rolled outside (White side out). More common with USMC, and most paintballers.

Go with what you like best.  Rolling the sleeves up is a great way to get more ventilation on the hot summer days. Elbow pads can also be added, though this isn't very common, even amongst paintballers.



ARMY HAIRCUT & HEADGEAR

The standard 'JARHEAD' haircut, is a bowl cut. Cut the sides to a #1, and the top to a #3 or #4, with a slight progression from one to the other. If you cut your own hair, consider getting help, as it's difficult  even with practice, to properly do it yourself. Alternatively, go for the #1 skinhead cut. No mess, no fuss, cut it all off and never look back.

Your headgear should be a final statement of individuality and function. SOldiers are TOLD what to wear, when to wear it, and how to wear it. You as a bushballer have the choice. Assorted choices include things like...

• Bandana (Absorbs sweat, offers camouflage & head protection)
• Headband (Absorbs sweat)
• Baseball cap front (PMC style)
• Baseball cap back (Can be worn with mask)
• Cowboy hat (Can only worn off-field)
• Boonie (Can be worn with some masks, and off field)
• Beret (For people with a beret fetish, or lokming to complete a particular uniform)
• Helmet (For those seeking maximum quipment simulation, and/or maximum head protection. Only able to be worn with SOME masks)

FAMOUS LAST WORDS...

Take this article with a grain of salt. It's partially tongue in cheeck, as this article is basically an opinion column. However, if anything, remember to critique how your battle uniform serves you, and make adjustments as you see fit.