| Irish Marine | 27 Apr 2008 7:29 a.m. PST |
I was looking through a Leatherneck magazine the other day and I noticed that some Marines on patrol were wearing what looked like flight suits but a tan color. I haven't been able to contact any of my friends from active duty to ask about this so does anyone know the reason, I know I'm a Gunny in the reserves I should probably have the answer but I don't. |
| Cerberus0311 | 27 Apr 2008 7:41 a.m. PST |
Gunny any chance they would be swingers from the wing using their feet for a change? |
| CPT Jake | 27 Apr 2008 7:50 a.m. PST |
Very likely it is the new nomex type stuff they are getting to help with the burn/flash inhuries form IEDs. My wife got a lot of that crap for some of the units in the northern region. |
| Irish Marine | 27 Apr 2008 8:55 a.m. PST |
Yeah I bet thats what it is the unit I read about was from the 5th Marines and I know for fact they aren't from the wing. Dirt Dog Sparky the only base that I know of that the Marines fly out would be Al Asad and it's out in the middle of no where, the wingers were bitching in 05 that they should't have to stand duty on the wire so I doubt that they would be out on patrol but hey who knows I could be wrong. |
| Irish Marine | 27 Apr 2008 10:10 a.m. PST |
Right my friend and I will be doing early war Iraq 2003. |
| Ambush Alley Games | 27 Apr 2008 10:56 a.m. PST |
I've been trying to find where I read it, but I can't hunt it down – anyway, I read a description of "jumpsuit" style uniforms that were coming into use. They're supposed to be fire-retardent and cooler to wear (that would be a neat trick), so I suspect CPT Jake is on the right track. If anyone can find pictures of these things in use in the field, I'd love to see them. |
| tmy 1939 | 27 Apr 2008 2:34 p.m. PST |
Any chance they were some kind of tanker suit (I believe the US army has nomex ones already). I know they look quite a bit like flight suits and tankers would do dismounted patrols in some situations. |
| Prince Alberts Revenge | 27 Apr 2008 2:42 p.m. PST |
The Civil Disturbance Unit of my department wears the Nomex suit over the riot armor when there is a possibility of incendiary weapons being used against us. Sounds like the same thing that the Marines are wearing. Not terribly comfortable in the heat, but then again, ours are black…. |
| tmy 1939 | 27 Apr 2008 2:42 p.m. PST |
Here is a link to an OK picture of the Nomax (CVC) coveralls used by the US Army. picture |
| CPT Jake | 27 Apr 2008 3:35 p.m. PST |
No, the new gear is not the old Tanker Nomex. These are made for dismounted guys and are supposed to wear better (any one else remember how after even a short gunnery half the company had the asses ripped outta their nomex?) I'm not even sure the new stuff is actually Nomex, I do know it is supposed to be flame/fire retardent. I'll see if I can get mu wife to email me pictures if any one near her is wearing it. She is still wearing ACUs and probably will for the duration. |
| Altius | 28 Apr 2008 8:23 a.m. PST |
I saw some photos of the same thing recently. There were several shots of a Marine company. Most of the guys were wearing the standard cammo, but the captain and a couple of other guys had what looked like tan (almost pinkish) coveralls. In fact, I think it was the same issue of Leathernecks. The article showed the marines meeting with some Iraqi sheiks. |
| tmy 1939 | 28 Apr 2008 4:24 p.m. PST |
Thanks CPT Jack for the correction, it was a rushed post and I didn't follow the thread very well or think things through before I posted. The new flame resistant gear you are probably talking about is FROG (Flame Resistant Organization Gear): link PDF link (The second link has a small picture) Like the second link shows I've only seen pictures of it in MARPAT hence my answer to Irish Marines question about a tan coverall (since the flight suit seemed to be ruled out) but as this link says your gut feel about flight suits was bang on; link It mentions that Marines began wearing NOMAX flight suits on their own accord, maybe that's the source of the pictures that started the post or maybe there is another version of it. I'm sure someone has a more info and probably the PR pictures of the stuff in use. Hope this post helps. It mentions the US Army is following the USMC lead on this one. Not to slight the US Army but the Marines seem to a source of a lot of good ideas, a few of which have even made their way up North to Canada, thanks. |
| Sir James | 30 Apr 2008 5:46 a.m. PST |
Not to slight the US Army but the Marines seem to a source of a lot of good ideas This is probably b/c they have a much smaller budget and typically have to use "hand me downs". Heck, wasn't the USMC still using M-60 tanks in GW1? @Irish Marine, first THANK YOU for your service! Not all of us "sheeple" in the USA agree with Code Pink. Second, I've also seen the pix of USMC in "all tan overalls" (i.e. not MARPAT)…I jumped to the same conclusion as above (they were part of a "wing"…although I missed the vehicle crew angle…I'm a civvie). It's interesting and I'd like to hear more. Third, it's interesting to see a current serviceman "playing" a current (or near-current) war. I assume that you're like me and can differentiate between a game and real life (or you have other reasons. Once again, thanks for your service! - Jim |
