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A Question Regarding My Father's US Army Uniform Login/Join 
Sabonim
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posted
I've discovered a photograph of my father taken in the early 80s on his last day in uniform. He served 23 years and his last assignment was with the 82nd Airborne at Ft. Bragg.

In the attached photograph, he is wearing a green "Class-A" uniform with a web belt around his waist. I grew up on Army posts but don't remember seeing this before. Unfortunately, my father is no longer with us, so I cant ask him.

Can anyone tell me the significance of the belt?




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Posts: 1437 | Location: Florida | Registered: September 06, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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too mean to quit!
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May have been something special for airborne troops, but I never saw that unless the person was under arms.


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Posts: 25640 | Location: Virginia | Registered: December 16, 2001Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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He may have been going to a formal retreat ceremony where the troops were carrying rifles and he, as a senior NCO, wore the web belt in lieu of lugging a weapon.


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Posts: 1974 | Location: Central Texas | Registered: June 12, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Those bloused trousers, he looks sharp



 
Posts: 5281 | Location: GA | Registered: September 23, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Duty belt.
He was on duty and assigned to a watch station or post.



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Posts: 3830 | Location: Jacksonville, FL | Registered: September 10, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Telecom Ronin
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When I was doing honor guard that was the normal uniform but we swapped the c*nt cap for a service cap
 
Posts: 8301 | Location: Back in NE TX ....to stay | Registered: February 12, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I was in when they had the Green Class A still (1991-1995) and recall wearing a web belt for ceremonial events like change of commands, etc.

It's just a little extra thing that is done locally.


 
Posts: 33540 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: November 12, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
semi-reformed sailor
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It may have been that he had the duty that day.

On some ships I served on, the OOD or Quarterdeck watchstander wore a belt to signify he was on duty (and therefore also had no friends)



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Posts: 11226 | Location: Temple, Texas! | Registered: October 07, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Get my pies
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Picture of PASig
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Was he Military Police? Those guys wore web belts 100% of the time when I was in, whether in BDU's or Class A/Class B uniform.


 
Posts: 33540 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: November 12, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by PASig:
I was in when they had the Green Class A still (1991-1995) and recall wearing a web belt for ceremonial events like change of commands, etc.

It's just a little extra thing that is done locally.


agree

could also have been in charge of a color guard detail or something similar

not generally a standard uniform (pistol belt with Class A's) but one authorized for an occasion

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Posts: 8940 | Location: Florida | Registered: September 20, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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During my illustrious career in USAF, when a guy was soon to be retired he was reassigned within the Squadron to lesser duties that let him skate out his final days.
It was often Charge of Quarters. IIRC they wore web belts and an armband.
Cool van!


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Is it just me or is anyone else gawking at the diamond window in "free candy" van behind him?







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Why are the pants tucked in the boots? I recall those suits being worn with actual dress shoes.
 
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quote:
Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
Is it just me or is anyone else gawking at the diamond window in "free candy" van behind him?


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Posts: 1150 | Registered: October 05, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Lucky to be Irish
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I have a similar picture where I was wearing short sleeve khakis with blousing garters, boots, duty belt and c**t cap. I asked a friend who served with me and he said we had marched in a in a parade shortly before the photo.
 
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quote:
Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Why are the pants tucked in the boots?
The trademark of being Airborne...



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At that time, the 82d Airborne wore boots bloused in their trousers as a part of the Class A uniform. It showed a more elite status of the airborne troops. As mentioned above, pistol belts were sometimes worn for a ceremonial, or other special occasion. The 82d and 101st used to also were maroon berets, like the green berets of the Special Forces, again to show a more elite status.



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He was under arms.
As example, Drill Sergeants wore belts so were considered under arms. That allowed them to keep their headgear on inside buildings.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_arms
https://www.ar670.com/2018/12/...uired-or-prohibited/



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Get my pies
outta the oven!

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quote:
Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
Why are the pants tucked in the boots? I recall those suits being worn with actual dress shoes.


It’s called blousing your boots, and it’s how Airborne Soldiers wear their uniform, plus other troops do it for ceremonial events. It’s a uniform and not a suit and the shoes were called “lowquarters” and more like oxfords than dress shoes.


 
Posts: 33540 | Location: Pennsylvania | Registered: November 12, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by SpinZone:
Duty belt.
He was on duty and assigned to a watch station or post.


This.

Poor guy looked as if he was the Duty NCO of the day. This usually explains the "Awww shit" or "WTF" look on his face. ALL personnel on duty have the same look.


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