View Full Version : Camouflage Utilities
NoRemorse
09-21-09, 11:54 AM
I remember hearing in Boot that our Utilities are made by the blind. Didn't know if it was unsubstantiated scoop or the word of Chesty himself.
Also, it's not Propper that makes our gear, right? I know they make gear but I can't remember off hand nor can I get a search going here at work.
Supersquishy
09-21-09, 01:14 PM
I heard the same rumors, I also heard that the mentally retarded did that too. I did see a tag on my gloves and I think my night watch cap that it was made by the blind (I THINK).
samthomas
09-21-09, 01:21 PM
I thought it was made by blind Chinese people...
NoRemorse
09-21-09, 01:21 PM
It doesn't, just wanted to know if it was a sea story.
And hell, they're making our gear in the USA so its even better.
Can you imagine if we were running around in kit made in China?
ggyoung
09-21-09, 01:21 PM
Why does it matter?
It does not matter as long as they are made in the USA
Supersquishy
09-21-09, 01:23 PM
I know for a fact that one of the Blind companies made those recycled "Rags" that we got in our squadron, basically rejected clothes that were cut up to make rags, they came in burlap bags and had a tag on them stating they were manufactured by the blind, I guess its hard to fvck up cutting up rejected clothes.
awbrown1462
09-21-09, 01:41 PM
alot of our cleaning supplies are done by the lighthouse of the blind
Personally I think that its pretty cool that the military employs the blind for these types of things…
Personally I think that its pretty cool that the military employs the blind for these types of things…
The military does not employ these people. These companies are contracted by the military and other government agencies to produce certain goods such as military uniforms. I think there is some policy in place where preference goes to companies that are owned by women or other small business and perhaps companies that provide opportunities for handicapped people also.
One of the tags I remember seeing is SEKRI which I just found out stands for Southeast Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries. On their website, I found this:
Mission
Southeastern Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries, Inc. (SEKRI) is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose shall be to provide qualified personnel, facilities and related services for persons with disabilities, enabling them to obtain and to be successful in maintaining competetive employment.So it's possible that the cammies are made by blind people. But it could be other physically or mentally handicapped people also.
Many supplies are manufactured by Skilcraft which is an organization that provides employment opportunities for the blind. They make everything from pens and other stationery to mops and clocks.
um, they ARE made in China. where do you think bates manufactures our boots?
think about this, the chinese are putting GPS tracking devices in our boots so they know where we are at all times, then when the war starts they know where we are. or better yet, they sell the locations to our enemy.
NoRemorse
09-22-09, 08:30 PM
Ok, went and pulled out my utes; they're by Propper. Can't find anywhere that says Propper manufactures outside of CONUS for USMC specific items except for Puerto Rico.
Wrench3516
09-22-09, 08:45 PM
:evilgrin: LMAO on these posts...........
Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/MARPAT_combat.jpg/400px-MARPAT_combat.jpg (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/File:MARPAT_combat.jpg) http://www.leatherneck.com/skins-1.5/common/images/magnify-clip.png (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/File:MARPAT_combat.jpg)
MARPAT Utility Uniform
The Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform or MCCUU is the current battledress (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Battledress) uniform (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Uniform) of the United States Marine Corps (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps). It is also worn by US Navy (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/US_Navy) Corpsmen (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Corpsmen) and US Navy Chaplain Corps (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/US_Navy_Chaplain_Corps) members assigned to Marine Corps units. Field testing began in 2001, the uniform debuted in 2002, and the changeover was completed in October 2004.[1] (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/#cite_note-0)[2] (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/#cite_note-1)[3] (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/#cite_note-2) It replaced the Battle Dress Uniform (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Battle_Dress_Uniform), which the Marine Corps had shared with the US Navy (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/US_Navy), US Army (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/US_Army) and US Air Force (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/US_Air_Force). However, both the MCCUU, and its distinctive camouflage (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Camouflage) pattern MARPAT (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/MARPAT) are exclusive to the Marine Corps, which holds the patents (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Patent) to their design, and are not widely available to the civilian (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Civilian) market. MARPAT is available in two color schemes, woodland and desert. The uniforms are manufactured by Propper International Inc., American Apparel (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/American_Apparel), E.A. Industries, American Power Source Inc.[4] (http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/#cite_note-3), and Columbia Sewing Company. The MCCUU should not be confused with the similar looking FROG (http://www.leatherneck.com/wiki/Flame_resistant_organizational_gear) uniform.
SF
So, are they still commonly referred to as, "Utilities?"
Wyoming
09-22-09, 10:42 PM
So, are they still commonly referred to as, "Utilities?"
... or 'Fatigues'?
Yo Frank, floating for browns on the New Fork in the morning.
SlingerDun
09-23-09, 12:26 AM
think about this, the chinese are putting GPS tracking devices in our boots so they know where we are at all times, then when the war starts....The Chinese CP bounces a satellite signal off SSgt Petz' commie issued Bates and fixes him on Libbo in TJ, but it ain't him cause he hocked his boots in Ensanada and they're now tracking a Mexcan tranny who won't be crossing norte until he can afford a Coyote.
And now the Chinese logistics much like the fire drill are all f'ed up and shlt:beer:
... or 'Fatigues'? Yo Frank, floating for browns on the New Fork in the morning.
Knock 'em good, Al!
The Chinese CP bounces a satellite signal off SSgt Petz' commie issued Bates and fixes him on Libbo in TJ, but it ain't him cause he hocked his boots in Ensanada and they're now tracking a Mexcan tranny who won't be crossing norte until he can afford a Coyote.
And now the Chinese logistics much like the fire drill are all f'ed up and shlt:beer:
And Ssgt Petz saves the world from the Chinese menace! :banana:
State championship in wrestling had to wrestle a blind kid. I'll tell you what you would never know it. He was straight up all the way walking through the dark blind and the only caveat was you had to maintain contact. Wrestled his way all the way to state and no one gave him quarter along the way.
Yea I've seen all sorts of products manufactured by the lighthouse for the blind.
So, are they still commonly referred to as, "Utilities?"
I've heard that term on occasion, but more often they're referred to as "camies" in my experience.
LarryBee
09-23-09, 03:56 PM
So, are they still commonly referred to as, "Utilities?"
Thats what they were called back in my time, 64-67
Does anyone know when cammies first became issue? Saw them in '79 but still had to show the cardbord utes in wall locker inspections.
Does anyone know when cammies first became issue? Saw them in '79 but still had to show the cardbord utes in wall locker inspections.
It was regular ole woodlands the cotten thick kind when I was a lad. There were Marines still wearing the slant pocket poplins. As long as they were serviceable they could wear them. That was in 85
What do you mean by cardboard utes?
The camouflage uniform was adopted in the early 80s for all branches but I don't when the Marine Corps adopted it specifically.
The Marpat uniforms went into service 2003 or 2002. My boot camp issued uniforms were the Marpat variety along with the rough side out brown boots.
What do you mean by cardboard utes?
.
Lots of starch, in order to wear then you had to run your arms through the legs and sleeves to wear them. They looked sharp but felt like card board
I remember hearing in Boot that our Utilities are made by the blind. Didn't know if it was unsubstantiated scoop or the word of Chesty himself.
Also, it's not Propper that makes our gear, right? I know they make gear but I can't remember off hand nor can I get a search going here at work.
Don't know about that Ray, but I used to iron mine blind.:beer::beer::beer:
Wrench3516
09-23-09, 09:24 PM
:beer:
The camouflage uniform was adopted in the early 80s for all branches but I don't when the Marine Corps adopted it specifically.
:thumbup: 1982
Here's a thread that pretty much covers how/when the utilities changed from OD to camo. >>> http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77492&highlight=camouflage
MontezumaCpl
09-23-09, 09:55 PM
My buddy finished recruit training in late 1980, he had the cammie utes and the sateen cover. I completed recruit training in December, 1981 and we always had the cammie cover and cammie utes. I think the sateen cover phased out before I went to boot camp and I never remember seeing any. The Drill Instructors always called them Camouflage Utilities. One day a recruit called them "cammie pants." You can imagine what happened to him on the Quarterdeck. I still remember that clearly. :evilgrin:
One of the bases I worked on had a sea bee det. They all wore sateens.
One of the bases I worked on had a sea bee det. They all wore sateens.
For the kids; sateens=olive drab (OD) utilities. Like so >> http://cgi.ebay.com/1970s-Mens-OD-Field-Shirt-sateen-15-1-2-x-31-M1561_W0QQitemZ120333148189QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_D efaultDomain_0?hash=item1c046a201d&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116 BTW, these also qualify as, "cardboard utes." :usmc:
ameriken
09-23-09, 11:58 PM
Does anyone know when cammies first became issue? Saw them in '79 but still had to show the cardbord utes in wall locker inspections.
In Boot Camp at the end of '76 we were issued the standard sateens/fatigues/utilities. If my memory serves me correctly, I think it was some time in '77 when I got to Oki that I started to see the cammies. From then until I got out in '80 you could wear either but as you said, the sateens remained for wall locker inspections.
Lots of starch, in order to wear then you had to run your arms through the legs and sleeves to wear them. They looked sharp but felt like card board
Ah, ok. The "utes" I was issued were not to be started per uniform regs.