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Hi Folks!

Starting the week off with my daily recon of the Army.mil web site for new pictures of AFV's and ran acrossed this photo.

Check out the M2HB! I guess they don't trust that civilian with a real one.
For those who wish to read the caption with photo it can be found at:
www.army.mil/-images/2...6/21/5925/

Question for all you M1 tanker types. While checking out the instructions for DML's M1A1 AIM kit, I notice an end connector on the spring for the front fenders. That sent me back to my collection of M1 pictures and I have noticed that is very common. Is that just a good place to carry a spare end connector or is there a reason for the added weight on the spring for the front fenders?

Sgt, Scouts Out!

Hi Folks!

A follow up to my first post. The guy riding TC on the M1 had something to do with an Army Birthday cake. I guess it's only fair that I also include the cake that was inspiried by that tank ride.

For the caption for this photo, it is at:
www.army.mil/-images/2...06/21/5925

Spot Report!
Sgt, Scouts Out!

The Baldheaded guy in the picture is 'The Ace of Cakes'. It is a Food Channel show about a cake shop (bakery?) in Baltimore that does way over the top cakes for Weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and just about any special event you can think of. This will probably be on one of the shows next year.

Am I the only one who thinks that a General wearing cmmys for a high profile thing like this is WRONG?

Back when I was in the service (His rocking chair creaks as he tilts back) You were herdly allowed to wear fatigues off base on the way home from work. If you stopped at any eatery higher in the food chain than McDonalds in fatigues it was an Article 15. And in the 'Military District of Washington' The rules were even stricter. Now I don't think anyone has a uniform other than cammys.

Hi Bob! Hi Folks!

- bsmart

Am I the only one who thinks that a General wearing cmmys for a high profile thing like this is WRONG?

Back when I was in the service (His rocking chair creaks as he tilts back) You were herdly allowed to wear fatigues off base on the way home from work. If you stopped at any eatery higher in the food chain than McDonalds in fatigues it was an Article 15. And in the 'Military District of Washington' The rules were even stricter. Now I don't think anyone has a uniform other than cammys.

Same during my time.
It does seams like it's OK to wear the ACU almost anywhere now days.
I have seen Generals up on the Hill in ACUs rather than in Greens.
On top of that, the Army is talking about doing away with Greens and going to Dress Blues for everything. If they follow through on that, then I would bet that ACUs will be worn ever more than they are now.

My 2 cents,
Sgt, Scouts Out!

That is just a convenient spot to keep some handy. There's no special operational reason.

My memory is foggy since I just woke up but I think the end connector is somehow used to prop the fender open for maintenance. Looks like Pat Sajak in the picture!

- Roy_A_Lingle

Hi Folks!

Question for all you M1 tanker types. While checking out the instructions for DML's M1A1 AIM kit, I notice an end connector on the spring for the front fenders. That sent me back to my collection of M1 pictures and I have noticed that is very common. Is that just a good place to carry a spare end connector or is there a reason for the added weight on the spring for the front fenders?
Sgt, Scouts Out!

Roy

The end connector is used to flip over and 'prop' the fender up during track maint. When the crew 'walks' track (ie checks for missing or loose end connectors / wedge bolts, center guides, & track blocks ) The fender is raised and a crewmen observes the track as the tank rolls forward.

Don

While I'm bitching about ACUs Can someone explain why the rank is is in the middle of the chest instead of on collars?

It seems especially sensitive when you see a moderatly to well endowed female soldier in public and you are trying to figure out her rank
(Honestly honey I was just trying to see if she was anofficer so I could salute as the wife gives you the evil eye )

The collar goes up and vecros around the neck so you don't get chafed by body armor. The chest was a convenient place for rank when wearing body armor.

Personally, I think we should have kept pin on collar rank in garrison and used the velcro one in the field.

The middle of chest rank was common of Canadian arctic parkas. Next places I remember were on body armour and Bosnia Load Bearing Vests. But none on NBCW suits.

My beef with chest ranks is the camoflage obscures already small rank insignia and perfectly hides embroidered names. NCO to female soldier, 'I'm going to turn around in my chair and look at your chest. Not getting fresh, I need to spell you name and rank correctly'.

Can someone tell me if all US gray camo' BDUs are as pale as the general's?

Hi Maple Leaf! Hi Folks!

- Maple_Leaf_Eh

Can someone tell me if all US gray camo' BDUs are as pale as the general's?

First off, the General is not wearing BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform).
He is wearing the new ACU (Army Combat Uniform).
We can't come out with a new uniform without changing the name of it!

Best I can tell, Yes the new ACU is pale.

Here at Ft. Bliss where the US teachs other counties how to used air defense equipment that we sell them, many of the different military uniforms have the rank on the chest. It almost like a NATO or something kind of standard.

Sgt, Scouts Out!

I'm a mere civilian but wonder whether the rank insignia's been moved to the chest patch in order to make it hard for Bad Guys to select a potential target on account of his/her rank?