The Army announced yesterday that in certain geographic areas for the next six months the black Intermediate Cold Wet Boot will be authorized for wear with the Army Combat Uniform in lieu of the tan ICWB, which is currently in short supply. Photo by Illustration by Paul Crank
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Nov. 15, 2006) - The Army announced yesterday that in certain geographic areas for the next six months the black Intermediate Cold Wet Boot will be authorized for wear with the Army Combat Uniform in lieu of the tan ICWB, which is currently in short supply.
"The temporary policy affects Soldiers in cold regions of the continental United States, Korea, Europe and Alaska," said Sgt. Maj. Katrina Easley, branch chief for Uniform Policy at Army G-1.
The policy "will ease short-term demands and allow the supply system time to meet worldwide requirements," she said.
The first version of the ICWB, a black boot fielded in the early 1990s, filled the void between the standard-issue leather combat boots and the extreme cold weather "Mickey Mouse" boots. All versions of the ICWB allow Soldiers' feet to breathe and keep warm while operating in cold, wet environments.
Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston said that suppliers are working to get the new tan ICWB fielded as soon as possible.
"We do not want Soldiers to suffer through the winter months with their summer, light-weight tan boots," said Preston.
The temporary exception to policy is expected to last through April 2007, and allows Soldiers in the designated areas to wear the black ICWB with the ACU immediately.
Article Opinions
CDT.D JORDAN wrote:
THEY SHOULD HAVE ALREADY KNOWN THAT THE TAN BOOT WAS NOT GOING TO WORK IN DIFFERENT GEO AREAS, SO THE SHOULD NOT HAVE ISSUED THEM OUT UNTIL TROOPS WERE ASSIGNEDTO UNITS IN GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS WHERE THE BOOT IS MORE OR LESS NEEDED THIS IS NOT A FASHION SHOW! YOU WOULDN'T BE ISSUED JUNGLE BOOTS STATION IN ALASKA
11/17/06 10:21:13
FORMER LANCE CORPORAL PHIPPS wrote:
SUPPLY AND DEMAND CAN BE ACCOMATED WITH MASS PRODICTION OF BOOTS,GEAR,CLOTHING AND HARD WARE !!!!! REMEBER WORLD WAR TWO !!!!? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU FOLKS NOW !!!!? HELLO !!!! IS ANY BODY HOME !!!? I THINK A SIMILAR MIND SET TO THE MASS PRODICTION OF WORLD WAR TWO IS VERY MUCH CALLED FOR
11/17/06 14:20:03
Phipps Mom wrote:
Wow Phipps - you spelled almost every other word wrong. Brilliant.
11/20/06 08:38:02
Disavowed wrote:
I guess it's back to Kiwi and old t-shirt rags. Next thing... "Army re-adopts former "Be all you can be" slogan". Whatever guys, a soldier will always adapt his enviroment to accomplish the mission. Even if it's barefoot. GO ARMY!
11/22/06 10:23:30
Pearl wrote:
I don't understand why the Army change the color of the uniforms in the first place. I don't like the tan color (but as a soldier; Whateva clever). SHOW ME THE MONEYYYY!!!! :)
11/25/06 17:29:40
AIRFORCE/PA ARMYNATGUARD wrote:
Why would you wear a tan boot in a cold environment?
Shouldn’t your outerwear be something that resembles the fighting area you are located? Example:
- GREEN/OLIVE camo for JUNGLE areas
- WHITE camo in SNOW areas...
- TAN camo in DESERT areas?
I am an Air force Vet with 1 year of Army National Guard experience, so I ask you seasoned Army vets and active duty to help with a LOGICAL answer.
To avoid the spell check comments used earlier, I first typed my comments in an outlook email...Pressed (F7 to spell check) my comments,
Then (ctrl a) to select all my comments.
(Ctrl c) to copy my comments...
(Ctrl v to paste) my comments into this comment box.
Has anyone found the weapons of mass destruction yet?
11/27/06 10:47:49
Jason wrote:
airforce you are right because if you are trying to hide you need to blead in. If its a snow covered area you will stick out.
11/27/06 12:21:35
MSG Wood wrote:
Of course you all missed the point as your attention to detail was a bit a drift. The tan cold weather boots work just fine in the cold climates, but all of the basic trainees and deploying troops are getting full issue and everyone else gets what is left. Therefore because we didn't turn in the current issued items, we will be able to where the black cold weather boots with the ACU's while in cold climates IF YOU DIDN'T GET ISSUED THE DESSERT COLD WEATHER BOOTS or like most people they were issued boots that didn't fit and are awaiting the supply chain to catch up.
11/28/06 14:49:15
John wrote:
After reading FORMER Lance Corporal Phipps' unbelievable assault on the English language, it's not hard to understand why there are so many breaddowns in the chain of communication. Good Lord Phipps, have you never heard of "Proof reading?"
12/03/06 03:48:21
Sgt Cooper wrote:
Thanks for the clarification MSG Wood.
Hey John, it's "breakdown" not breaddown. I guess we could all use some remedial "engrish" eh?
hehehehe
12/04/06 12:31:01
Gus wrote:
Leave it to an Air Force guy to miss the obvious. Here's your answer: It get's cold in places where tan camo is appropriate, like Afghanistan. Why does the AF wear baseball caps. Are you on your way to a game or do you wear them to combat too.
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07/10/07 19:24:56
David L. baker wrote:
I can see that the Army has sort of gone down hill, since I retired in "85". Just in the spelling department, of course. The US Army was,is and always will be the best in the world. Boots or no boots, we still kick ass!
I see alot of "When I was a Cold War Vet" and "I have 1 year Nasty Guard experience" and finally the "when I was in the Army" crap! You can't blend in in a desert or mountainous desert environment regardless of what you are wearing. The tan ICW boots did me just fine in the mountains of Afghanistan and the flat desert. Why is the Fairy Force even commenting. Don't you have a PT bike test coming up or something hooah you guys do?
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