Posted on 03/16/2017 8:23:46 PM PDT by fidelis
HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Army soldiers finished wading across a stream in a rainforest in Hawaii, and they were soaked. Their boots and socks were water-logged and their clothes, hair and ears were caked with mud.
The soldiers were going through training at the first jungle school the Army has established in decades. The course is part of a program to train soldiers for exercises and potential combat on terrain that looks more like islands and nations in the Pacific than arid Afghanistan and the deserts of the Middle East.
Brig. Gen. Stephen Michael, deputy commander of the 25th Infantry Division, said the Army set up the school as its footprint was shrinking in Iraq and Afghanistan after more than a decade of war in those countries...
(Excerpt) Read more at wtop.com ...
That was the best footwear I ever had.
I wonder if they can be found still today?
I wore my Air Force issue pair for years until I wore them out. I wish I still had them. I’ve seen some cheap knock-offs at faux “military surplus” stores, but I haven’t seen the real thing for years.
Well those guys just missed the Supreme Immam jihadi.....I read he was just in Hawaii an I believe he went to Tahiti. He'll be there for a month.
I hear this is the poisonous sea snakes mating season started yesterday.
Bon Appétit snakies!!!!
Used to be taught in Panama, before Jimmuh Carter gave it away.
Been there many times
You’re right about comfort. I scandalized a lot of my troops by wearing them for my APFT. Around ‘95 the Army began authorizing black ballistic nylon “jungle boots” that were essentialy the same design with a panama tread and a padded collar. The OD green boots remained authorized while serviceable. Lots of us who liked them went and bought up several pairs. I still have a pair made by Altima which are pretty well worn. At some point manufacturers replaced the aluminum “punji plate” with kevlar. There are a lot of cheap Chinese made knock-offs out there, but I don’t think there are any quality manufacturers still producing them.
Right after I posted I checked eBay and Amazon.
Just the cheap stuff you mentioned.
And nothing in my size (14EEEE).
I was lucky.
When I went through the Replacement Station I got the only pair of “Extra Wide” they had.
The Supply Sgt told me to take good care of them because the chances of getting another pair in country were pretty close to zero.
My condolences on ETS for Ranger.
Altama still makes them. They have the Panama sole now, and a different insole, but they’re the same otherwise (you can still find the Saran insoles if you look).
The US Army has been training for several years at the Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School in India. It’s considered the best Jungle school currently in operation anywhere in the world.
Thank you Shibumi. Yes, his discharge will be every bit as honorable as his time in service.
I talked a CPO into issueing me a pair because I was working in a trench running cable. I loved those boots and have no idea what happened to them.
Loved those boots, my second favorite pair after my jump boots. I did Jungle Warfare Training in Panama in February 1976. Got four jumps in, one water jump in Gatoon Lake, three combat equipment training jumps, two at night. What great memories!
Looks like they're out of stock, though, which is not surprising.
Thanks - I bookmarked it.
I have a pair I bought for casual wear, and they are exceptionally comfortable, kind of like Chuck Taylors with a lug sole. The heel cup isn't that firm and they only give about as much ankle support as a pair of high-top basketball shoes so I'd never use them for serious backpacking, but they are perfect for day hikes and general walking. They come in a lot of different colors and materials and are not super expensive. Less than most pairs of quality running shoes and hiking boots:
I can’t say I ever had to use 1960s era jungle footwear. But I have seen the unbelievable improvement in outdoor gear of every type since the 1970s. If we don’t have a better wet boot by now I’d be surprised and disappointed.
Bookmark
Reading Sun Tzu and studying the tactics that the VietCong used to protect themselves from bombardment would in fact be a good addition.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.