question about Army Reserves

1st Lieutenant, in reserves/guard pay for their uniforms. They get an initial clothing allowance but that usually goes for their Mess dress uniform.

Enlisted get their uniforms and when they wear out they get to direct exchange them. They do pay for optional uniforms (Mess Dress etc.)


Paul
 
So when a person tells me they're going in as a Lieutenant into the Army Reserves and that they are spending out of their own pocket 5-7 hundred bucks on uniforms and boots, to exclude pumps and dress coat, does this sound like truth or BS?

Apparently the recruiter called this person today and told them that. Do recruiters work Sundays?

Thanks.
 
The amount doesn't seem unreasonable.

The estimate below is just for one Summer uniform.

http://www.army.mil/asu/faq.html

The estimated cost for the commercial optional men’s officer or senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) polyester/wool tropical uniform, purchased from The Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is $403.90. The estimated cost for the commercial optional men’s junior enlisted uniform (E-1 through E-4, specialist) is $371.90. These costs include a coat, two pair of trousers, a long sleeve shirt, and a short sleeve shirt.
Click to expand...
 
How many ACUs do people typically get?

I'm guessing that the dress uniform is a lot more expensive than a ACU? Seem to remember seeing $88 for an ACU?
 
A 1LT is a guy who's been in long enough to get his first promotion, that's 2-4 years. He's had his original issue (yes, they get an original issue, usually only the battle dress uniform) which he received prior to starting Basic Training. After that any and all required uniforms and modifications come out of his pocket, that's why he gets all the big paychecks.

Yes, recruiters work Sundays. But odds are he's talking to a Retention person, not a Recruiter. (They work Sundays too.)
 
hi, yeah uniforms are not cheap, generally you need 5 sets of acu's depending on your duty uniform, we had a house fire last summer and my wifes uniforms were all destroyed, it cost us about 1500 bucks to buy all the new ones all the insignia and have everything fitted.

there is a clothing allowance but its not nearly enough.

just a few prices for you, acu blouse 32.99, trousers 32.99. tshirts 10.00, belt 4.00, boots 119.00, cover 8.00
you can add another 20.00 for insignia.

cricket
 
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The military provides a complete set of uniforms for enlisted members when they first enter service. They are then paid annual allowances based on how long it takes each item to wear out, dividing the cost by how many years the item is expected to last. For example, a duffel bag might be expected to last 10 years or more, while T-shirts would be expected to be replaced after a few months. The clothing allowance typically is paid on the anniversary of the day members entered the military. People with fewer than three years of service receive a basic clothing allowance to begin replacing items from their initial issue as they wear out. Also, at the end of the first year of active duty, enlisted troops receive only half of the yearly allowance because it is assumed they do not need to replace any clothing in their first six months. After enlisted troops complete three years on active duty, they begin receiving the standard clothing allowance, which is higher than the basic allowance. Enlisted Reserve members are paid a clothing allowance only after serving for 12 months of Active duty. If uniforms are damaged, or wear out while in a Drilling Reserve status they are authorized to turn in that uniform for replacement. Personal experience has shown that you MIGHT get the replacement in 6-8 months, depending if the command has money in its supply account or not. Reservists get the same Basic uniform issue as the Active Duty, however, the uniforms are expected to last longer, due to less wear.
Reserve Officers get issued 2 sets of ACU’s (depending upon how good their supply Sergeant is), with boots, upon entry, and are given a Basic Clothing allowance (Nowhere near enough money)to buy their Dress Uniforms and shoes. Depending upon their area of assignment, (Branch) they may be required to purchase not only the ASU (Army Service Uniform), but also the Dress Mess Uniform, the Dress Blue uniform, and any ACU’s and boots that were not issued. If he is in the Army Band, the cost goes up, due to the extra uniforms they have. His estimate of $5-$7 hundred could be the low end of things, as the Dress Blue headgear starts at $70, for a used one, and up. The whole uniform can cost $400 after it is tailored and everything is sewn on that is required. I know, that’s about what it cost me, not including the shoes. That was another $97. $497 for just ONE uniform, worn once or twice a year. (Dress Blues are “optional” for NCO’s (Non-Commissioned Officers). Read as, only optional if not assigned to a high level headquarters unit). That said, the ASU is being changed from the Dress Green type uniform to a Dress Blue type uniform. No, I will not get that one issued. Only those in the rank of E-5 and below, in the Reserves, will be issued those. Senior NCO’s and Officers will have to purchase them out of our own pocket.


$400+ for one dress uniform
$90+ for dress shoes
$100 for dress shirts
$125+ for one pair combat boots
$50+ for t-shirts and underwear
$50+ for winter undergarments (not supplied to Reservists, unless deployed)
$75 for a field jacket (Initial issue for enlisted, not sure about officers)
$135 for a ECW jacket (Gortex) (Not issued to Reservists unless deployed, turn in at
completion of deployment))
$36 each for ACU tops
$34 each for ACU trousers

$1095+ for uniforms.

Less with an excellent supply Sergeant. More with a piss poor (or none at all) supply Sergeant.


Also, many of these are not required, but are "highly recommended" (read as "Get them as soon as you can or else"). Tell him to get used to opening his wallet.





Bill
AKA- SSG Sanders, US Army Reserves
 
Forgot to mention, he can deduct the cost of uniforms (minus any clothing allowance) on his taxes at the end of the year, if he can itemize his taxes. Same as a truck driver can deduct boots and gloves.
 
The answer is it all depends. If she is comissioning directly in to the service, everything will be out of pocket. I know ROTC Officers who spent well over a thousand dollars on intial uniforms. If they are going the OCS route, then the will be enlisted for a short period and will recieve a intial issue. All I had to buy was my blues. West Pointers tend to have ACU's from school, and have to buy blues and greens. However since the OP states the person is going in as a 1LT, I'm thinking it may be a dirrect commision to one of the special branches (JAG, Med, Chaplin). If that is the case then it will all be out of pocket.
 
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