Looking 'ally' US style?

[Lost_Jock]

I've been reading a thread over on the British Army Rumour Service about looking 'ally', (ally=warry) and I was wondering if there was an US equivalent?

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/vie ... 46346.html

In general US soldiers seem (to an outsider at least) to present a uniform picture, and don't seem to use too many non-issue uniform items, for example (especially now with the ACU gear).

Perhaps it was more common a few years back?

[EvilCouch]

What the hell does ally/warry mean?

[RTO]

What the hell does ally/warry mean?

Heres what I found couch...

Warry (or War-y) - aggresive, militaristic; can be an insult.

I believe after reading the thread 'ally' refers to
non-issue uniform items.

Interesting forum. Might be fun to stir up some shit over there! :D

[Lost_Jock]

Here is a reasonable definintion of 'allyness':

http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Allyness

ARRSE is actually a very good site.

Try here for a laugh:

http://www.arrse.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewforum/f=61.html

[Ranger Bill]

Borrowing from General Patton, England and the U.S. are still two countries separated by a common language.

[Gordo173]

Borrowing from General Patton, England and the U.S. are still two countries separated by a common language.

Riiiight. The majority of this thread is trying to figure out what the Brit said and we think it's a common language! Having worked with enough Brits now over here in the Box, I can tell you it isnt that easy to understand a bloody thing they say, let alone call it a common language.

[Lost_Jock]

Riiiight. The majority of this thread is trying to figure out what the Brit said and we think it's a common language! Having worked with enough Brits now over here in the Box, I can tell you it isnt that easy to understand a bloody thing they say, let alone call it a common language.

Just be glad I'm writing this, as I'm sure my accent would confuse most of you!

I was talking to an engineer sergeant from the Bronx a couple of years back. In the course of a 10 minute 'conversation' I managed to understand his name and where he was from, but I don't think he got anything I said apart from the fact that I came from Scotland.

I didn't really make myself clear in my first post, but 'looking ally' is all about making it obvious to anyone looking at you that you are in fact a 'hyper professional mega soldier from the planet Zog' rather than just standard squaddie.

This can often be achieved by the addition of extra items of kit, or by substituting issue items with privately purchased items of better quality, or functionality. There are of course other more subtle ways, such as cutting down and laminating your porn collection so it fits in a map pocket.

As such, is there a US equivalent of this phenomenon?

[Black 6]

I didn't really make myself clear in my first post, but 'looking ally' is all about making it obvious to anyone looking at you that you are in fact a 'hyper professional mega soldier from the planet Zog' rather than just standard squaddie.

This can often be achieved by the addition of extra items of kit, or by substituting issue items with privately purchased items of better quality, or functionality. There are of course other more subtle ways, such as cutting down and laminating your porn collection so it fits in a map pocket.

As such, is there a US equivalent of this phenomenon?

Yes, the Mall Ninja.

[EvilCouch]

Riiiight. The majority of this thread is trying to figure out what the Brit said and we think it's a common language! Having worked with enough Brits now over here in the Box, I can tell you it isnt that easy to understand a bloody thing they say, let alone call it a common language.

Just be glad I'm writing this, as I'm sure my accent would confuse most of you!

I was talking to an engineer sergeant from the Bronx a couple of years back. In the course of a 10 minute 'conversation' I managed to understand his name and where he was from, but I don't think he got anything I said apart from the fact that I came from Scotland.

I didn't really make myself clear in my first post, but 'looking ally' is all about making it obvious to anyone looking at you that you are in fact a 'hyper professional mega soldier from the planet Zog' rather than just standard squaddie.

This can often be achieved by the addition of extra items of kit, or by substituting issue items with privately purchased items of better quality, or functionality. There are of course other more subtle ways, such as cutting down and laminating your porn collection so it fits in a map pocket.

As such, is there a US equivalent of this phenomenon?

Large edged weapons are pretty universal, I think.

Aside from that, most US units are kind of sticklers for uniformity, so I haven't seen too many people get too crazy with extra gear.

[Horned Toad]

Ok lay off the big knives and bdu’s with pockets sewed down, that worked okay on the pants but not so hot on the shirts


Since my only time with the service was at the RGT when SOP’s were in full swing, you didn’t see a whole lot of gear that was different. RRD had some vests, 3rd would tie square knots in the back of their boots and tuck the laces in the back.


The few times I worked with the Brits was with the Paras and the Pathfinders and I was told that all the major gear suppliers in England made gear in OD and the DPM camo and that the troops were allowed to use it. So the quality of the bregens was way better than the US alice packs. That and all the pathfinder guys had Scapa Attacks with Berghaus gaiters. I got a set of the Scarpas and the gaiters and they are the shit but I finally wore the Scapas out and the don’t make that model anymore

[42L5V]

There was a series of "Bob on the FOB" cartoons circulating Baghdad when I was there. Pretty funny shit.

http://www.bobonthefob.com

[DixieRat]

Riiiight. The majority of this thread is trying to figure out what the Brit said and we think it's a common language! Having worked with enough Brits now over here in the Box, I can tell you it isnt that easy to understand a bloody thing they say, let alone call it a common language.

Just be glad I'm writing this, as I'm sure my accent would confuse most of you!

I was talking to an engineer sergeant from the Bronx a couple of years back. In the course of a 10 minute 'conversation' I managed to understand his name and where he was from, but I don't think he got anything I said apart from the fact that I came from Scotland.

I didn't really make myself clear in my first post, but 'looking ally' is all about making it obvious to anyone looking at you that you are in fact a 'hyper professional mega soldier from the planet Zog' rather than just standard squaddie.

This can often be achieved by the addition of extra items of kit, or by substituting issue items with privately purchased items of better quality, or functionality. There are of course other more subtle ways, such as cutting down and laminating your porn collection so it fits in a map pocket.

As such, is there a US equivalent of this phenomenon?

You mean stuff like extra knives, guns, special clothing and such, I think. Like those of us who carried extra hand guns, Gerber Mk II survival knives, etc. Nobody in the US Army would do such a thing.

[Chiron]

We used to wear in stead of the black belt a green strap belt that came from the riggers. Been so long I forgot what that was called.

[ANGRYCivilian]

We used to wear in stead of the black belt a green strap belt that came from the riggers. Been so long I forgot what that was called.

A rigger belt. :D It was like 4 feet long. :D