ferret,
Spend money on uniforms... LOL, I thought that that was a perq of being in the ranks- you don't have to buy clothes like the guys who go to Knife and Fork School. I'll just let the Sovreign State of Alabama pay for my 4 pair when they come out.
Villa,
I got a couple of looks at the ABDUs in Iraq (never saw anyon a cute female, so I didn't look too hard, I'll admit) but I think that it's a pretty good design. I too take issue on the velcro on the pockets... buttons don't make noise. Velcro is great for guys driving a desk but not for troops in the field. The pockets on the front of the pants will make getting into them easier, but wil make keeping bulky items in them more difficult and uncomfortable, IMHO. Gray is sort of the 'go anywhere' color, but the Army does need to come up with a more specific scheme for troops to be deploied to a certian theater for long periods of time, good enough generally is till you have someone spot you and need to loose them after they know what to look for. Remember this is not designed to hide in a specific area, but a compromise for all areas. The Marines have 2 or 3 varriations on their new fatigues based on theater (green-based, tan-based and white-based(?))- the Army needs something similar.
My least favorite thing is the no-shine boot... I'll miss getting my boots blingin' for formation.
Edit: I also find it kinda funny that the U.S. Army is now wearing gray... us Southrons in the National Guard are going to have a field day with this! I'll have to get Third National and Alabama flags for the arm and a C.S. Army strip printed out for the first drill we wear them... my Lt. (from Indiania) would have a fit, but the NCO's would love it!!