The evolution of the look of an Australian soldier from WWI and II days through Vietnam and Korea to today is quite dramatic.
Developments in materials have resulted in better clothing and equipment more suited to the rough nature of miltary work.
Today I have chosen to discuss one particular development that has had quite an impact on not only military clothing, but civilian clothing as well. That development is Velcro.
While not specifically developed for military use, its current widespread use in global armed forces uniforms is indicative of its overall practicality and impact
Pre-velcro, military battle dress most often relied on buttons to keep pockets closed, sewing to keep patches on, and metal clips to keep ammuntion safely secured. Modern day uniforms such as the one pictured here make extensive use of velcro for all kinds of purposes (click to enlarge, I'm sure you'll all recognise the rather dashing model :D)
Circled in the picture are the some of the various places on modern Australian Army battle uniform and equipment where velcro is used.
1) Rank slide - this small piece of material is used to hold the rank insignia of the wearer. The tab is held in place by a small piece of velcro, allowing quick and easy removal. This has made it easier for a uniform to be adapted if the wearer recieves a promotion and is required to display new rank insignia, eliminating the need to unpick a sewn on one.
2) Australian National Flag patch/Unit badge - The ANF worn on a soldiers left shoulder is attached using a patch of velcro, allowing easy removal. A soldiers unit/deployment badge is worn on the right shoulder. The ability to change this flag and patch easily again allows for uniform adaptation to current requirements, eg camouflaged ANF patch for use in the field (The coloured one is used in the barracks environment) or upon posting to a new unit/theatre of operation.
3) Minimi Ammunition Pouch - The Minimi pouch (for the uninitiated, the Minimi is a light machine gun) allows storage of up to 200 rounds of 5.56 ammunition and is secured by a plastic outer clip. These pouches are also lined on the inside with a strip of velcro which will generally hold the pouch closed even if the clip is unsecured. Most soldiers tend to burn this velcro off however as it can make opening the pouch difficult. This same velcro is also present on the smaller Steyr pouch which is not pictured.
4) Shirt Cuff - Gone are the days where the shirt cuff was secured with buttons, the uniform now comes with a strip of velcro allowing quick and easy adjustment of cuff size.
5) Magazine dump pouch - In the heat of a contact, the last thing you want to be doing is fumbling with your empty magazine trying to stuff it back into your ammunition pouch. The magazine dump pouch was designed to be a quick and easy method for placing your empty magazines in a secure place while you were under fire. The velcro allows for the quick release of the pouch, and can be folded back up just as quickly after the fight.
Velcro has become an integral part of modern military attire, and has had an equally, if not larger, effect on civilian clothing as well, and will most likely continue to do so for quite some time yet.
1) Rank slide - this small piece of material is used to hold the rank insignia of the wearer. The tab is held in place by a small piece of velcro, allowing quick and easy removal. This has made it easier for a uniform to be adapted if the wearer recieves a promotion and is required to display new rank insignia, eliminating the need to unpick a sewn on one.
2) Australian National Flag patch/Unit badge - The ANF worn on a soldiers left shoulder is attached using a patch of velcro, allowing easy removal. A soldiers unit/deployment badge is worn on the right shoulder. The ability to change this flag and patch easily again allows for uniform adaptation to current requirements, eg camouflaged ANF patch for use in the field (The coloured one is used in the barracks environment) or upon posting to a new unit/theatre of operation.
3) Minimi Ammunition Pouch - The Minimi pouch (for the uninitiated, the Minimi is a light machine gun) allows storage of up to 200 rounds of 5.56 ammunition and is secured by a plastic outer clip. These pouches are also lined on the inside with a strip of velcro which will generally hold the pouch closed even if the clip is unsecured. Most soldiers tend to burn this velcro off however as it can make opening the pouch difficult. This same velcro is also present on the smaller Steyr pouch which is not pictured.
4) Shirt Cuff - Gone are the days where the shirt cuff was secured with buttons, the uniform now comes with a strip of velcro allowing quick and easy adjustment of cuff size.
5) Magazine dump pouch - In the heat of a contact, the last thing you want to be doing is fumbling with your empty magazine trying to stuff it back into your ammunition pouch. The magazine dump pouch was designed to be a quick and easy method for placing your empty magazines in a secure place while you were under fire. The velcro allows for the quick release of the pouch, and can be folded back up just as quickly after the fight.
Velcro has become an integral part of modern military attire, and has had an equally, if not larger, effect on civilian clothing as well, and will most likely continue to do so for quite some time yet.
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