What is the gear that the U.S. Military would issue for Recon/Combat Ops in the 1980s/90s?

by TheNaturalThinker

I'm making a 1980s winter kit for re-enactment and need sources on what to buy/wear.

Bacarruda

What unit/conflict/event are you re-enacting? With more details, I can give you some guidance on insignia, etc.

Note: I'll include the National Stock Number (NSN) where possible. This is the 13-digit code used by the U.S. government to identity piece of equipment. Knowing the NSN can sometimes make it easier to search for/buy equipment online.

For the U.S. Army, of the period, the basic uniform will be the woodland camouflage Battle Dress Utility (BDU) uniform, which consists of these basic parts:

  1. Trousers, Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), Woodland
  2. Coat, Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), Woodland
  3. T-shirt, Brown
  4. Belt, Webbed, Black
  5. Patrol Cover, "boonie hat," or PASGT kevlar helmet
  6. Boots, black (often Bates Speedlace boots)

If its really damn cold, you may have some Gen I items from the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS). There's over twenty different parts of the system, but the parka and the trousers are probably the most notable pieces for your purpose.

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