bobdina
08-26-2009, 12:04 PM
Copy cats
MarPat-like cammies show up on Iraqi troops
Every Marine has to earn his Eagle, Globe and Anchor, but that doesn’t stop copycats from taking the easy route.
Fake uniforms bearing designs nearly identical to desert and woodland Marine Pattern are now popping up in Iraq, on Iraqi soldiers no less. Some appear to be obvious knockoffs, the color schemes slightly different than true MarPat. Others, though, when studied closely, look nearly identical, save for a few customizations such as patches and rank insignia.
And if you look closely on some, you’ll even see “USMC” tattooed beneath the EGA.
The trend has some Marines asking, “What the … ?” Leathernecks are proud — and protective — of the Corps’ unique camouflage. In a forum post on MarineCorpsTimes.com, a reader registered as “kenny10” spat, “Iraqis should be creative and come up with their own damn s—-.” Others were less outraged. A poster with the handle THORSHAMMER69 joked: “The fact that they are copying us doesn’t trouble me so much as the fact that [some] are wearing woodlands. … If they can’t get that right — lord help us.”
Marine officials don’t seem overly concerned about the situation. The MarPat design is patented by the Corps and has not been licensed for use by anyone except Marines, said Capt. Geraldine Carey, a spokeswoman for Marine Corps Systems Command.
“If we are made aware of any unauthorized use of any element of the Marine Corps MarPat patent, we will locate this source and address the matter appropriately,” she said.
The digital cammies, which debuted in January 2002, are the brainchild of then-Commandant Gen. James Jones, who thought the pattern’s unique look would bolster esprit de corps and possibly intimidate the enemy. It is relatively easy to find MarPat forgeries. In fact, there is an illustrated guide to fake MarPat items on eBay.
MarPat-like cammies show up on Iraqi troops
Every Marine has to earn his Eagle, Globe and Anchor, but that doesn’t stop copycats from taking the easy route.
Fake uniforms bearing designs nearly identical to desert and woodland Marine Pattern are now popping up in Iraq, on Iraqi soldiers no less. Some appear to be obvious knockoffs, the color schemes slightly different than true MarPat. Others, though, when studied closely, look nearly identical, save for a few customizations such as patches and rank insignia.
And if you look closely on some, you’ll even see “USMC” tattooed beneath the EGA.
The trend has some Marines asking, “What the … ?” Leathernecks are proud — and protective — of the Corps’ unique camouflage. In a forum post on MarineCorpsTimes.com, a reader registered as “kenny10” spat, “Iraqis should be creative and come up with their own damn s—-.” Others were less outraged. A poster with the handle THORSHAMMER69 joked: “The fact that they are copying us doesn’t trouble me so much as the fact that [some] are wearing woodlands. … If they can’t get that right — lord help us.”
Marine officials don’t seem overly concerned about the situation. The MarPat design is patented by the Corps and has not been licensed for use by anyone except Marines, said Capt. Geraldine Carey, a spokeswoman for Marine Corps Systems Command.
“If we are made aware of any unauthorized use of any element of the Marine Corps MarPat patent, we will locate this source and address the matter appropriately,” she said.
The digital cammies, which debuted in January 2002, are the brainchild of then-Commandant Gen. James Jones, who thought the pattern’s unique look would bolster esprit de corps and possibly intimidate the enemy. It is relatively easy to find MarPat forgeries. In fact, there is an illustrated guide to fake MarPat items on eBay.