Weather vs. PT uniform

Yesterday my unit switched from the summer physical training (PT) uniform to the winter version. Despite the ever-changing Texas climate, it's a permanent change -- we won't wear the summers again until next year.

From what I understand, it's a brigade-level policy and therefore is beyond the company commander's control. That doesn't mean the policy is reasonable.

The purpose of a uniform change -- matching clothes to weather conditions to safeguard Soldiers -- is effectively rendered moot by the requirement to be consistent.

While that works fine in areas with simple seasonal deliniations, it just doesn't work well in Texas.

Yesterday was all right -- the rain kept it cool -- but today the low was in the 70s. Hardly the stuff that requires a long sleeve shirt. People got back from today's run soaked with sweat.

A few weeks ago it got down into the low 60s with high winds. That's when we could have used the jackets, but no -- orders hadn't come down from brigade yet.

By blindly following uniform regulations without regard for real weather conditions, we do our Soldiers a disservice. Worse, by ignoring the purpose of the regulation in order to adhere to the letter of a flawed policy, leaders hurt their credibility.

I think a better way would be to base the uniform on daily weather conditions. Units can check the weather the day before, and make a proper decision from there.