JCB; Made in the USA (China)?
Army photo by C. Todd Lopez
The Army Jungle Combat Boot, now under development, features a low-height heel to prevent snags on things like vines in a jungle environment; additional drainage holes to let water out if it becomes completely soaked, speed laces so that soldiers can don and doff the boots more quickly, a redesigned upper to make the boots less tight when they are new, an insert that helps improve water drainage, a lining that helps the boot breathe better and dry faster; a ballistic fabric-like layer under a soldier’s foot to help prevent punctures, and a foam layer between the rubber sole and the upper to provide greater shock absorbing capability. The boot will initially be issued to two full brigade combat teams in Hawaii, part of the 25th Infantry Division, for evaluation.
Hopefully this Jungle Combat Boot does not include the tear-off “Made in China” tag.
Indictment: Military boots made in China said ‘Made in the USA’
Fernald said that sometime between April and June of 2018, a final purchase description for the JCB will be developed — based on feedback from soldiers who wore it. He said he expects that in fiscal year 2019, an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract will be signed with multiple vendors to produce the final version of the JCB for the Army.
Bryan said the JCB, when it becomes widely available, will be wearable by all soldiers who want to wear it — even if they don’t work in a jungle.
“From the get-go we have worked… to make sure we all understood the Army wear standards for boots,” he said. “One of the pieces of feedback we have gotten from soldiers before they wear them is they look a lot like our current boots. That’s by design. These will be authorized to wear.”
While the JCB will be authorized for wear by any solider, Bryan made it clear that there will only be some soldiers in some units who have the JCB issued to them. And right now, those decisions have not been made. Soldiers who are not issued the JCB will need to find it and purchase it on their own if they want to wear it.
“We are not directing commercial industry to sell them,” Bryan said. “But if they build to the specification we’ve given them for our contract, they can sell them commercially and soldiers are authorized to wear them.”
Maybe some Army peeps can chime in on the revised M1966 Vietnam-era jungle boot. Will the troops only have to pay “cost” if they are not issued to them?
New Army Jungle Wear Gives ‘Trench Foot’ the Boot
Category: Army News
Socks? What about socks? In Vietnam, there were never enough socks.
Dry socks are indeed a welcome thing…
I have vacuum packed my socks when hiking.
In the sealed bag, they stay dry and take up a much smaller volume.
I just use a Foodsaver vacuum packer and inexpensive bags from Amazon.
Commercial Off The Shelf are best. I prefer OD Green Smartwool socks I can purchase at REI.
A good pair of quality wool socks is worth more than its weight in gold. Pulling on a pair of clean, dry socks could be a sublime pleasure. That, and a cup of real coffee, could make up for a lot of things.
+1 Medic09!
I like Smartwool, for their blisterproofing
I loved the Army all-wool socks when I first enlisted; comfortable and long-wearing, they were. Then they changed to part wool and part synthetic. Cheaper but crappier.
The best pair of socks I ever owned was a pair of thick wool civilian socks made by “Stockpile”(?).
“In Vietnam, there were never enough socks.”
WRONG, Ex-PH2, totally and completely wrong. When I arrived in country in Dec. 1965, your assertion was true. The logistics train was not yet fully established and we were short of everything, boots, socks, skivvies, T’s, absolutely everything except weaponry. I saw men who had been in country far longer than me out on operations in their rotting boxer shorts and T’s because their fatigues had disintegrated from wear and washings.
Within a couple of months the new supply base at Cam Ranh Bay was opened and the system vomited so much clothing on us that we couldn’t absorb it all. We hoarded the new jungle fatigues and jungle boots but much of the underwear went to the blackmarket until the Zips got so overstocked they quit trading for it.
Such is the way of the U.S. Army supply chain.
In 1970 and 1971 there was no shortage of the OD issue wool socks. Most of us carried three or four pair in our rucks, as they were essential; although, some of our hardcore types wore the jungle boot without them. It is amazing how tough your feet get when you hump a ruck in the jungle everyday, all day, for weeks on end.
Underwear? You wore underwear? I wore underwear for about the first two hours of my first walk in the woods. When we stopped for a break I stripped and threw the damn things into the bushes. Never wore them again until back in the states.
We had occasional shortages of boots, but mostly of small size jungle fatigues. It seems a lot of people lost a lot of weight over there and we had lots of surplus larger sizes, but a shortage of smaller sizes.
Evidently they even issued sleeping bags. I saw a couple of dozen rotting away in a field near the QM at An Khe once.
I hope they are NOT made in China! You can’t trust those people not to put some kind of poison in the boots….remember the thongs they shipped over here and peoples feet were burned bright red from some chemical in them? To hell with China, BUY AMERICAN!
this time with a wider array of sizes available: sizes 3-16, in narrow, regular, wide and extra wide.
Please tell me it’s for the women folk that we need sizes 3-7…..
I once knew a sailor who had a smaller shoe size than mine. And then, there was the WAVE whose large feet required a special order size 18.
Gee, I hope they make these available to us no-longer grunt peeps. I could use a good pair of hiking boots that won’t wear out, hang onto mud and let me spend a day in hostile plant territory with a camera. I miss that.
Was she a bosun’s mate?
I do not know. That was down at Orlando RTC. The Clothing & Small Stores people had to ship her shoes to her.
Ex-PH2, last recruits to graduate from RTC Orlando was 1994. You’re letting the age slip out around here! *chuckle*
I was stationed there in 1973.
You could have retired 9 years before my division graduated from NTC Great Mistakes.
I have a pair of lightweight (2.5 lb total) desert tan Rockies I bought a few years ago through Ranger Joe’s. I believe they were approved for PT but not combat wear. I’ve worn them in mud and water and, with the quick-dry socks I got at Academy Sports & Outdoors, my feet have stayed dry.
I wore them in a couple of benefit ruck marches humping a 45# pack with no issues in support or comfort.
She should have been in the ski troops with those gunboats. She could have slalomed without the skis.
And make the “extra-wide” truly extra wide. My 10.5 EEE feet get squeezed in some “extra-wide” footwear. And forget wearing any warm (read: “thick”) socks regardless of temperatures.
But I have to say the quick-dry wicking socks are worth their weight in gold 2x over.
Graybeard: I wear a 10-10.5 EEEEE/EEEEEE and can only get them through Hitchcock shoes via internet/catalog. They make good stuff but oh, boy, are they costly.
Went to Orlando boot in 68. Good times. Only problem I ever had in boot was rolling out of the sack at 0-darkthirty.
I’ll have to keep them in mind. I got some good dress shoes from Zippo’s internet – but I can only imagine what a EEEEE/EEEEEE would cost in any style. I think I’d go to making myself moccasins from scratch for everyday wear.
For hiking boots – hooeee!
VOV
In my father’s 26 years in the Marine Corps he wore a size 6-1/2. Unfortunately, I inherited that part of the gene pool and I wear a 6-1/2 as well. I’ve been retired for over a decade and I still wear military low quarters. There a simple reason. Most civilian shoes boys sizes stop at size 6 and men’s sizes start at size 7. I can still get 6-1/2 at military clothing sales or through the AAFES catalog.
You know what they say about small hands and small feet. That’s right small gloves and small shoes. I keep looking for a replacement size 3 set of nomex flight gloves.
I believe we invented the jungle boot (wheel) and it worked.
They worked for me, both in Ranger school and the Viet of the Nam. In fact, I took the army suplus pair I bought at Ranger Joe’s and wore at Ranger School to RVN; I wore them in the field for the first 7 months of my tour.
Its a shame that Altima won’t be making them yet. They always made the best quality jungle boots.
I wonder if Rocky Boots will come up with something as well? They’ve turned out some awesome waterproof boots in the past as well.
I still wear my issued Rocky cold-weather WP boot I was issued on the way to OIF in December ’08. Have worn as a cold/wet weather motorcycle boot since 2010, and only recently started to get some seepage around the toes.
MY favorite cold weather boots were the pair of Matterhorn Boots I bought at the Fort Lost-in-the-Woods Clothing Sales after I graduated Engineer OSUT in 1992, waterproof and GREAT in cold weather!
Look at a company called “Brown Boots”, I have a pair and they are very well made and fit right out of the box, no problems…I don’t use boots much anymore so these no doubt will last me my lifetime!
Daughter told me many heading to the sandbox bought their own Danners. She did and said the $200+ price was well worth it.
The old green jungle boots were one of the few things that big Army really got right. I wore them until the Army said no mas. Cheaper than the issue boot, more comfortable, and less boot to shine!
You know, I’ve still got a pair of these in the closet! Either the most, or 2nd most comfortable footwear ever. It’s got an insole made of nylon or something I bought at the Exchange that keeps the socks dry all day. Heavy sweat just peals away. Other pair is some old cowboy boots that are through their 4th sole…but damn.
Oh, yeah. I wore mine every day for years after I got out. Pain in the butt cleaning up all the mud I dragged into the house, but worth it.
I’ve still got two pair around here somewhere–first pair, duty gear issued at Ft. Bragg in 1967 and the second pair, acquired from an active duty friend in the 70’s, only worn once or twice.
Hmmmm….when I was with the 625th Maintenance (p/o 25th ID, HI), we were issued two pair of green or black jungle boots. They were the most comfortable boots I ever wore, summer or winter, sun, water, or snow.
Now, what are these new boots fixing that the Vietnam era boots had a problem? Is Big Army re-inventing the wheel?
The addition of an impenetrable insole layer to prevent punctures is mentioned in the article. The original jungle boots didn’t have that.
The original jungle boots had a steel plate in the sole due to the punji sticks used by the VC/NVA.
Mine had ’em.
The original pattern, USMC-issue green canvas/black leather jungle boots that I purchased at USMC Cash Sales at Camp Lejeune in the ’80s were all spike protective.
I believe the spike protective layer was added early on to the design, probably in 1966 or 1967. IIRC, the army surplus pair I purchased in 1968 had the spike protective plate, according to the label stenciled on the inside.
Tan jungle boots?
It’s bungle in the jungle.
More important to match while in formation on post than effectively camouflage in combat.
No experience in the jungle, but in the East Texas Pineywoods they match the color of the sand & clay pretty well.
That and $10 can get you a small drink at Starbucks.
I remember doing the morning PT run & the PT Test two miler in black Corcoran jump boots. That was a royal pain in the azz.
So glad when someone higher up made the decision to “okay” joggers.
My feet were in “hog heaven” at that point.
My feet still hurt from those runs, jump school 1964. The best boots I have ever owned are the Danner Ft. Lewis boot, ( are they now called JBLM boot?) They felt broke in when I put them on the first time.
Thinking of buying Danner Rivot TFX 8″ Coyote GTX to train in the mountains with. Training area 7800 to just under 12k ft. Have you heard any feedback on those in snow and ice conditions while walking/running w/pack?
I am not sure about that Danner boot, I got the Ft Lewis while I was OIC of a dive/high angle rescue team back around 89/90 time frame. I have warn them hunting, snowmobiling with temps down around zero, my feet have never gotten cold or wet. I had them recrafted about 6 years ago in their Cobbler shop, at that time you only paid shipping, that may have changed. But bar none they are the best boots I have ever owned. Cost is very high now north of $390.00 through Galls.
Thanks for the reply.
Corcorans were probably half the reason my knees blew out.
One other requirement for the boots – whoever makes ’em, make ’em LIGHT. A pair of hikers that weigh like running shoes are my toes’ wet dream.
Ah… the good old jungle boots. Some found them comfortable but the soles were as hard as brick, not to mention the shank!
Had a couple pair resoled by the local cobbler (shoe repair guy, yes they could be “resoled” if you found the right person) and that made a world of difference.
Remember the Corcoran jump boots affectionatley referred to as “Cockerans” and the tanker boots?
Back in the ’70s the old soldiers (lifers) always referred to the “brown boot” Army, although the probably hadn’t worn brown boots. What do they say now? “Well, back when I was in the black boot Army…”
Yep. I miss them so damn much. I’m out now but any Vet function that requires a uniform you will find me in rigidly starched BDUs with green jungles that you can shave by. It was a better Army, my $0.02.
For my money the best boot I ever wore were the basic issue leg boot circa 2002. The held up, never loosened, and yeah, that includes Hawaii rainy season.
Second best is a cheap pair of no frills, no nonsense Altima plain deserts.
Ive got some miles, heavy miles, on this frame and no complaints.
As long as the gear is reasonable weight and WILL NOT fail, I’m happy.
Not a fan of the old jungle boots at all. Easily the most uncomfortable boots I’ve ever worn. Zero weight distribution and ankle support felt like walking with planks. When you’re carrying heavy gear and walking on uneven terrain that isn’t what you want in a boot.
Lol @ tan “jungle” boots
Okay, I have a pair of Bass Boots that I bought about 20 years ago, and the left one is beginning to fall apart. That means find replacements, and I have itty-bitty feet.
I have LLBean snowshoe/X-country ski boots that are waterproof and insulated and will keep my little tootsies warm and dry down to -40F. But I need waterproof summer/all season boots, too, so what brand is best for people with itty-bitty feet?
And why not get the Bass Boots repaired? I will, if they are reparable, but they may be too far gone.
Ex-PH2, I use to wear Rocky’s (Rocky Mountain) boots and at one time you could send your boots in to them for repair. I believe new heels/soles ran around eight bucks or so, but this was back around the 1990’s. Don’t know if they do that anymore, but maybe Bass does the same thing.
Here’s a link to a Bass boot repair place.
http://www.nushoe.com/bass-shoe-repair.html
http://www.cabotresole.com/photos.htm
Local shoe repairers are scarcer than Republicans attending Berzerkley, but there just be one around your AO.
Keens. You will thank me and your feet will love me….ok, that’s not a weird statement
Bump on the Keens. Gotta pair of their hiking boot, there still with me five years later. Wear them landscaping, blowing leaves, masonry work… I had to get insoles for them in addition to what came stock. But all around, unbelievable build, light weight, strong, like this-Infantryman-hasn’t-broke-them strong.
Buy them. Don’t think, just buy.
Thanks to all of you. I will look into it.
I wept when the Marine Corps did away with boondockers in the ’60s–they made great loafers. Boots were good, too. When they came out with that shit in the early 60’s, recruits had takson foot problems-had to wear tennis shoes. As I recall the first jungle boots I had were made in Korea. I’m a believer in boots when in boot terrain. I like Redwing. I know a lotta Border Patrol and Firefighters wear them.
Why the f not: brown POLISHED boots. Suede sucks to keep clean, to keep from falling apart, is more likely to dry out, to get water logged and crack, it stretches, looks like a bag of ass, ain’t uniform in color…
Nothing good came from leaving the kiwi out of the kit.