Camouflage: Less than meets the Eye

In watching last year’s multi-gazillion dollar film “Transformers” I made a startling discovery.

In the scenes with US troops in Iraq (or Afganistan?) fighting the giant decepticon, the soldiers are wearing Vietnam era uniforms (green camouflage). It was strange.

Not only have US troops been wearing the desert-colored camouflage in every conflict that I know of since 1991, but they’re in a desert! If they’re wearing camouflage, shouldn’t it not be green!?

I have come up with four possibilities as to why a gigantic blockbuster which could have made any number of uniforms they wanted used a uniform that no active US soldier has worn in years:

1. The film makers preferred the Vietnam era uniforms.

This is far-fetched, but perhaps the director really liked those old colors. Doubtful.

2. The film makers thought that their audience prefers Vietnam era uniforms

I don’t see what this could possibly be based upon. Perhaps they feel that since no one likes the current conflict they don’t like the current uniforms? Bizarre and even more far-fetched than the idea that the film makers preferred the old uniforms.

My friend Joseph actually claims he would never join any branch of the US military based entirely upon the fact that he believes their uniforms have terrible fashion. Although he is no friend to their ideology, he loves the Nazi SS uniforms with a passion.

While my buddy Joseph has strong opinions on the subject, I don’t think the masses somehow prefer one type of uniform over another, and if they did, who cares?

3. The film makers did not know what US uniforms look like.

This is even more extremely doubtful. The producer, director, screenwriter, set director, photographer, choreographer, line producer, costume designers, hair stylists, gaffers, no one knew that our troops haven’t used green camo in years? Give me a break.

4. The film makers thought Americans would not recognize US troops without green uniforms.

This, although also far-fetched, seems to me the most likely. Did the film makers believe that the majority of their viewers have not seen even one photo or newscast or anything of even one US soldier in America or abroad since 1991? Do they think that Americans are that stupid?

What does this all mean?

Probably that I spent way too much time thinking about something that doesn’t matter.

But at least I didn’t spend time reading it – which is what you did.