Yes Sir!

U.S. Army Shoots Down 'Toe Shoes'

July 14, 2011 8:57 am

Stop me if you've heard this one before — I'm still playing catch-up after a week off — but it appears that the United States Army recently banned so-called "barefoot running shoes," such as Vibram FiveFingers, that have a separate compartment for each little piggy.

This news came to us via Slate.com, which got it via The Washington Post. The gist, from the Slate.com story:

No, you did not misread the headline. The Army has indeed banned those funky shoes with five individual slots for your toes. …

“Effective immediately, only those shoes that accommodate all five toes in one compartment are authorized to wear” because toe shoes “detract from a professional military image,” states the official Army notice.

Slate includes the "full All Army Activities release," which is kind of fun. Here it is:

ALARACT 239/2011
DTG: R 231424Z JUN 11
UNCLASSIFIED//
THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN SENT BY THE PENTAGON TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTER ON BEHALF OF DA WASHINGTON DC//DAPE-HRI//
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR EXCEPTION TO POLICY TO PUBLISH ALARACT MODIFYING WEAR OF IMPROVED PHYSICAL FITNESS UNIFORM (IPFU)

1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO MODIFY THE EXISTING WEAR POLICY FOR THE (IPFU).
2. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF MINIMALIST RUNNING SHOES AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE AND WEAR. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, ONLY THOSE SHOES THAT ACCOMMODATE ALL FIVE TOES IN ONE COMPARTMENT ARE AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR. THOSE SHOES THAT FEATURE FIVE SEPARATE, INDIVIDUAL COMPARTMENTS FOR THE TOES, DETRACT FROM A PROFESSIONAL MILITARY IMAGE AND ARE PROHIBITED FOR WEAR WITH THE IPFU OR WHEN CONDUCTING PHYSICAL TRAINING IN MILITARY FORMATION.
3. HQDA POC FOR UNIFORM WEAR POLICY IS SGM JAMES A. MCGRUDER, JAMES.MCGRUDER@CONUS.ARMY.MIL , DSN 664-0620, (703) 604-0620.
4. EXPIRATION: THIS MESSAGE EXPIRES UPON NEXT PUBLICATION OF AR 670-1.
5. EXPIRATION DATE CANNOT BE DETERMINED.

So at least two things about the U.S. Army brass are clear: One, they aren't afraid to use the Caps Lock key; and two, they don't believe that FiveFingers convey a "professional" image.

Sorry, soldiers. From now on you'll have to wear regular running shoes during training, for a more professional, dignified look.

e.g.,

What do you think, readers? Sound off!

From Runners World...

http://rwdaily.runnersworld.com/2011/07/u-s-army-shoots-down-toe-shoes.html