Mr. John Richardson (Perth—Middlesex, Lib.): General Leach, thank you very much for appearing before us.
I can remember that when I was a soldier . . .
One of the problems with the tan uniform—and I'll say this, you've probably all had the same—is that if you're not a model of Mr. Universe, you sure look like Humpty Dumpty. It's because the damned thing doesn't have a pleat in it to make it dress better and drop down better. The jacket's nice, but the pants and shirt.... To put it bluntly, if you're not the right shape, you can look like hell.
. . . Take a good look at the walk-out dress as well.
LGen W.C. Leach: Do I have an opportunity to—
An hon. member: Sure.
The Chairman: And comment on the uniform.
LGen W.C. Leach: I have every intention to comment on the uniform.
You might notice that my body is shaped the way it is. It's not long and thin; it's a little bit shorter and a little bit broader, and I've been in some of those situations myself.
However, if I want to go back a couple of years and look at what our soldiers said about uniforms, our soldiers said quit screwing us around, we don't need a lot of different uniforms, we just need the basic uniforms and let's make some decisions and get on with life. The soldiers said there are two uniforms that are important if you're a soldier, and one is combat clothing; get it for us, get the right amount, get the right type, because when we're on the battlefield we want to feel comfortable operationally, comfortable personally, and then morale will be okay. We're addressing that.
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The second issue from the soldiers is why is it that we have this green uniform, which is technically called rifle green and which the soldiers like, and the tan uniform, which you described quite well—I would probably be a little ruder and cruder—what people look like in it. So we made a decision. I've made a decision. I've been led to believe by the Chief of the Defence Staff that he agrees with my decision and would be making it happen. The army is going to give the soldiers what they want. There are going to be two uniforms in the army in the future, and they're going to be combat and this uniform, the green. We are going to stop swapping back and forth. We are going to stop wearing a uniform in the summer that doesn't breathe and makes you like a bag of you know what and is just all-round uncomfortable.