MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT/EASTERN RECRUITING REGION PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- -- Marines waited in line for more than five hours to be among the first Tri-Command permanent personnel, other than those in Recruit Training Regiment, to wear the new utility uniform.
An estimated 1,500 sets of new utilities were made available, including both woodland and desert camouflage. Marines were limited to one set of each, until the desert uniforms sold out.
This was the first time the new uniforms were available through Cash Sales, said Sgt. Danny Fisher, Cash Sales non-commissioned officer-in-charge.
Fisher found a horde of Marines waiting for him when he arrived, with personnel from both the Depot and MCAS Beaufort waiting in line to get their first chance at buying the new uniforms.
"It was like a new ride at an amusement park," said Fisher. "People lined up around the block."
"There was a big crowd to be taken care of," said Pfc. Juan Martinez, Cash Sales specialist, who spent the day filling giant bags with the new uniforms that the Marines bought.
Marines lined up early to scoop up the new uniforms. Corporal Patricia Thomas, an MCAS reproduction specialist, was in line at 6 a.m., two hours before Cash Sales opened. There were Marines in line ahead of her when she arrived. Still, the low cost made the wait worth it for Thomas.
"It's cheaper this way," she said.
Price was a prominent reason for many Marines willing to wait. Two pairs of the new uniforms cost about $30.
"We can get them cheaper now, so we might as well get there," said Cpl. Frankie Fernandez, Service Company training NCO.
Cheap and new made for a hot item.
"Business is great," said Maj. David Vrancic, Depot clothing officer, while supervising the sale. "A lot of Marines are happy to get their first set of the [new] utilities."
According to Master Sgt. Douglas DeLoach, Depot Clothing SNCOIC, Marines could start wearing the new uniforms almost immediately.
"If they can get nametapes today, they could wear them today," he said.
Marines trying on the new uniforms found that they do differ is size from the old ones. The new uniforms are slightly longer in sleeve and trouser length than the old ones, though they are about the same in chest size. So, for example, a Marine who normally wears a medium-long top in the old utilities would wear a medium-regular in the new ones. Garrison covers remain the same sizes between new and old, though the new boony covers are a size larger than the garrison covers.
By the end of the day, Cash Sales had sold more than approximately $13,000 (about $52,000 at full price) worth of uniforms, covers and boots.