An under-remarked artefact from the military, apart from so-called "shower shoes" - the web belt buckle

[UTUSN]

I don't remember from 50 years ago that this buckle gave me any trouble back then, but then my memory is almost as gone as is my erstwhile flat belly. So the context is that the recycled (from my own use with trousers) belt I was using with my Retirement Dress Code of fishing shorts, short sleeved shirt, and - .......SHOWER SHOES, whups caught myself in time! - reached its final shriveled end, cracked and brittle. So it occurred to me to use the web (cloth) soft belt from the military (new, not the original that would be about six inches short). Bought two at the local veterans surplus - always have to have two of everything, one for blue/black and one khaki for brown/green clothes.

So it's been a month and it has been a total hassle dealing with the military buckle. The aforesaid disappearance of the flat belly has already been established. So the focus is on the contraption aspect significant in making things more difficult in military thinking: A short rectangle buckle of brass (I don't know what the "silver" Air Force one is made of), with a claw connector to the belt and a brass tip at the far end, and here's the tough part: The inside passage of the buckle receives the tipped end of the belt, with the catch being the catch-22, an inside little brass bar that has to be slid up and over to lock the belt in place.

The trick is that the little bar needs to stay even vertically to slide up and over the belt, not be crooked or it will be stuck with the belt not being locked in place.

My problems at this age and physiognomy are what might be called an "overhang" that disallows viewing and stubby fingers that do things like hitting two keyboard keys at the same time, such that it takes three or so gasping up the overhang, pulling, and slipping attempts to get this danged buckle locked. And sometimes the sharp edged rectangle takes refuge under the overhang, almost cutting into it. Might have to find some other alternative soft belt.

[Eugene]

1. my choice of belts

just bought one last month

[UTUSN]

3. So... any tips on what I'm doing wrong?

[Eugene]

5. I make sure there is a layer of clothing between me and the belt buckle.

pants preferred but shirt if necessary

[UTUSN]

7. Good one. Already doing that one, but thanks.

[Alpeduez21]

2. This is the style belt I use as well

You might consider suspenders or overalls. Overalls are so very comfortable. No belt at all

[UTUSN]

4. Am glad you have all those options.

[CrispyQ]

6. I have a ton of those belts!

The hardware store sells webbing of all colors that fit those buckles. I have hot pink, sunshine yellow, bright turquoise, lime green, a color to match every tee-shirt. Oh & orange for Halloween.

[UTUSN]

8. We're on the color coordinated train, but my Dress Code is for shirt tails out and down for the daytime shorts.

When I go out in long trousers, am tucked-in with the other kind of belt and buckle.

[Permanut]

9. Thanks for the trip down memory lane, UTUSN..

Also wore these while in the Navy in the 60's; haven't worn one since.

[UTUSN]

11. You're totally welcome, shipmate, me '67-'71. I hadn't either except for a vet's funeral decades ago.

You've probably taken better care of yourself, but my recent re-try was shocking. Cheers - whups, another slip-up!

[Dorothy V]

10. When Dad couldn't see past his gut any more he went with suspenders. By the by, the USAF regulation belt buckle is

chrome plated steel. (Dad was a career USAF Medic).

[UTUSN]

12. "chrome plated steel" - smart USAF, no polishing, although am sure to be

corrected that our brass is filmed over protectedly. Couldn't fool you about my overhang!

[3catwoman3]

13. During my first assignment with the Air Force nurse corps, one of the senior...

...docs in the pediatric clinic talked about the Dunlop Award - given to the doctor "whose belly done lop most over his belt." There were several contenders.

[UTUSN]

14. Knr for, how did belly over belt get into a very serious conversation, cough.

[3catwoman3]

15. As best I can recall from 1976-77, this was during the annual fitness...

...assessment when everyone was supposed to be able to complete a 1.5 mile walk/run in a certain period of time (can't remember how much time). A number of the leaf and bird colonel doctors were in no shape to actually do this.

[UTUSN]

16. Just joking. Attempted. I remember boot camp, with full breakfast then running

and one time barfing over the side of a little wooden "bridge". Navy 3 meals.

[denbot]

17. I have a pretty new one of those. Still like them.

For my USN memory that was more of a BDU belt. I was an OS, so my experience with a web belt was for extra gear, using two vertical rows of brass grommets, with two match buckle hooks. Held a lot weight, and all were OG (green) leftover from Vietnam.

[UTUSN]

18. Thanks, shipmate

[Nittersing]

19. I *think* that's the kind of belt we wore with our uniforms to Girl Scout Camp!!

It might have been part of our regular uniforms too... don't remember for sure.