Pags, sorry for not responding. I've had my Alden Aviator boots (bought through Orvis) for 2 months now, and they are by far the best pair of shoes/boots that I own. They are very comfortable and the leather still smells wonderful. I'm still in the hunt for an AE or Alden dress shoe to wear with civilian clothes. (Leaders are AE Park Avenue, Alden 974, or perhaps the new AE Lombard with a dress rubber sole). For the military shoes though, I think I'll go with Bates again simply because I don't wear plain toed shoes outside of the military.
Has anyone sported a balmoral vs the blucher for their brown shoe? I ask simply because the regulation only mentions oxford style (which in the US means either bal or blucher).