How to roll BDU Sleeves

[GTodd]

How to roll Cammie Sleeves

JUst what the title asks. How do you roll cammie sleeves so that you get the nice tight, flat look? My SI showed us once but they dont come out as nice. I went to a mini ocs this weeked and my Gunny and Lt. had nice crisp sleeves and mine just were not as nice. Lets hear those tricks please.

 

[squeeze]

step 1) don't refer to them as BDU's, that's an Army term... "Utilities" or "Cammies" only

to roll them, just fold them over about halfway and roll till the flap of the arm pocket is partially over the fold. as you roll them up, work out the slack/folds/wrinkles. you can iron them with each roll if you are so inclined, but its not necessary.

dont worry... everyone sucks at first... it takes practice.

 

[KBayDog]

1. Marines don't wear BDUs.
2. Hard/impossible to explain over AW. Have a Marine show you.

 

[sgtdube]

Having nice sleeves only comes with time

 

[GTodd]

oooooooh come on tje last two were cop outs, and a Marine did show me (my SI), they just arent as flat as some other Marines I have met. Come on whats the secret.

 

[CTE83]

Come on whats the secret.

Tender, love, and care.

 

[gregsivers]

Come on whats the secret.

Wear a flightsuit :icon_smil

 

[HueyCobra8151]

You are correct Todd, rolling good sleeves doesn't come (as others have suggested) with practice, or with time.

You need to start practicing voodoo. Heavily.

Only then will the mastery of the sleeve be yours.
--
Bleh, I started to write out a detailed description of how to do it...but it was not understandable at all...too hard to spell out on the intarweb.

 

[KBayDog]

oooooooh come on tje last two were cop outs, and a Marine did show me (my SI), they just arent as flat as some other Marines I have met. Come on whats the secret.

Not cop outs. The secret is having someone show you how to do it, and PRACTICE.

And VOODOO. Try as they might, some folks just can't get it.

 

[GTodd]

Come on Cobra lets see those directions who cares if you spell a word wrong, I want my sleeves perfect for Sr's. I dont want to look like trash.

 

[Malice 1]

Lame but funny shortcuts:

1)get them folded properly by a Marine, and never unroll them again. This will require dry cleaning for your blouses. (not smart for OCS, since you get filthy on a regular basis, and don't have a drycleaning shop in the squad bay)

2) grow yourself some huge biceps, so you don't have to put the little vertical crease in the folds. You can natrually "fill" the sleeve and still look like a stud.

 

[DocT]

Maybe some around here aren't old enough to have tight rolled or "pegged" their jeans in the late 80's/early 90's, but that is essentially how one rolls sleeves. Let me tell you, all the practice with acid washed denim has put me ahead of the game.

 

[phrogdriver]

Using an iron after each fold helps, but is extremely time consuming. Second the idea of not unrolling them unless you have to.

 

[HueyCobra8151]

Come on Cobra lets see those directions who cares if you spell a word wrong, I want my sleeves perfect for Sr's. I dont want to look like trash.

My spelling is impeccable. I just don't know how to spell it out for you.

Ok...I guess I will try.

Lay the blouse out on the deck with the front buttons buttoned and the sleeves out at a natural angle. It should be completely flat.

At the end of the sleeve you want to roll, button that first button, so it doesn't cinch down the sleeve at all, it just keeps that little flap down.

Now take the bottom of the blouse and pull it up past the neck of the blouse, until the sleeve folds upwards. Now flatten everything out again. So there should be a single fold near the bottom of your sleeve.

Fold the sleeve more if you arms are small, less if your arms are big. Now make sure it is flat and there are no wrinkles.

Roll the cuff once, and use your finger to keep the the fold in place. Smooth it out (or iron it out as others have suggested). Roll again, keep your finger in place, and smooth it out. Repeat until the rolls have reached the shoulder pocket.

When you are done, and you put the blouse on, the roll should be about 2-3 inches above your elbow, and it should be perfectly flat. The folded part should be underneath your armpit so it is less visible. There should be no IP's visible.

And finally, it should be tight. Tight sleeves make your arms look bigger and they make you veins pop out more, which makes you look meaner. Which is why in Somalia we were called the "whitesleeves." ****in dangerous.

Now you will say: "But Huey, I rolled my sleeves just like you said and they look like ass."

A) You need to practice
B) It is something that is difficult to explain in words over the internet
C) I am guessing that you won't be the first person to show up to OCS not knowing how to roll sleeves.

 

[cycl06]

Most candidates rolled sleeves weren't the best, mine included. I had a prior "help" me with my inspection cammies and they look pretty good. I haven't unrolled them since and I don't plan on it.