The Armed Forces Sweater

Trying something else, I came across an old military sweater, bought at the American market in Livorno, at the time of my military service, a classic olive green Woolypully, one with patches on the shoulders and elbows, in Shetland wool. ribbed, warm and stylish but very heavy. I bought it as an addition to the sweater, similar, given to me, the classic throwing sweater supplied to the paratroopers was not, at that time available in my size (sic) …

I used the sweater as a thermal layer under my uniform and for several years after my leave, in the 90s it was still difficult to find good quality military green fleece, given the fashion to go to the mountains colored like Arlecchino, in fact the only one military fleece of excellent quality was the one supplied to the 9th Btg Col Moschin (it will become regiment a few years later, if I remember correctly in 1997) produced by Bailo in an excellent fiber that made it very hot and also very expensive …

The thermal layer today defined as second layer or level 3 in military standards, has been in wool since the dawn of time until a few years ago, when it was supplanted by fleece or fleece as the Americans say, a lighter and cheaper product with similar thermal characteristics. to wool but with a decidedly more modern functionality.

Today it is normal to wear over the base layers and under the outer protective layer, a fleece that insulates from the cold and carries excess heat, so much so that there are all shapes and weights, for use in the most disparate climates, from the grid one (grid) to the hairy one (high loft) from the elasticized one to the fire resistant one (FR). Functional garments for the various operating theaters, but aesthetically the old sweater always makes its figure!