Das Combat Boot

Diggers forced to buy their own boots
By Ian McPhedran
December 05, 2007 12:10am

AUSTRALIAN soldiers are being forced to pay hundreds of dollars of their own money to buy overseas-made boots that don't damage their feet.

After numerous complaints during the past seven years, defence chiefs are set to approve a redesign of the Australian combat boot.

A major review of boot design and construction, which began last June, will be finished in the first half of 2008. It follows a multitude of complaints about the Terra combat boots made by the Redback Australia Boot Company.

The army issues about 30,000 pairs of Terra boots a year, but up to eight different boot types are in service in the defence force. These include British-made Scarpa trekking boots used by soldiers in Afghanistan.

A letter in the latest edition of Army News from Sgt Kelly Ervin, who is serving with the military's forward logistics unit in the Middle East, highlighted some of the problems. He raised concerns about the number of troops forced to wear orthotics or inserts because of ill-fitting boots. The orthotics alone can cost taxpayers up to $300 a pair.

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"I have worn black boots, brown boots, Doc Martens, Taipans, US-issue boots and suede boots in the 16 years that I've been in the army," Sgt Ervin wrote.

"What has surprised and concerned me over the past few years has been the number of soldiers now forced to wear orthotics - including me - and who have been medically downgraded ... because we have been issued with, dare I say it ... sub-standard equipment."

Like many soldiers, Sgt Ervin parted with $200 of his own money to buy a pair of US-made Altama combat boots. Since then he has dispensed with the orthotics and no longer suffers from heat rash or stone bruises on his feet.

Redback Australia managing director Mark Cloros said problems with Terra boots were due to inflexible guidelines applied by the Defence Department.

He said there was also a lack of trials before the boot was rolled out in 2000 and they were made in just 43 sizes. "Ninety per cent of the negative feedback has been about incorrect fitting and sizing," Mr Cloros said.

"The Canadians have 72 sizes and the Americans 120 different boot sizes available."Defence said that since its introduction in 1999, the Terra had undergone development in response to user feedback and technological advances.

They're like slippers, I swear!