Hi Roy,
My US boots were 40 years ago, and they'll have changed them a bit since then. I didn't use them that much, it was not so much 'horses for courses', because as you know, who ever knew exactly what both the weather and terrain would be like, more a case of what I fancied on the spur after briefing.
I'd like to handle some of the latest gear - it's amazing how long it's taken NATO to wake up to the reality of war today - I think in part that it's taken longer to react as so much was ''apparently'' becoming ''press button'' and so ''depersonalised'' and they were busy trying to forget that the Romans knew you needed infantry to hold ground (as well as usually to take it) - which is why they didn't bother much with cavalry, and 'Ben Hur" & Co were strictly for entertainment.
The US found out the hard way in Vietnam, but was slow to accept it, and Britain's ''Little Wars" should have focused minds, but the pollies always think it'll never happen again and anyway they want ''something that you can see'', that's why they don't build sewers, they build towers.
I've been pleased to read all that Gen Dannant said - before and since he left.