We've been involved in a couple of wars for going on 10 years now, what is the iconic representative "thing" from all this? I don't think we have one for the U.S., I wonder if there is one for the Brits?
I've been in the Army for 22 years. Probably the coolest jacket I've ever been issued is a green, nomex tanker jacket back when I was a Cavalry Scout and was a gunner on a Bradley Fighting Vehicle. But I had to turn that in when I left that unit. The Nomex flight jacket still exists, but as a ACU pattern windbreaker.
I don't really consider my cotton field jacket to be an heirloom item, although I think an argument can be made that the OD green version is pretty iconic for the Vietnam generation.
If you look at the gear we've been issued, it's all very modern and works for its intended purpose very well. We've got a fleece jacket and a light, wind-proof outer shell, plus an additional rain jacket and pants. But none of these things are going to last much beyond the year long deployment. In fact we've already had to replace items, they are just not heavy-duty.
It's a bit sad, but a Soldier in a pair of ACU pants with a ripped out crotch and a torn combat shirt are, to me, one of the iconic images of this war.
It's ironic that I used to wonder why the Army didn't just go to the civilian outdoor clothing world to find warmer, lighter clothing for winter use. I remember sitting freezing in the field in Germany years ago wearing the cotton field jacket with the quilted liner, longing for my then new-tech civilian fleece jacket. Be careful what you wish for, right?
