Posted on 06/14/2004 1:56:14 PM PDT by xm177e2
By ROBERT BURNS, AP Military Writer
WASHINGTON - The Army revealed on Monday a redesigned combat uniform with a digital camouflage pattern that looks strikingly different from soldiers' current battle dress uniforms.
It marks the first major change in the Army uniform since 1981, said Brig. Gen. James R. Moran, who modeled the uniform for reporters at the Pentagon. He said recruits will be issued the redesigned uniform starting October 2005, and the entire Army will be outfitted by December 2007.
The uniform is being produced in a single, universal pattern to replace the two camouflage versions in current use: tan-brown for desert use and green-brown-black for woodland settings.
The pattern for the new camouflage coat and trousers is a mix of light green, tan and gray. Moran said it was designed to allow soldiers to blend into urban, desert and forest environments; it is similar to the Marines' digital camouflage uniform except that it has no black in the pattern.
Soldiers also will get a new, no-shine, tan combat boot, and the current black boots will be discontinued.
The new uniform makes more use of Velcro, and the coat fastens in front with a zipper instead of buttons. Cuffs and pockets are fastened with Velcro, and the coat collar can be turned up and fastened Mandarin-style. The uniform is roomier and made with a no-wrinkle fabric.
The coat-trousers combination costs $88, compared with $56 for the current battle dress uniform.
The new uniform was designed in part to accommodate the new Interceptor body armor that soldiers are getting in Iraq and Afghanistan for partial protection from bullets as large as 7.62mm. The Mandarin-style collar, for example, shields the neck from the Interceptor vest collar.
Moran said the Army will offer soldiers extra protection with add-on armor for the underarm area, which is not covered with protective plates in Interceptor vests. The deltoid protection will increase the weight of the armor vests from 16 pounds to 22 pounds.
About 50,000 sets of deltoid protection are to be available by the end of September.
Moran said the Army is looking for ways to protect soldiers better who risk death or injury from homemade bombs in Iraq, the weapons of choice for anti-U.S. insurgents.
"We have a clever enemy, an adaptable enemy," he said.
New uniform: https://peosoldier.army.mil/default.asp?sectionacu
Photo: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040614/480/wx10506142020
This is what John f-ing Kerry voted "no" on, right?
wow, he blends right in in that photo, doesn't he? The camo looks much more adaptable to SW asia than anywhere else.
Here's the new uniform. Stealthy, huh.
That's a pretty gay looking uniform. It looks like it could be worn as a skirt.
Good to see that the Army is still learning from the Marine Corps. Ripoff artists. Now when are they finally going to sh*tcan coed basic training.
Reminds me of European battle-uniforms. Can't say I particularly like it.
does anyone know if this is similar to the Marine BDU's which came out a few years ago?
Watching the Reagan funeral, I thought it looked like the military dress uniforms haven't changed in about 200 years.
The new uniform sounds more functional, but the tan combat boots have got to go. Those damn things are gonna make our guys stick out like a turd in a punch bowl.
Man, those boots are just way too loud.
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Looks a lot like old East German camo.
LOL!
Now they've GOT to do something about the Army's Class A uniforms (aka the Leisure Suit). Something with more (way more) tradition is sorely needed.
Looks like it should help those who have to blend into the grey steel desks and filing cabinets.
How far does the sound of a velcro pocket being opened carry in the dead of night? Why don't they just post neon signs saying "shoot in this direction" above each foxhole?
Namsman sends.
You should see the new uniform the Air Force is testing!
Yes, but will they keep that frenchy beret?
Mr. AQGeiger, who happens to be in the 82nd Airborne, just took a look at the proposed uniform. His opinion?
"The Army just got dumber."
You can't blend in with either a woodland or desert environment in that uniform.
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