The CNO is considering options to replace the Desert Combat Uniform or DCU according to the Navy Times.   The new cammie uniform will not be a new digital brown/tan version of the Navy Working Uniform (NWU).  Those uniforms are reserved for Sailors in the Naval Special Warfare Command.

Outside of the SEALs and those Sailors who support them, the rest of the Navy continues to wear the DCU.  The Navy DCU contract expires in 2012.  The Navy could extend the contract or choose a new design. 

Alternatives to the DCU are being considered, but no decision has been made by the CNO.  Currently digital desert and woodland Navy Working Uniforms (NWUs) are organizational uniforms - issued by commands.  The desert digital NWU is limited to SEALs.

The Navy DCU contract expires at the end of 2012. Adm Roughead will be looking at DCU replacement options over the next year.  His objective is one uniform for different Navy communities.

The Marine Corps Times has reported that over 8,000 Rugged All Terrain or "RAT" boots have be recalled by the Marine Corps.  Many of the boots were worn by Marines deployed in Afghanistan. 

Failures with the RAT boots include seam separation due to poor stitching or glue, as well as eyelets falling off.   Marine Corps Systems Command has determined the problem to be poor manufacturing and use of improper materials, not poor design.

The USMC Infantry Combat Boot is scheduled to be replaced by the RAT boot in 2012.  

The recalled boots are made by Bates Boots.  It is uncertain exactly how many boots are currently in the operating forces, but at least one infantry battalion in Afghanistan currently has them.  The recall ensures that no more hot weather Bates RAT boots are worn by Marines down range. 

                    

67,000 pairs (out of 105,000) of Bates' RAT boots have already been delivered to the Marine Corps.  Danner also makes RAT boots, but the Marine Corps only purchased the boots from Bates.  Delivery from Bates has been stopped.  Danner and Welco versions of the RAT boots are not effected and were excluded from the recall.

Marines can find more information at Marine Corps recalls new boots from war zone in the Marine Corps Times. 
 

Fort Benning Public Affairs is reporting that 150 female Soldiers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, have begun testing the new Women's Army Combat Uniform.  Each Soldier received two sets of the new ACU on 23 Feb, 2011.

Soldiers will wear the female ACUs and provide feedback to the Soldier Colothing and Individual Command at Fort Belvoir.  Items evaluated will include durability, functionality, laundering and comfort.

Maj. Sequana Robinson, the assistant product manager assigned to Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment, said "The ACU uniform came out in 2005 and the Army has since found out how it was functioning and worked to make changes. One of the things we found out in the feedback was that the current uniform didn't fit as well on female Soldiers."

The new female ACU features narrower shoulder width, an added elastic waistband, adjusted chest, waist and sweep ratios, repositioned elbow and knee patches, longer top length on the front and back of the uniform and adjusted sleeve length and width.

450 female Army ACU uniforms will be issued to Soldiers at Fort Benning, Fort Jackson, Fort Carson and the Joint Base Lewis-McChord for testing and evaluation.  The uniform is still in the testing phase and has not yet been approved by the Army Clothing Board. 

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Airman will be wearing the Army Multicam Uniform in place of the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) in Afghanistan according to the the Air Force.  The ABU and the Combat version of the ABU will be replaced with the Army MultiCam uniform currently worn by soldiers deployed to Afghanistan.  (Airman currently serving with Army uniforms wear Army MultiCam Cammies).



Airmen currently wearing the Combat ABU will be the 1st to be issued MulitCam (Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern or OCP).

OCP MulitCam Uniforms have been designed with bug repellant material and flame resistant material.  Airman should not purchase this uniform on their own as MultiCam copies are not approved for wear.

Air Forces Central Command will purchase the OCP MulitiCam uniforms and ship them to predeployment training locations for those Airman with deployment orders.

Airman find more information about MultiCam replacing the ABU for deploying airmen in the Air Force Times.

NAVADMIN 025/11  announces CNO approved Navy Uniform Policy changes that were recommended by the 16 December 2010 Navy Uniform Board.



Approved  U.S. Navy Uniform Changes are:

-Chief Petty Officer (CPO) Cutlass design.  A twenty-six inch stainless steel blade and four laser engraved CPO anchors (CPO, SCPO, MCPO and MCPON) on the base, the new cutlass is expected to be available for purchase in August. The Cutlass is an optional uniform item.  the Uniform Board sought to ensure uniformity in appearance by directing the cutlass to be worn only when all members of an official party are wearing swords. The CPO Cutlass is expected to be available for purchase in August of 2011.

-Use of Portable Communications Devices.  Effective 60 days from NAVADMIN 025/11 communication devices (cell phones, blackberries etc.) are authorized for wear and use while in uniform (to include walking). "Although authorized, the device must be conservative in color and design, cannot distract from the appearance of the uniform, must be worn on the belt aft of the elbow and cannot interfere with the rendering of military courtesies and honors."

-Khaki Overblouse for Female Officers and CPOs. Effective 60 days from NAVADMIN 025/11 female Officers and CPOs are authorized to wear the Poly/Wool Khaki Overblouse as an optional component of the Navy Service Khaki Uniform. "Since the roll-out of the service uniform for junior enlisted, the Office of Women's Policy had received regular feedback from the fleet, requesting a similar overblouse option for female officers and CPOs to wear with their service khaki uniform. When this change takes effect in sixty days, female officers and CPOs will be able to wear the overblouse with slacks or skirts."

-Navy Flight Suit Manner of Wear.  Effective 1 October 2011 only Green Flight Suits will be worn in CONUS.  Tan Flight Suits will be worn while OCONUS as determined by the Navy Component Commander.  The only exception to this policy is the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron (Blue Angels).



Sailors should refer to NAVADMIN 025/11  or the Navy Compass article Navy Announces New Uniform Components and Rules for more information.

The Army is considering replacing its combat uniforms according to the Army Times.  It will test variants of the Marine Corps Marine Pattern or MARPAT camouflage.

According to Army leaders, the Army wants to replace the current Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP).  UCP is the 3 color pattern in the Army Combat Uniform.  UCP, fielded in 2004, has been criticized for providing poor concealment and failing to allow soldiers to blend into different backgrounds on the battlefield. 

                            
                             Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP)




The service is looking for an "operationally and scientifically validate" camouflage pattern that provides concealment in any deployed environment according to the project manager of Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment.   A minimum of 3 camouflage patterns will be selected (Woodland, Desert and Transitional).  The transitional camouflage pattern will cover everything between woodland and desert camouflage. 

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The ACU pattern, or UCP, will not be part of the test.  The Army will test USMC Woodland and Desert MARPAT and similar MARPAT type patterns called AOR 1 & 2.  AOR 1 & 2 are treated to reduce infrared signature.  The Marine Corps owns the rights to MARPAT and has approved of testing, but will retain the rights for USMC use only in order to distinguish Marines from other services.  Their concern is making sure patterns are different enough to make them unique to each service.  

                           
                            USMC Woodland/Desert MARPAT pattern

Army Senior Enlisted personnel in Afghanistan listed "serious concerns .. regarding UCP's camouflage effectiveness during combat operations," according to the Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center in Massachusetts.  The Army answered with MultiCam in 2010 for soldiers deployed to Afghanistan after it proved more effective than many other patterns, including UCP. 

Soldiers in Afghanistan lost confidence in the effectiveness of UCP and prefer MultiCam or MARPAT.  After testing the new Army Camouflage Pattern fielding could occur as early as Oct of 2012. 

                   
                    U.S. Army MutiCam Pattern
                
Soldiers can find more information about the New Army Camouflage Pattern  in the Army Times.

The Lightweight Performance Hood (LPH) is a recently fielded piece of fire-resistant Soldier equipment that can save Soldiers from severe, disfiguring, even life-threatening burns to the head, specifically the face, nose, ears, and neck.



Made of a fire-resistant, no-melt, no-drip material and weighing approximately 3 ounces, the LPH is also moisture-wicking and comfortable. The ventilated mesh dome at the top of the hood helps minimize heat stress in hot or dry climates, while providing limited heat retention in cool climates. These performance and comfort characteristics encourage Soldiers to wear the hood.

The hood fits easily in a Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) grenade pouch or uniform pocket and is well worth its weight on the battlefield

The Fire Resistant Army Combat Uniform-Permethrin
(FR ACU-P) has the same design and base FR fabrics as the FR
ACU, but is also factory-treated with insect and tick protection.

The FR ACU-P consists of a jacket and trousers in the Universal
Camouflage Pattern. The FR ACU-P was developed to provide
Soldiers a uniform with built-in protection against bothersome
or disease-carrying insects and ticks. The permethrin treatment
will continue to provide protection throughout the life of the
uniform.

Soldiers can find more information on the FR ACU-P at
PEO Soldier Live.