The Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) is the new service-distinctive camouflage battle dress uniform for the United States Air Force. It is currently in full production and is expected to completely replace the Battle Dress Uniform by Fiscal Year 2011.[1]
History
The first prototype of the ABU was unveiled in the summer of 2003, based on the Vietnam-era tiger stripe pattern.[2] The early uniform prototypes consisted of trousers, an embroidered undershirt, and a blouse. The camouflage pattern, developed by Tiger Stripe Products and based upon their popular copyrighted Original Vietnam Tiger Stripe was a blue/gray, tiger stripe pattern.
After months of "wear testing," Air Force officials revised the color scheme and camouflage pattern due to feedback received from Airmen. The new elementary semi-pixelated tiger pattern would trade its dominant blue overtones for a more subdued palette, which still includes some blue tones.[3] However few of the functional recommendations made by Airmen in the field were implemented into the uniform which remains very similar in makeup to the older BDU style uniforms. [4] This has been a subject of many complaints from Airmen returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan who had been wearing the U.S. Army-issued Army Combat Uniform (ACU) as a temporary issue uniform. These complaints include the ABU's inability to keep Airmen cool while working in desert conditions due to the thickness of the material and large interior pockets, lack of storage space and the low ease of use with government issue personal body armor. While not officially recommended, USAF Airmen can cut the pockets out of the inside of the blouse because it does not alter the outer appearance of the uniform.
On October 2, 2007 the Air Force began issuing the ABU to enlisted trainees in Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, and is now becoming available for purchase by all Airmen. It is current (2008) issue to Airmen being deployed to locations in the Middle East, including Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. Personnel in other countries continue to be issued DCU uniforms while inventory lasts. The ABU is available at Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) military clothing stores. Although the Air Force has officially recognized color variations in different set of ABUs, all variations are currently authorized to wear and the problem should be fixed when the patterns are finalized within a year. The current projected mandatory wear date for the new ABU is slated for 2011.[5]
Features/Attributes
"The Airman Battle Uniform" is similar to the Army Combat Uniform (or ACU) in color, with the inclusion of blue, but is far more similar to the current BDU in layout. The ABU is to be worn with low-maintenance foliage green suede combat boots, although tan suede is allowed until the mandatory foliage green boot phase-in date. Desert boots may be worn with the ABU, and accessories such as backpacks and gloves may be black, until the foliage green phase-in date. The ABU does not have features of the U.S. Army ACU, such as tilted/slanted pockets, sleeve pockets, velcro attachment points and closures, gusseted back, mandarin collar, etc. However, the ABU does have essential NIR (near-infrared) qualities. Unlike the ACU, the sleeves are authorized to be rolled up, as the uniform is made of thicker material which doesn't do as well in the hot weather areas. The heavy weight of the material, along with the multiple layers used to make the interior pockets, made the ABU more uncomfortable to wear than the ACU or BDU in hot climates such as the Middle East. A new version of the ABU blouse has the multiple layers and inside pockets removed, since they couldn't be used in practical situations.
Overview of the Airman Battle Uniform is as follows:
Headwear
Patrol cap's shape remains the same, including sewn vent holes instead of grommetted vent hole.
Boonie cover is available for the ABU for use only in Deployed Locations.
Organizational (i.e., squadron, group or wing) ballcaps are not authorized (exceptions being authorized bush hats, berets, and RED HORSE)
Sand T-shirt (Cotton, Cotton Blend, or wicking material)
Blouse
All insignia is embroidered in midnight-blue thread with urban-grey background with the exception of rank insignia for 2nd Lieutenant and Major, which incorporate brown thread
Nametapes, service tapes and badges (aeronautical wings, occupational badges, etc.) are embroidered in midnight-blue thread in ABU background
Patches (i.e., MAJCOM, USAF Weapons School, wing, group, squadron, etc.) are not worn with the ABU; however occupational badges (up to 3) are authorized.
2 internal map pockets
Pen pouch on left forearm (Holds two pens)
All other patches are not authorized to include the Commanders badge
Outerwear such as Gore-Tex parka, rain jacket are available for the ABU
Rigger's belt, sand
Trousers
Elastic stretch waist
Additional pocket inside thigh cargo pockets
Two lower leg cargo pockets
Tool pouches on lower leg pockets (with two pen pockets on the right pocket)
Combat boots are rough-out foliage green
Sock color must match boots [7]
The ABU boasts 236 different size options in both male and female sizes which are only be offered in temperate weight. Additionally, its permanent press finish means the uniform cannot be starched, pressed or dry-cleaned. Airmen are able to pull the ABU from the dryer and wear it without further treatment. Any further treatment would degrade the effectiveness of the uniform and damage the NIR capability.
No mixing of camouflage patterns is currently authorized with the ABU except when in deployed locations such as the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR), or when ACU or camouflage field items, such as magazine/utility pouches, personal body armor, helmet covers, knee/elbow pads, etc., are authorized. Exception to this policy is the BDU gortex parka which, with installation commander approval, is authorized for wear with the ABU. Only the AF APECS Parka or DCU gore-tex is authorized in the USCENTCOM AOR. Backpacks and other accessories must be sage or ABU pattern. As many accessories are not made in ABU specifically, ACU pattern accessories are authorized.
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