U.S. Army Combat Uniform (Acu)

U.S. Army Combat Uniform (ACU)

The battlefield of the 21st century is increasingly being characterized by the need for body armor that can withstand the rigors of a wide range of environmental conditions and recent initiatives by the U.S. Department of Defense and Department of the Army have focused on providing soldiers with an improved combat uniform and the accessories needed in the dynamic combat environment today. One such initiative is the U.S. Army Combat Uniform (ACU) which is the focus of this paper. A review of the relevant literature concerning the ACU is provided below, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.

According to a press release concerning the ACU from Army.com (2006), the new ACU is comprised of a jacket, trousers, patrol cap, moisture wicking t-shirt and newly introduced Army Combat Boot (Temperate and Hot Weather) (the New Army Combat Uniform, 2005). The new ACU is a wrinkle-free uniform that features a digitized camouflage pattern (Triggs, 2004). The report from Army.com also notes that the new ACU is the result of lengthy R&D efforts as well as collaboration with the soldiers who will be required to wear it. Moreover, the ACU contributes to the effectiveness of soldiers on the battlefield by providing a uniform that can be customized to the individual mission; providing enhanced functionality and ergonomics over the existing Battle Dress Uniform; and, eliminating the need to provide different types of uniforms for different environments (the New Army Combat Uniform). These attributes combine to make the new ACU appropriate for virtually any conditions around the world. In this regard, the new ACU represents a fundamental overhaul of previous uniform designs. As Col. John Norwood, the project manager for Clothing and Individual Equipment advises, "This isn't about a cosmetic redesign of the uniform. it's a functionality change of the uniform that will improve the ability of Soldiers to execute their combat mission" (quoted in Triggs at p. 3). Initial distribution of the ACU to began in February 2005 and was expected to be completed Army-wide by mid- 2008 (the New Army Combat Uniform).

Although at $88 each, the new ACU costs $34 more than its predecessor, the extra expense for the uniform will be offset by:

Proposed increase, as yet to be determined, in the monthly Clothing Replacement Allowance for enlisted soldiers;

permanent press treatment that eliminates the need for soldiers to pay for costly dry cleaning of their uniforms;

No added cost to soldiers for additional sewing due to the use of hook and pile or pin-on patches, nameplates, and badges;

Army-wide savings realized by streamlining procurement and stockpiling of one uniform for all environments instead of maintaining the BDU in the woodland and desert patterned sets; and,

Decreased manufacturing costs as processes are refined (the New Army Combat Uniform).

There are no plans on the table to change current regulations that authorize the Army Black Beret for wear with the new ACU; however, there are discussions underway concerning whether the ACU will replace any uniform besides the Battle Dress Uniform and Desert Camouflage Uniform (the New Army Combat Uniform). According to the press release, "The ACU, including component materials, will be manufactured in the United States using the same industrial base that produces the current uniform, thereby, ensuring the highest quality control and assisting the American workforce" (the New Army Combat Uniform, p. 3). The Army's fact sheet on the new ACU also points out that a flame-resistant ACU (FR ACU) version possesses the same design; however, this version is manufactured using of advanced fire-resistant fabrics (Army Combat Uniform, 2007).

An example of the new ACU is provided in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1. Soldier Wearing New Army Combat Uniform.

Source: The New Army Combat Uniform at http://www.army.com/articles/item/2502.

Likewise, the Air Force has also introduced a new Airman Battle Uniform that is similar in design and identical in composition to the Army's ACU. According to Gertz and Scarborough, the uniform is permanent press wash-and-wear, and is less expensive that its predecessors; the new uniform also comes in 236 sizes for men and women. The Air Force began issuing the new uniforms in 2007 (Gertz & Scarborough, 2006). These authors add that, "The Airman Battle Uniform will replace the current woodland pattern Battle Dress Uniform and Desert Camouflage Uniforms and will feature a distinctive Air Force digitized tiger stripe pattern, which shares three colors with the Army Combat Uniform and one additional color of slate blue" (Gertz & Scarborough, p. 6).