Finally last November, after five years, the Air Force approved a lighter weight fabric for the Airman Battle Uniform. Previously, ABUs were manufactured from a 50/50 Nylon and Cotton twill. You old timers can think winter or heavy weight BDUs and you younger guys need to know that even the original BDUs weren’t as hot as the ABU.
But now everything has changed. ABUs will now be made from the same ripstop 50/50 blend of Nylon and Cotton used by the Army and they are beginning to roll of the production line at Propper. This newer fabric was first introduced in the early 1990s on the Enhanced Hot Weather Battle Dress Uniform. Why it took so long we will never know.
Something to remember, the ABU is not intended to be worn outside of the wire in combat environments.
New Air Force recruits will begin to receive the new version of the ABU at BMTS. But militarygear.com wanted us to pass this along.
“If you just can’t stand the heat anymore, you can pre-order the nylon-cotton ripstop ABU coats (MSRP $59.99) and ABU pants (MSRP $59.99) at MilitaryGear.com. The first orders are expected to ship around April 16, 2012.”
Men’s
militarygear.com/mens-propper-nylon-cotton-ripstop-abu-coats
militarygear.com/mens-propper-nylon-cotton-ripstop-abu-pants
Women’s
militarygear.com/womens-propper-nylon-cotton-ripstop-abu-coats
militarygear.com/womens-propper-nylon-cotton-ripstop-abu-pants
Tags: MilitaryGear.com, Propper
This question is genuine curiosity, not trolling:
“the ABU is not intended to be worn outside of the wire in combat environments.”
1. If not, what is it’s purpose, and why is the word “battle” in the name?
2. What are Air Force members supposed to be wearing outside the wire?
Not that I’d actually want to roll into battle wearing Tactical Hawaiian, but what am I missing here?
1. [sarcasm] Every airman is a defender, huah! [/sarcasm]
2. AF members wear the Army’s OCP ACUs outside the wire (and inside the wire) in AFG and the ABSGs everywhere else.
This uniform is not made using the Defender-M flame resistant material which is standard on all uniforms issued for use down range (OCP/FRACU). Hence the “the ABU is not intended to be worn outside of the wire in combat environments†comment.
Our friends over at US Patriot Tactical are also offering these as a pre-order for the same price. Just FYI….
Who wears the Airman Battle Ensemble?
Guys who go outside the wire in any combat zone except OEF.
No matter the weight of the material, the ABU is still the biggest waste of money the Air Force has committed to in my 14 years of service. Until leadership drops the hideous camo pattern and the ugly green boots, the ABU will continue to be just another cause of Fraud, Waste, and Abuse. I’m dying for the day they finally realize their folly and adopt the OCP Army uniform or whatever they come up with at the end of this year.