These US Army photos of MSG Benjamin Owens wearing the Operational Camouflage Pattern (Scorpion W2) variant of the Army Combat Uniform with the new zippered upper arm pockets adapted from the Army Combat Shirt appeared this evening on the web. MSG Owens serves as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to COL Robert Mortlock, Project Manager (PM) Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment (SPIE) at PEO Soldier.
As you can see, the Scorpion W2 pattern is similar to MultiCam but not an exact match. I am unsure if we can extrapolate anything from the boot or t-shirt color in the photo as industry has been told that boots would be Coyote and these look to be the current issue Tan. Now that I have higher quality photos I believe the coloring of boot and T-shirt is correct.
Updated with additional, higher resolution photos.
It seems as if the Army is de-evolving the uniform into BDU 2.0. If all the proposed changes for 2015 are adopted by the Uniform Board (losing the mandarin collar, lower leg pockets, pull cord, etc.), what differences would the 2016 ACU have compared to the 2003/4 BDUs? I can only think of a few:
1. Camo pattern
2. Modifications to pockets
3. Rank on chest
4. Velcro on upper sleeves
5. Pen pockets on sleeve
6. Zipper blouse
Therefore, the Army will have undone nearly ALL the changes the ACU wrought on the combat uniform.
So 10 years of Army “branding”, multiple camo test efforts, a congressional inquiry, billions of Soldier complaints, and one damning pic of grandma’s couch, got the Army what, EXACTLY? Well, pretty much a 2004 alternate universe where minor BDU changes were announced….what a waste of time.
The chest pockets need to be lower, in order for the soldier to proudly display his CIB more openly. The cargo pockets for the shirt also need to be reinstated to make the uniform more utilitarian-like.
Now if the army could bring back the dress greens.
Save the US taxpayer millions upon millions of dollars. Make all branches of service use the same utility uniform and make that uniform the Viet Nam era OG-107 jungle fatigue. Best combat uniform we ever had. Extremely versatile.