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Archive for the ‘ACU’ Category

Starting 1 June, Soldiers May Wear The Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform

Wednesday, April 10th, 2019

To little fanfare, Army Chief Of Staff GEN Mark Milley authorized the Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform as an optional purchase item, last October. According to ALARACT 027/219, beginning 1 June, Soldiers may purchase it from Clothing Sales Stores and wear it in lieu of the OCP Army Combat Uniform. Alternatively, some units may issue the IHWCU as Organization Clothing (TA-50). An alternate size variant will be available by October. Soldiers may sew name US Army tapes on their uniform as well as special skill badges.

Overall, the uniform is lighter weight and more breathable than the ACU. It also appears slightly different due its pocket layout.

Coat, Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform

IHWCU worn by CPT Daniel Ferenczy, APM for Extreme Weather Clothing and Footwear, PM-SPIE, PEO Soldier

Features:
-single-breasted
-raglan sleeve front with a five (5) button closure
-fold down collar with a fusible interlining
-long sleeves with cuffs and one (1) button, three (3) buttonholes adjustable cuff tab
-The top of the button down closure is open to accommodate a pen
-front has loop tape to accommodate the Name and US Army Tape
-front placket has a loop tape for the Rank Patch
-coat has two (2) bellow style top opening upper sleeve pockets and includes an eyelet drain-hole
-sleeves have an elbow reinforcement patch
-Both sleeves have an Identification Friend or Foe tab cover that can be opened and closed using hook and loop fastener
-IFF tab cover is centered and sewn onto the sleeve above the upper sleeve pocket
-double turned and cleaned finished hem

Trousers, Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform

(Rear of the IHWCU Trouser, showing the cargo and lower leg pocket layout.)

Features:
-covered fly with a four (4) button/ buttonhole closure, or three (3) button/buttonhole closure, depending on size
-seven (7) belt loops
-two (2) side hanging pockets
-two (2) front side pleated cargo pockets with three (3) button/ two (2) buttonhole closure flaps
-high end of cargo pockets at front of pocket rather than rear like ACU
-two (2) lower leg side pockets with one (1) button/ one (1) buttonhole closure flaps
-side cargo pockets shall have three (3) sewn-in eyelets hidden by the bellows
-double needle seat patch and a pleated knee reinforcement incorporated into the pant leg at the knee
-one (1) piece single gusset
-two (2) front side hanging pockets
-mesh fabric attached on the inside of the trousers at the bottom of the legs as inner cuffs
-bottom of the trousers leg hems, the inner cuffs, and the waistband shall have drawstrings

Posted in ACU, Clothing, OCP | 39 Comments »

The Air Force Is Teaching Airmen How To Wear The ACU

Sunday, September 9th, 2018

It doesn’t matter how much the Air Force refers to their recently adopted Army Combat Uniform as “OCPs” (for the camouflage pattern), the tags will still say “Army Combat Uniform”.

As the 1 October roll out date nears, the Air Force Personnel Center has started releasing guidance to the force on how to wear the ACU. Despite wearing Patrol Caps with the BDU, DCU and ABU, Airmen have apparently forgotten how to wear it. And oh yeah, many are unhappy ballcaps aren’t authorized.

Whoo! All these questions about the new Operational Camouflage Uniform! AFI 36-2903 does the heavy lifting for you, but sometimes you just want to hear it from the source, like us!

First up in our OCP series: The Patrol Cap.

Airmen will wear the patrol cap straight on the head so that the CAP BAND creates a straight line around the head, parallel to the ground. Officer rank is Spice Brown – EXCEPT for first lieutenants and lieutenant colonels who are required to wear black rank (starting next April). Chaplains may wear the chaplain occupational badge sewn-on and centered ½ inch above the visor.

WHEN can Airmen wear the OCP patrol cap? Starting Oct. 1, but of course, if you wear the cap, you should be wearing the entire OCP uniform. No mixing and matching ABUs, BDUs and OCPs!

WHERE do you get OCPs if you want to wear them Oct. 1? First – check with your leadership. They may want to wait until they have your unit/org patches available before they authorize wear of OCPs. Otherwise, Airmen with previously-owned, serviceable OCPs (not multi-cams) can wear them with current patches and badges.

$$ What if you don’t want to buy OCPs just yet? That’s ok, too. The mandatory wear date for all Airmen to wear the OCP isn’t until April 1, 2021, so plenty of time to get your new uniform ready! Visit our website for more info at www.afpc.af.mil/Career-Management/Dress-and-Appearance

Posted in ACU, Air Force, Clothing, OCP | 26 Comments »

ACUs In Issue Scorpion W2 OCP Now Available For Pre-Order From TacticalGear

Wednesday, September 5th, 2018

The US Army recently licensed the commercial printing and sale of the Scorpion W2 Operational Camouflage Pattern.

The US Army has been wearing the pattern for several years, but it hasn’t been available from commercial sources. The US Air Force is poised to make the transition to the Army Combat Uniform in OCP as well.

Pre-order yours at tacticalgear.com/ocp-uniform.

Tags: TacticalGear.com
Posted in ACU, OCP | 9 Comments »

SHOT Show 17 – Blackhawk Convoy 1/4 Zip

Monday, January 30th, 2017

Offered in Steel and Moss, the Convoy 1/4 Zip from Blackhawk is cut to help avoid imprinting when carrying concealed and incorporates zippered chest and sleeve pockets.

Tags: Blackhawk
Posted in ACU, Admin, Advertiser, Clothing, SHOT Show | 2 Comments »

New Spec ACUs in MultiCam and UCP Available from Propper International

Monday, October 17th, 2016

Propper International has been a prime government contractor for decades, supplying clothing and individual equipment. They have just released the new ACU cut, for commercial sale in MultiCam and Universal Camouflage Pattern.

For those of you unfamiliar with the new cut, concurrent with the release of the Operational Camouflage Pattern, the service made some changes to the design of the Army Camouflage Uniform.

Coat

– Mandarin collar has been replaced with a fold down collar design
– Upper sleeve pocket hook and loop flap closure replaced with a zipper
– Pocket lengthened by one inch
– Elbow patch pad removed and hook and loop for patches removed, but double fabric reinforcement has been retained
– Sleeve pen pocket reduced from three pen channels to two

Trousers

– Drawstring removed from waistband
– Cord and barrel removed from cargo pocket and replaced with button closure
– Knee patch pad removed and hook and loop for patches removed, but double fabric reinforcement has been retained
– Hook and loop on lower leg pocket flap replaced with button closure

For many, the MultiCam pattern is welcome, considering it outperforms the Army’s OCP. However, many of you may be scratching your heads over the UCP offering. This is because some organizations outside of the Army, continue to use the pattern.

The uniforms are available in 50/50 NYCO or Battle Rip 65/35 PolyCotton in MultiCam and 50/50 NYCO in UCP.

Tags: Propper International
Posted in ACU, Advertiser, Multicam | 49 Comments »

New ACU Construction Available in MultiCam

Monday, July 18th, 2016

I have been waiting for this. Finally, someone has introduced the new ACU cut in the MultiCam camouflage pattern. As you know, the Army’s Operational Camouflage Pattern, popularly referred to as Scorpion is restricted to military sales only, while MultiCam is commercially available. But even more important, by the Army’s own patent, we know that MultiCam outperforms OCP.

Available exclusively at TacticalGear.com, the new ACU features all the updates made during the 2015 reinvention, including replacing hook-and-loop pockets with more discreet closures and a roomier upper-sleeve pocket.

Get yours at tacticalgear.com/new-multicam-acu.

Tags: Tru-Spec
Posted in ACU, Multicam | 21 Comments »

ACUs Authorized for Commercial Travel

Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

According to a post on CSM Luther Thomas Jr’s (Senior Enlisted Advisor for the US Army Reserve) Facebook page, ACUs are authorized for commercial travel.

Posted in ACU | 30 Comments »

For The Ladies – The ACU-A Isn’t Just For The Ladies

Monday, July 8th, 2013

According to an Army press release, the recently released Army Combat Uniform – Alternate is authorized for both female and male Soldiers as it offers more fit options. The uniform is already being issued to Basic Trainees at Ft Sill and Soldiers can choose to wear either the ACU-As or the ACUs.

The new uniform trousers feature: wider areas at the hips, waist and backside; elastic around the waistband instead of a pull string; adjusted pockets and knee-pad inserts; and a shortened crotch length.

In the jackets, changes include: adjusted rank and nametape positioning; adjusted pockets and elbow-pad inserts; slimmer shoulders; a thinner and more fitted waist; and a longer and wider ACU coat bottom. Also, buttons are replacing the Velcro pockets.

According to the Army, Soldiers can purchase the ACU-A at Military Clothing Sales Stores at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Lee, Va.; Fort Belvoir, Va.; and Fort Eustis, Va.

Posted in ACU, For the Ladies | 24 Comments »