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Air Force Chooses Stain-Resistant Boot

Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

When the Air Force adopted the ABU and its associated Digital Tiger Stripe pattern, they also selected a new rough out Sage Green boot to complement it. Unfortunately, for those Airmen working in industrial areas such as the flight line, fuels, and maintenance the suede absorbed fuel, lubricants, and other liquids and not only looked awful, but were hazardous as well.

In a 45 day test at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, 200 Airmen in the maintenance, medical, and civil engineering career fields tried out four different boot designs.

Â· “Style A” – A hot weather, safety-toe boot construction with full-grain, smooth sage green leather.
Â· “Style B” – A temperate weather boot constructed with full-grain, smooth sage green leather. This test boot was the only non-safety toe boot included in the wear test. This boot was only tested on Airmen in non-flight line, non-industrial work environments that did not require a safety toe.
Â· “Style C” – A hot weather, safety-toe boot constructed with full-grain, smooth sage green leather. The heel and toe areas of the boot had rubber reinforcements that are also sage green in color.
Â· “Style D” – A temperate weather, safety-toe construction with full-grain, smooth sage green leather.

In the end, the Air Force Uniform Office recommended the adoption of a Sage Green, full-grain leather boot with rubber heel and toe reinforcements. As an interim solution, Air Force maintenance troops have been wearing Black boots due to the poor performance of teh standard issue boots in industrial applications. However, they will have to transition to the new Sage Green boots as they become available. It is important to note that this boot will be solely for use by Airmen working in industrial areas.

Tags: ABU
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Let’s Camouflage Those Weapons

Friday, December 4th, 2009

DefenseTech published an article today on a subject we have been looking at for some time. This is our take on the issue.

Amid all of the ballyhoo surrounding the Congressionally directed adoption of a area-specific camouflage pattern for Afghanistan a major weak link remains. PEO-Soldier has worked diligently to camouflage virtually piece of a Soldier’s kit save one; his rifle. Probably the most important item issued to a Soldier, the Army has yet to fully come to grips with the “Black Rifle”. And it’s not just rifles. Grenade launchers, Squad Automatic Weapons, and crew served implements of destruction all come in basic black.

So, awhile back I queried PEO-Soldier about this and they provided me with this reply:
“Soldiers in the field do in fact camouflage their weapons based upon the situation and environment. For example, snipers may tie certain cloth materials to break up the outline/profile of their weapon. Moving forward, PM Soldier Weapons in conjunction with TACOM Rock Island will be writing up a procedure guide that details how soldiers could employ temporary paints to camouflage their weapons for field environments.”

I have some additional information about the first part of the reply. The Ghillie Suit Accessory Kit recently received a face lift including the replacement of burlap with a Fire Resistant yarn. Burlap catches fire easily so this is a much needed change. Available in Light Coyote, Light Green, and Madeira (Brown), hopefully, this material will be available for wider spread use soon.

There has been some light in this tunnel and there have been some changes to this long standing policy. SOCOM, in particular has adopted Flat Dark Earth (FDE) as a color for some of its Special Operations Peculiar Modification (SOPMOD) carbine accessories. Additionally, the SOF Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) comes in a battlefield friendly FDE base color. Furthermore, industry is rife with both weapons and accessories in a variety of finishes. Additionally, S.O. Tech has developed a fabric suppressor cover designed to camouflage its shape and yet still resist melting.

Unfortunately, the other services can be even worse about the issue than the Army. The Air Force for example, has published specific guidance forbidding the painting of weapons or the use of non-issue accessories. Once again, it seems as though someone doesn’t realize there is a war on.

Hopefully, the new weapon camo guide from Rock Island will hit the field soon. Also, based on the same requirements facilitating the study of enhanced personal camouflage, we hope to see a requirement for a weapon color that does not contrast with the Soldier’s other equipment or battlefield environment.

Posted in Air Force, Black Rifle, Camo, PEO-Soldier, weapons | Comments Off on Let’s Camouflage Those Weapons

USAF Issues Fleece Wear Guidance

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

The 98th Air Force Virtual Uniform Board (they really ought to consider renaming that thing) released a policy message last month dictating wear of the new Air Force sage green fleece as an outer garment for the airman battle uniform. (italics mine)

According to the message, the sage green fleece which is made from PolartecÂ® Thermal ProÂ® may only be worn over the ABU top. It is not authorized to be worn solely over a T-shirt or thermal underwear when worn as an outer garment. So at least it can actually be worn as an outer garment but once again the fashion police take precedence over operational value.

According to the message signed by Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, deputy chief of staff for Manpower and Personnel, at Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, authorized wear of the sage green fleece requires the following:
– a Velcro ABU print last name tape with dark blue block lettering, centered between the zipper and sleeve seam on the wearer’s right chest,
– a Velcro ABU print U.S. Air Force tape with dark blue block lettering, adjacent to the name tape and centered between the zipper and sleeve seem on the wearers left chest,
– a Velcro subdued cloth rank with a solid sage green background, flushed and centered above the last name tape on the wearer’s right chest,
– the fleece must remain zipped no lower than halfway between the name tape and the collar,
– the collar must be folded over and resting on the shoulder, chest and back when the zipper is not completely zipped,
– the bottom length of the fleece must be as close to length of ABU top as possible,
– the sleeves must be worn down at all times, (obvious shoe cleriksm right here. They are always up in arms over flight suit sleeves pushed up)
– the fleece must be kept in a neat, serviceable and professional appearance at all times.

Items authorized for wear with the fleece include black or sage green leather, suede or knit gloves, black or sage green watch caps, black scarves that are tucked in, and black ear muffs. Yes, black earmuffs. I have never actually seen anyone wear these so if you have a picture please send it in.

The uniform board has authorized wear of the sage green fleece without name tapes and rank as an outer garment until Oct 1, 2010. Both the black and the green fleece without tapes and rank may be worn as a liner to the all-purpose environmental clothing system, or APECS. The black fleece will phase-out Oct 1, 2010. You will only need name tapes and rank if it is worn as an outer garment. Naturally, the sage green fleece jackets will be made available first to deployed Airmen and eventually available at AAFES/MCSS. ADS also offers the Gen III clothing so you might want to check them out.

Looks an awful lot like the Level 3 garment found in ECWCS Gen III to me. Sage Green, Foliage Green. Is there really a difference? So, all told, big win for Airmen. They get to wear a practical garment at home station. Also, big win for the shoe clerks who seem to ruin every good idea with rules that make no sense.

Posted in Air Force, Clothing | Comments Off on USAF Issues Fleece Wear Guidance

Reflective Belts – Oh the Irony

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Only the Air Force could over do common sense to the point it may well get someone killed. The Air Force has long ordered personnel serving in high traffic areas and on flight lines to wear reflective belts in order to increase their visibility and reduce accident related injuries. Ok, I might buy that one. But somewhere along the way, the intent of this altruistic order got twisted and the directive was extended to those serving in combat zones. Combat zones you say? Unfortunately, yes.

I wonder how long it will be until someone in the AF clothing office gets a load of Royal Australian Navy’s DPCU with integrated reflective stripes. It would kill two birds with one stone. The Air Force would have a uniform with inappropriate camo AND integrated reflective stripes. (Yeah, that’s a cheap shot. The clothing office is doing a pretty good job considering the institutional momentum they pitted against.)

Sure, this insanity has been going on for some time but finally, some are just plain fed up. It has gotten so out of hand that there is now a Facebook page dedicated to the cause. Decisions like this could get a guy killed.

I have a news flash for the Air Force. We are at war. There are bad people who want to kill our Airmen. Why would you do anything to make it easier? My answer to this whole conundrum? Find the Brainiac responsible and have him go for a walk outside the wire. That ought to sort this nonsense out.

Hey Congress, maybe this is something worth looking into. If the Army is going to face scrutiny over how effective its camo pattern is, maybe someone ought to take the Air Force to task for plain old bad judgment. Some of the comments make my skin crawl. One Airman on Facebook commented, â€œThere are confirmed snipers around the perimeter of the flight lineâ€¦here, put on your reflective belt so you donâ€™t get run over by a fire truck!â€

Posted in Air Force, WTF? | Comments Off on Reflective Belts – Oh the Irony

Air Force Finally Mandates Tucked Boot Laces

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

Not bad, it only took them 62 years. I can’t believe it was never a safety issue before this. I mean someone had to have tripped on those big bunny ear loop laces hanging out of the Corafram Jump Boots at some point. Despite having never made it into AFI 36-2903, they insist that Airmen wear reflective belts day or night.

Please take a moment to peruse the whole list of approved changes to the Air Force uniform. But even better is that the Air Force includes all of the suggestions that didn’t make the cut and some of them are whacky as hell.

Read the entire list here.

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100% Cotton ABU Now Available From Propper

Thursday, November 27th, 2008

Propper has struck a major coup for Airmen everywhere by offering a 100% version of the ABU. This is an excellent alternative to the current issue garment which has drawn a lot of heat from the field due to its heavy fabric.

Men’s 100% Cotton ABUs are already available and women’s sizes will also be available in the next 2-3 weeks.

The men’s coat comes in sizes 36-48 in short, regular and long lengths and the men’s trousers are available in sizes 30-42 in short, regular and long lengths. Women’s sizes for both the coat and trousers are size 4 in short and regular lengths and sizes 6-16 in extra short, short, regular and long lengths.

The 100% Cotton ABU does not have a permanent press finish but is NIR-compliant.

Propper’s Part numbers are:
F542555 – Men’s coat
F542655 – Women’s coat
F521555 – Men’s trouser
F521655 – Women’s trouser

Contact Propper for more information.

Photos from Propper.

Tags: ABU, Propper
Posted in Air Force, Camo, Clothing | Comments Off on 100% Cotton ABU Now Available From Propper

Bradford Dyeing Association to Close

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Bradford Dyeing announced on 25 September that they would close in two months due to a dispute with the Defense Logistics Agency over shading issues on the Airman Battle Uniform. Ironically the Air Force relies Bradford for all of its Digital Tigerstripe material. Bradford also supplies a large percentage of the Berry compliant textiles used by the US military and its closure will be a blow to a American textile industry already over stressed with supporting the military. Bradford has endured a recent fire, union issues, as well as the same issues every small business is facing with overall state of the economy, but the DLA dispute was the final factor. Unfortunately, Bradford Dyeing representatives have been unavailable for comment.

There is an excellent article in the Westerly Sun with more information.

Tags: Bradford Dyeing Association
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Airmen Battle System – Ground Update

Sunday, October 19th, 2008

Back in May we published an article about the Air Force’s slow response to field an FR combat uniform. Well, it looks like there is finally light at the end of the tunnel. 2500 to 3000 ensembles consisting of jacket, pants, and combat shirt should be issued in February although officials don’t anticipate full fielding for at least a year. The Air Force is planning a much larger wear test of up to 10,000 sets next summer and fielding would follow from that. Why has this taken so long? Much of it has to do with the service’s desire to go their own way rather than just adapt Army or Marine FR clothing items by changing the clothing’s camouflage pattern. For example, sources tell us that development of the Airman Battle Shirt was stalled in order to integrate forearm pockets into the design. For a description of the entire ABS-G systems read this.

Additionally, efforts to field an Air Force variant of the IOTV have been stymied, and a completely new body armor system is under development. Naturally, the new armor will be in the Air Force pattern but no solicitation articulating requirements has been issued.

Tags: ABS-G
Posted in Air Force, Armor, Clothing, FR | Comments Off on Airmen Battle System – Ground Update