Even though Congress is telling the US military to get their act together regarding camouflage and combat uniforms, industry is recognizing the innovative Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (over 10 years on from its creation, mind you).
Established in 1979, the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists’ Millson Award recognizes an outstanding invention’s merits and its impact on the US textile, fiber, polymer and medical industries.
For the very first time, the award went to a government team for “Counter surveillance camouflage patterns for a variety of military environments.”
Receiving the award earlier this year on behalf of the Government were Lt Col Gabriel Patricio (Ret), Infantry Combat Equipment program manager, known as PM ICE, at Marine Corps Systems Command and GySgt John Heisterman, chief instructor, Scout Sniper School, Training and Education Command, both at Quantico along with scientists Luisa C. DeMorais, Deidre Townes, and Anabela Dugas from the Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center in Massachusetts.
In addition to the unique MARPAT camouflage, the AATC award committee also noted the MCCUU’s innovative layout as well as the incorporation of permethrin to fight insects.
