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MultiCam – Who Pays?

Monday, March 15th, 2010

The easy part is done. A camouflage pattern has been selected for use in Afghanistan in accordance with the wishes of Congress. The hard part has now begun. Specifications have to be prepared, contracts let, and new equipment fielded. All in rapid fashion if the Army is going to meet its own deadline this summer. Fielding of a new pattern won’t come cheap. According to COL William Cole, the Program Manager for Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment at PEO-Soldier, thus far everything has been paid for with offsets meaning the money used to purchase FR ACUs in UCP will be used instead to procure MultiCam FR ACUs. Unfortunately, this won’t make up for everything. TA-50 such as MOLLE lasts a lot longer than uniform items. With over one million sets of MOLLE already fielded, equipment in MultiCam will have to be purchased.

U.S. Army photo by Spc. Albert L. Kelley, 300th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

An additional issue, particularly for industry are ancillary items such as gloves, hats, and even the webbing tape on load bearing and armor systems. What color will it be? With the switch to UCP came Foliage Green. What color will the Army specify for use with MultiCam? PEO-Soldier officials have stated that they are still considering the issue but with the new Army Combat Shirt in MultiCam sporting a Coyote Brown torso, ~~chances are good that will be the accessory color~~ (UPDATE: It’s sounding like Tan 499 will make the cut). Additionally, industry is already producing a wide variety of raw materials and finished goods in Coyote for the Marine Corps, SOCOM, as well as the secondary market.

So where will the money to pay for all of this come from? The Army hasn’t prepared any reprogramming actions moving funds from one account to another to pay for this. And if it is forced to, where will those funds come from? PEO-Soldier’s portfolio? Will the Army be forced to rob Peter to pay Paul? If this ends up being the case, the Soldier loses either way. As I see it, it is Congress’s bill to pay. Congress asked for it, the Army complied, and they have the facts to back up their decision. The Army’s leadership should approach Congress with a funding request to field adequate amounts of clothing and individual equipment in MultiCam. Congress should happily appropriate these monies. In fact, if anything, it will leave a lasting legacy in honor of the man who got this ball rolling in the first place, the late John Murtha.

Posted in Camo, Clothing, Congress, Contracts, Multicam, PEO-Soldier | Comments Off on MultiCam – Who Pays?

New Spanish Camo – MultiCam Ripoff?

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

In January we published an article with the purported front runner for the new Spanish camo pattern. Since that article the US Army selected MultiCam for use in Afghanistan and shortly after the Spanish Army announced that they are going to adopt the two patterns below. A simple glance will bring one word to mind and that is, “MultiCam”. it appears, that unlike the UK and US, they wanted to do it on the cheap. Soldier Systems Daily has verified that the Spanish military did not consult with Crye Precision in development of these patterns. Oddly, the Spanish Army is referring to this new camo as “digitized” due to the squared off edges on some of the shapes but they could hardly be considered true digital patterns when compared to UCP or CADPAT.

Quite a few countries have jumped on the MultiCam band wagon. Some have licensed the technology and unfortunately, some have not. StrikeHold! has a great article on MultiCam derivatives.

Aside from the concern over the origin of the pattern the fit seems to be at issue as well. While this new uniform closely resembles the US ACU, apparently Spanish troops are a bit unhappy about the cut of the trousers, forcing them to go “Marcando Paquetorro”.

-Miguel en Canarias contributed to this report.

Posted in Camo, Foreign, Multicam | Comments Off on New Spanish Camo – MultiCam Ripoff?

MultiCam – What You’ll Get

Friday, March 5th, 2010

In a recent interview with PEO Soldier’s COL William Cole and LTC Mike Sloane they detailed efforts to field complete ensembles of clothing and equipment in MultiCam required for combat patrols in Afghanistan. This first article will discuss what is being issued.

In addition to four FR ACUs and Army Combat Shirts in the new pattern each Soldier will receive an accessory kit consisting of name tags, rank, and shoulder sleeve insignia. The Army Institute of Heraldry still has to weigh in on the colorway and designs of individual SSIs. Other uniform components include Generation III Extreme Cold Weather Clothing System. PEO-Soldier is also hard at work getting Patrol Caps, Sun Hats, Knee and Elbow Pads as well as entire MOLLE sets into production. These will include Individual First Aid Kits in addition to the new Tactical Assault Panel seen in the accompanying photo supplied by the program office. IOTV covers and Helmet Covers as well as Nape Pads will also be produced in MultiCam. Every detail is being seen to in order to meet their fielding goals of mid-summer.

In order to meet this deadline a new contract will soon be let by PEO-Soldier for FR ACUs. Rather than relying on the current sustainment contract managed by Defense Supply Center Philadelphia for FR ACUs in UCP, this will allow the numerous improvements to the ACU design we wrote about last year to be cut in early to this new purchase along with the change to MultiCam.

Photo: Alexandra Hemmerly-Brown

What you won’t get are MultiCam ACUs. Lots of guys are already running out and purchasing several sets in the hopes that one day they will be able to wear them. However, this isn’t the case. Although specific wear policy hasn’t yet been released for troops in Afghanistan, this has the potential for being a dream scenario for uniform nazis. If you thought it was hard to sneak into the chow hall after a patrol in your Army Combat Shirt, don’t even think about wearing your ACUs in MultiCam. Current in-theater policy requires Soldiers to protect themselves by wearing FR ACUs, whether UCP or MultiCam. If you are in the wrong uniform you will stick out like the proverbial sore thumb.

Certain organizations on the other hand have fielded standard 50/50 NYCO (50% nylon/50% ripstop cotton blend) uniforms for some time. However, these do not provide the same level of Fire Resistant protection afforded uniforms manufactured from Tencate’s Defender-M like the issue FR ACU. Already industry is hard at work producing clothing and equipment on MultiCam that are designed specifically for use in Afghanistan. This includes FR products. Over the next several weeks Soldier Systems Daily will begin to unveil these products to you.

Posted in ACU, Clothing, FR, Materials, Multicam, PEO-Soldier | Comments Off on MultiCam – What You’ll Get

Fleckcam from Tacgear

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

Germany’s Tacgear has released a preview of their upcoming flecktarn based camo pattern. Although the photo is small, the colorway looks surprisingly similar to MultiCam.

Posted in Camo, Foreign, Multicam | Comments Off on Fleckcam from Tacgear

And So It Begins…

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

The Army dropped a rather large sources sought notice today for Fire Resistant Army Combat Uniforms (FR-ACUs) in MultiCam. Up to 40,000 sets per month for six to eight months are to be delivered pre-treated in Permethrin. The short notice to answer (10 days) is indicative of the dedication to quick fielding that PEO-Soldier is paying to this issue. Expect to see numerous other solicitations hit the street soon.

It is very important to note that, based on information already released by PEO-Soldier, they are only planning on fielding clothing and equipment that would be used on a combat patrol. This includes FR-ACUs as well as Army Combat Shirts. The new ACS will feature MultiCam sleeves and Coyote torso. For those Soldiers leaning forward in the foxhole, this does NOT include the 50/50 NYCO ACU that you currently wear in garrison and on the FOB. I would not suggest that you run out and purchase a basic load of ACUs in MultiCam just yet. I am still awaiting additional information on this subject but as of now, based on what has already been said, Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan will find themselves in the standard ACU in UCP while on an FOB or other deployed base and wearing MultiCam FR ACUs while outside the wire.

Posted in ACS, ACU, Clothing, FR, Multicam | Comments Off on And So It Begins…

MultiCam Site Updated

Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Days after being named by the US Army as the alternative camouflage pattern for operations in Afghanistan, the MultiCam brand website has received a new look.

One of their featured products is the Oakley Standard Issue Land, Sea, Air boot first exhibited at AUSA last year. It features cleated stipes and drainage holes. Interestingly, it still isn’t available for sale.

Visit MultiCamPattern.com.

Tags: Crye Precision
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Propper’s MultiCam FR Combat Uniform Available

Friday, February 19th, 2010

The MultiCam FR Combat Uniform is sew to the official FROG specifications and is made of patented Defender M flame-resistant fabric from TenCate. The combat shirt also features an enhanced X-Static DRIFIRE knit torso which reduces core body heat, prevents bacteria growth and provides odor control. All thread, zippers and loop components are also flame-resistant. These are the exact same materials and findings used in the USMC issue FROG ensemble.

Other features include:

-Reinforced mandarin collar and zipper
-Raglan sleeves for enhanced range of motion
-Angled sleeve pockets with hook and loop panel for quick access
-Contoured, reinforced elbow
-Contoured, stretch waistband
-Comfortable, moisture wicking, fast drying torso
-Reinforced seat and articulated knee
-Bellow style cargo pockets
-NIR-Compliant

The MSRP is $289.99 for the Trouser and $189.99 for the shirt. Available in Small, Medium, Large and Extra-Large in regular and long lengths.

It is important to note that Propper is the only manufacturer of the Crye designed USMC FROG.

This may be the last commercially available FR MultiCam for awhile with impending Army orders requiring the vast majority of fabric production for the immediate future. Units requiring immediate FR uniforms should take a look at this.

Tags: Crye, Propper
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Army to Field MultiCam in Afghanistan

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Apparently, the endgame is in sight for an issue that began last June when the now deceased Rep John Murtha called for the Army to investigate alternative camouflage patterns for use in Afghanistan.

According to numerous sources the Chief of Staff of the Army approved a plan today to field MultiCam to all Army forces in Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) beginning as soon as possible. This is implementation of the decision brief’s Course of Action 1 which called for the fielding of MultiCam to all Army personnel engaged in OEF-A. Other options offered to GEN Casey included fielding a less robust MultiCam package focused on phased implementation with ground maneuver elements as well as a plan to maintain the status quo which is the use of the Universal Camouflage Pattern. It is important to note that the decision to field MultiCam uniforms and equipment currently only affects forces operating in OEF-A. Contracts could begin to be modified as early as this week and OEF-A bound Soldiers should begin to see clothing and equipment as early as July with in-theater fielding starting in August.

Congratulations to the US Army, the American Soldier, and Crye Precision.

UPDATE: Apparently, congratulations are a bit premature. According to multiple sources, the information above is still valid but due to the level of visibility on this issue, the Secretary of the Army, the Honorable John McHugh still needs to consider the issue and make a final decision on the CSA’s recommendation. Although GEN Casey has approved the plan, this is not yet a done deal. Word is that the Secretary has already been briefed and we are just waiting on a formal announcement. Army PAO has failed to return phone calls or e-mails despite contacting other news outlets. Hopefully, we will hear something soon. We will keep you posted.

Tags: Multicam
Posted in Multicam, PEO-Soldier | Comments Off on Army to Field MultiCam in Afghanistan