Army will Announce Selection of the New Army Combat Uniform on June 14, 2004, during the Army Birthday Celebration
1. PURPOSE: To provide staff an overview concerning the decision to issue a new Army Combat Uniform (ACU) to replace the existing Battle Dress Uniform (BDU).
2. The ACU: Consists of a jacket, trousers, patrol cap, moisture wicking t-shirt and improved hot weather and temperate weather desert boots, in a new Universal Camouflage pattern (the charts below outline uniform and design characteristics).
The new ACU is the culmination of many months of research and development, developed by Soldiers for Soldiers, and is the uniform of choice by the overwhelming majority of the Army’s leaders and Soldiers.
The ACU enhances Soldier performance by providing a uniform that is tailorable to the individual mission; provides enhanced functionality and ergonomics over the existing BDU; and does away with requirements to procure uniforms focused on specific environments -- the ACU is worldwide deployable.
The uniform will be fielded to deploying units NLT starting in April 2005, and fielding to the entire Army will be completed no later than December 2007.
Projected annual cost increases are $24.2M (Fiscal year 2004—FY04); $31.7M (FY05); $142.4M (FY06); and $143-144M (FY07-08). No additional funds are needed for FY05, and the Army is currently addressing the outyear funding through its resource planning process.
The $88 cost of the new uniform jacket and pants (a $34 increase cost of manufacturing over the current BDU) is expected to be is clearly offset by:
- Proposed increase in the monthly Clothing Replacement Allowance for enlisted Soldiers;
- A permanent press treatment that eliminates the need for Soldiers to pay for costly dry cleaning of their uniforms;
- No added cost to Soldiers for additional sewing due to Velcro , or pin-on patches, nameplates and badges;
- Army-wide savings realized by streamlining procurement and stockpiling of one uniform for all environments instead of maintaining the BDU in the woodland, desert and temperate patterned uniform sets; and
- Manufacturing costs that will decrease overtime as the manufacturing processes are refined.
The Army Black Beret will remain authorized for wear with the new ACU; no decision has been made concerning whether the ACU will replace any uniform other than the BDU.
The ACU, including component materials, will be manufactured in the United States using the same industrial base that produces the current BDU, thereby, ensuring the highest quality control and assisting the American work force.
The ACU is part of the Army’s continuing effort to equip the Army’s Future Force now and to provide America’s Most Deployed Combat System, our Soldiers, the best, state-of-the-art equipment possible.
3. Questions and Answers:
Q.1 Why is the Army selecting a new uniform?
The ACU was designed specifically by Soldiers to meet the demands of the current operational environment. Because of its universal camouflage pattern and enhanced versatility, comfort and ergonomic qualities, the ACU will increase our Soldiers ability to train, adapt and fight in the ever-changing environments wherever future wars will be fought. For instance, the current BDU was designed 25 years ago, before the Army routinely wore ballistic body armor. The Small Arms Protective Inserts that go into the Outer Tactical Vest require the Interceptor Body Armor to be worn closed. The ACU compliments the Interceptor Body Armor by improving access to pockets and eliminating comfort issues, such as the Small Arms Protective Inserts pressing the current BDU shirt buttons into the chest of the Soldier.
Q.2 What will be the lifetime of the uniform?
ACU is made with the same nylon/cotton rip-stop fabric as the current Enhanced Hot Weather BDU (EHWBDU). The current EHWBDU has an estimated wear life of six months.
Q.3 Why will the uniform not require starching?
A wrinkle-free treatment has been applied. Starching uniforms makes the uniform material more brittle and subsequently reduces the wear life. The wrinkle-free treatment will allow Soldiers to wear the ACU without incurring costs of commercial laundering or pressing.
Q.4 What will be the wear-out date for the current BDU?
The Army will introduce the ACU in April 2005. Wear-out date for BDU is to be determined. Production ramp up of the ACU will cause production of the BDU to end in early FY06. Residual stocks of BDUs will be sold or issued until exhausted. The wear out date will be established based on when stocks are exhausted. The wear out date will provide an adequate amount of time for Soldiers to procure the ACU.
Q.5 Why was the digitized print chosen over the more traditional camouflage?
There are a number of potentially effective technologies to provide effective camouflage. The ACU leveraged a digitized print developed by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC). The Army modified the USMC pattern and used alternate colors to provide an effective camouflage in multiple environments.
Q.6 Who will get the uniform?
All Soldiers, regardless of unit or function, will receive the new uniform. The ACU will be fielded to the Army – Active, Reserve and National Guard beginning in April 2005.
Q.7 Who will pay for it?
New enlisted Soldiers (Active Army – Clothing Bag, U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) and Army National Guard (ARNG)) will receive an initial issue of 4 each ACU (Army expense); prior Active Army enlisted Soldiers receive a Clothing Replacement Allowance (CRA – Army expense); prior enlisted USAR and ARNG will be issued the ACU as required (Army expense); officers will buy the ACU (at their own expense) from the Army Military Clothing Sales Stores; and deploying enlisted Soldiers and officers will be issued ACUs at the Army’s expense.
Q.8 Why is there an increase in the cost of the ACU?
The ACU costs $88, a $34 increase over the BDU. The increase results from an $8 wrinkle-free treatment and the remainder is based on the additional manufacturing complexity. The uniform is more complicated to make because of its enhance functionality. This cost will decrease over time.
