Posted on Feb 15, 2019
4th ID Deployment Iraq 06 - I'm looking for information on which uniforms were issued and when. Can you help fill in the details?
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Please see the attached picture. For the 06 deployment there was a lot of camouflage variation seen. This was the transition time period when DCU was being phased out for UCP which is understandable. What was the guidance for wearing or being issued DCU vs UCP camo? Were you still authorized to wear DCUs if you were issued them on previous deployments? Was there a point at which UCP pattern was the only authorized uniform?
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
War on Terror
Deployment
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 6
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I was in 4ID. I think the issue is that CIF at Hood/Carson issued ACUs prior to our deployment. The CIF at Camp Burehing and Camp Arifjan issued an assortment of uniforms.
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I may be able to provide some insight.
My National Guard unit was mobilized in August 2005 and sent to our mob station at Ft. Dix, NJ. When mobilized we all had the 3 color Desert Combat Uniform (DCU). While at Dix, we were issued the then new ACU uniform, however, they did not have enough of the ACUs in stock to fully outfit my unit so we deployed to Iraq wearing the DCUs and keeping our ACUs in our duffle bags.
When we arrived in Iraq in October 2005, almost all the other American troops were in DCUs. As time went by, old units with the DCUs rotated out and were replaced by new units with the ACUs rotated in.
Roughly half way through the deployment (about March 2006 - maybe a little earlier) we were issued the remainder of the ACUs and wore them for the remainder of the deployment.
As for me, I had an office job but had to pull a day guarding Third Country Nationals (TCNs) every two weeks. I wore the old DCUs for the guard details because I thought they were slightly more comfortable to wear and they matched my DCU armor vest. By the time were returned to the US in September 2006, almost no one in the US Army in Iraq was wearing DCUs.
I hope that helps.
My National Guard unit was mobilized in August 2005 and sent to our mob station at Ft. Dix, NJ. When mobilized we all had the 3 color Desert Combat Uniform (DCU). While at Dix, we were issued the then new ACU uniform, however, they did not have enough of the ACUs in stock to fully outfit my unit so we deployed to Iraq wearing the DCUs and keeping our ACUs in our duffle bags.
When we arrived in Iraq in October 2005, almost all the other American troops were in DCUs. As time went by, old units with the DCUs rotated out and were replaced by new units with the ACUs rotated in.
Roughly half way through the deployment (about March 2006 - maybe a little earlier) we were issued the remainder of the ACUs and wore them for the remainder of the deployment.
As for me, I had an office job but had to pull a day guarding Third Country Nationals (TCNs) every two weeks. I wore the old DCUs for the guard details because I thought they were slightly more comfortable to wear and they matched my DCU armor vest. By the time were returned to the US in September 2006, almost no one in the US Army in Iraq was wearing DCUs.
I hope that helps.
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SPC Brent Melton
Thank you for your response. Who did you deploy with during that time period? Also, what unit were you subordinate to? I'm also guessing that with those ACUs you were issued green tapes and patches to go on them correct? I know there were supply issues with manufacturers being unable to obtain UCP fabric at the early stages.
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MSG John Duchesneau
I deployed with the HHC of the 43d MP Brigade of the Rhode Island National Guard. We were subordinate to Multinational Corps Iraq (MNC-I) with the XVIIIth Airborne Corps providing the Headquarters element when we got there which was later replaced by the V Corps from Germany.
As to the green name tapes - you are right. They were used as a "field expedident" for a a few months prior to ACU nametapes. There were also some BDU subdued patches with Velcro sewn on the back until foliage green patches were available. I worked on the first order of foliage green patches for my brigade's patch.
By the end of 2006 the ACUs had, effectively, been fully fielded and the supply system had caught up to the initial demand.
BTW - in 2005 they issued two sets of ACUs to those who could and by the end of the deployment we had two additional sets issued.
Thank you for your interest in an obscure chapter of US military history.
As to the green name tapes - you are right. They were used as a "field expedident" for a a few months prior to ACU nametapes. There were also some BDU subdued patches with Velcro sewn on the back until foliage green patches were available. I worked on the first order of foliage green patches for my brigade's patch.
By the end of 2006 the ACUs had, effectively, been fully fielded and the supply system had caught up to the initial demand.
BTW - in 2005 they issued two sets of ACUs to those who could and by the end of the deployment we had two additional sets issued.
Thank you for your interest in an obscure chapter of US military history.
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That photo brings back memories, I remember the transition between DCU and ACU/UCP like a horrible nightmare. Especially the mixing of uniforms and how awful it looked next to Marine uniforms. I wasn't in the 4th ID but I did deploy from Aug 2004 to Jan 2006 and we were NOT allowed to DX our DCU for ACU/UCPs. However, we were allowed to continue wearing our DCUs for 2005. Those that stayed behind during the transition in 2006 with the next unit had to buy ACUs from the PX trailer at LSA Anaconda. Note, they were still allowed to wear their DCU IBA and green colored TA-50. Hah!
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