Is the AF transitioning to the new "multi cam" style unifrom?

2015-11-20T15:22:15-05:00

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 3:30 PM

2015-11-20T15:30:30-05:00

i believe they are , at least deployed AF

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 20 at 2015 4:19 PM

2015-11-20T16:19:39-05:00

That is so wrong. I thought the Air Force loved their Tiger Stripes and Sage green boots because "Chicks dig it".
I pretty much hate that uniforms have become a fashion show. At least the USAF ones are better than the supremely dumb looking "Aquaflauge" the Navy has been walking around in lately.

Having said that, it makes sense for the USAF to wear the same uniforms as the units they are serving with in Afghanistan. Clearly identifying the TACO as somebody different is not a good idea.

Response by SrA David Steyer made Nov 20 at 2015 4:25 PM

2015-11-20T16:25:07-05:00

Deployed they are wearing the new uniform, but I find it funny we wasted the money we did on the ABU and it's not worn overseas in deployed settings when the uniform is called the Airman BATTLE Uniform. It would make so much more sense to switch over. Some OCONUS and CONUS units wear them - like AFGSC bases in the missile fields.

However I dp find it funny we haven't seeing they allow for unit patches, heritage right there that everyone so desires.

Response by MSgt John Carroll made Nov 20 at 2015 5:22 PM

2015-11-20T17:22:19-05:00

I would have to say no. There are AFSCs that still don't wear them deployed.

Response by MSgt Niclas Svensson made Nov 21 at 2015 3:17 AM

2015-11-21T03:17:05-05:00

I'm wearing them out in the AOR now.
I can only hope that the AF will transition to them permanently in the future. It's a much better uniform on so many levels.

Dress uniforms are where services should display their individuality and heritage. "Battle" uniforms should be the same. We're all on the same team and it would save a ton of money.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Nov 23 at 2015 6:53 PM

2015-11-23T18:53:29-05:00

I hope not. I am tired of changing uniforms every few years. I started my career wearing green fatigues (my favorite so far). I like the style of current AF uniforms, but the color scheme is not suited for many environments. However, when the AF deploys we wear the "uniform of the day" which in most AOR's is the multi-cam uniform. Truth be told, most AF personnel don't need to wear any style of combat uniform while not deployed.

If the Military really wanted to save money they would issue one uniform for everyone in garrison (like when we all wore BDU's). Each service could apply its own markings to add individuality. The Army and Marines could also issue a specific combat uniform that matched the terrain that they are fighting in. The AF and Navy should just wear whatever the Army/Marines issue for combat.

But that will never happen.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2015 10:53 AM

2015-11-24T10:53:44-05:00

I really don't want to spend money on new uniforms...however the ABU is/was a total waste of taxpayers and my dollars!!! The multicam looks better though and I agree with many including MSGT Niclas Svensson Battle uniforms should be the same!

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Nov 24 at 2015 12:23 PM

2015-11-24T12:23:00-05:00

The Air Force as a whole? No.

Currently Air Force members deploying to AORs that need it wear the OCP pattern like the Army. Security Forces assigned to the missile fields in the mid-west also wear OCP because they are a better overall pattern for missile security being in the grasslands and fields. To my knowledge Air Force SOC is also testing a uniform developed by tiger stripe products, it's our "distinct" tiger pattern but non digital and with the colors of multi-cam. It actually looks really nice and some people have said that they think it works better than regular OCP.

I hope we make the transition soon. With a new CSAF coming in next year, especially with AFGSC General Rand being considered I think we might finally have someone who realizes what a mistake the ABU truly is. No offense to SMSgt Thor Merich but the logic that "we don't need combat uniforms when not deployed" is what almost forced us to wear the God awful blue tiger stripe developed in the early 2000s. We are a branch of the United States Military and it's about time we start looking like it. Many duties to include those in offices require something other than the blues to be worn. At any time you could be asked to help move things or to fix things or to do something that in general can destroy blues, hence the reason most of us don't wear them much anymore. At the same time this logic that we don't need combat uniforms stateside is just as ridiculous as we are paying double the money to field people uniforms, once for four sets of ABUs when people join and then again when people deploy to give them OCP. Why not just field OCP as our standard uniform so people don't have to dish out more money when they deploy?

I feel like most of the push back at this point is from senior leaders who simply don't want to have to buy uniforms because they are retiring soon and this is forcing everyone else to be issued ABUs which are complete garbage in every way. It's time that senior leadership puts the needs of the force ahead of their own personal wants and get us a uniform that works stateside and overseas. I hate to say it but it's kind of sad when I see people of higher ranks complaining about the possibility of having to buy a new uniform when those of us in the lower ranks would be more than willing to spend personal funds to wear something that not only looks great but works. I see the Army's new uniforms at the AAFES Clothing Sales here on Whiteman and can't help but wish I could actually buy and wear them.

Response by Col Kyle Taylor made Nov 24 at 2015 10:43 PM

2015-11-24T22:43:48-05:00

I find it ridiculous that our services have different war fighting uniforms. Can't the service strip stating US Army or Air Force etc b Enos go to show the difference? We spend too much money developing, shipping, and supplying different uniforms, boots etc to service members around the world.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 5:36 AM

2015-11-26T05:36:23-05:00

They are too expensive, and wear out too quickly. I heard that they won't until the manufacturer can make it more cost effective.