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AF to get new uniforms

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dani Pacheco
  • 315 AW/PA
Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. --  Airmen across the force called out for a better fitting, easier to maintain and more distinctive utility uniform for the 21st century.
The Air Force's response to the concerns of its Airmen is the ABU, Airman Battle Uniform. 

The ABU will replace the current woodland pattern Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) and Desert Camouflage Uniforms (DCU) for active duty, Air National Guard and Reserve Airmen, both officer and enlisted, and will feature a distinctive Air Force digitized tiger stripe pattern. 

The ABU will begin being issued to Basic Military Trainees in October. However, the new uniform could be coming to Charleston AFB as early as May of this year.
"We will be issuing two sets of the ABUs to all Airmen deploying out of Charleston AFB beginning sometime between May and August," said Master Sgt. Steven Sherrill, 315th Logistics Readiness Flight. 

The ABU should be available for purchase at Military Clothing Sales soon after.
"We are scheduled to receive the new uniforms in November or December of this year for distribution and sales," said Kathy Garcia, Military Clothing Sales manager.
A few of the most recognizable aesthetic changes in the ABU from the current BDU include: 

No patches will be worn on the ABU other than authorized functional, duty and occupational badges. Organizational baseball hats will not be authorized to wear with the new uniform. Only the ABU hat and currently authorized berets will be allowed. And lastly, black boots will no longer be an authorized clothing item. Tan boots will be used until green boots become readily available. 

Aside from the noticeable change in appearance, the ABU has added two major improvements over the BDU. 

"The ABU will be available in 236 sizes that will accommodate both men and women, unlike the 57 sizes of the current BDU," said Master Sgt. Sherrill. "Also, the new uniform is literally a wash and wear item. Starching and hot pressing will be prohibited."
The mandatory wear date for the ABU is slated for October 2011.