Cruelbreed
07-08-2009, 03:25 PM
Congress Orders Afghanistan Uniform Probe
July 08, 2009
Military.com|by Bryan Mitchell
The Army is examining the possibility of replacing its current digital Army Combat Uniform with a different model for troops being deployed to Afghanistan following a Congressional directive contained in the latest war funding bill.
The move could mean a drastic change of combat uniforms for the tens of thousands of troops most likely to rotate through the country in the coming months and years, but it's not entirely clear if the order will lead to new uniforms or a return to the battle dress uniforms the digital versions replaced.
The move in Congress was prompted by Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, who said he was first made aware of the issue during a visit with a group of noncommissioned officer Rangers serving at Fort Benning, Ga.
Poll: Does the Army’s 'All-in-One' Camo Pattern Work? (http://www.military.com/)
Murtha queried Army leaders and learned the concern was not reserved to a handful of Georgia troops. Similar sentiments had been voiced throughout units with experience serving in Afghanistan.
"The reason is that the current uniform has been primarily designed for a desert combat, like in Iraq, and obviously the terrain is much different in Afghanistan," Murtha said in an e-mail to Military.com.
"I spoke to both General Casey and General Petraeus about the issue. They also have heard the same thing, said that the Army is looking into the situation, and that funding is available for new uniforms if the Army decides to go that route."
The cantankerous Pennsylvania Congressman is a lighting rod for criticism but has often used his considerable influence to push the services into action on items he views as critical to the troops on the ground.
In the mid-2009 wartime funding bill he inserted unambiguous language to force the Army to examine an alternative to its new combat uniform – at least for Afghanistan deployments.
"Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan have serious concerns about the current combat uniform which they indicate provides ineffective camouflage given the environment in Afghanistan," the bill states. "The Department of Defense [must take] immediate action to provide combat uniforms to personnel deployed to Afghanistan with a camouflage pattern that is suited to the environment of Afghanistan."
Congress ordered the Army to provide a report on its progress by Sept. 30.
The Army declined a Military.com interview request, but the Army's top logistician said in a statement the service is looking into Murtha's demand.
"The Army is reviewing the report language on combat uniforms in Afghanistan that is contained in the FY09 Overseas Contingency Operations conference report," Deputy Chief of Staff (G-4) Lt. Gen. Mitchell Stevenson wrote. "Once the bill is finalized, we will work with the conferees to address their concerns. The Army looks forward to working with the Congress to meet their intent."
The Army made a dramatic change in uniforms in 2004 when it shifted from the Desert Combat Uniform and Vietnam-era Battle Dress Uniform and black boots to a year-round digitized camo uniform with scuffed tan boots.
The uniform has received mixed reviews from Soldiers who think the camo pattern doesn't match desert backgrounds or woodland ones, but Army officials contend the color and pattern best match a range of environments.
The Marine Corps was the first service to introduce a digital patterned combat uniform, providing both a woodland version and a desert one depending on the environment. Marines are authorized to wear either uniform in Afghanistan depending on their operations area.
The ever-popular MultiCam pattern designed by New York-based Crye Precision is gaining some institutional credibility, with Army Special Forces troops donning the pattern in certain operations in Afghanistan and Air Force pararescuemen wearing a MultiCam "combat system" during a recent deployment to Djibouti.
But with the Army spending millions to switch to an all-in-one pattern not too long ago, switching to a two-uniform system may be too costly in time and resources.
The Army digital uniform cost approximately $88 when it was first deployed. Assuming a replacement would cost a comparable amount, the Army would need $35.2 million to re-outfit 40,000 Soldiers in Afghanistan.
http://www.military.com/news/article/congress-orders-afghanistan-uniform-probe.html
July 08, 2009
Military.com|by Bryan Mitchell
The Army is examining the possibility of replacing its current digital Army Combat Uniform with a different model for troops being deployed to Afghanistan following a Congressional directive contained in the latest war funding bill.
The move could mean a drastic change of combat uniforms for the tens of thousands of troops most likely to rotate through the country in the coming months and years, but it's not entirely clear if the order will lead to new uniforms or a return to the battle dress uniforms the digital versions replaced.
The move in Congress was prompted by Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), Chairman of the Defense Appropriations subcommittee, who said he was first made aware of the issue during a visit with a group of noncommissioned officer Rangers serving at Fort Benning, Ga.
Poll: Does the Army’s 'All-in-One' Camo Pattern Work? (http://www.military.com/)
Murtha queried Army leaders and learned the concern was not reserved to a handful of Georgia troops. Similar sentiments had been voiced throughout units with experience serving in Afghanistan.
"The reason is that the current uniform has been primarily designed for a desert combat, like in Iraq, and obviously the terrain is much different in Afghanistan," Murtha said in an e-mail to Military.com.
"I spoke to both General Casey and General Petraeus about the issue. They also have heard the same thing, said that the Army is looking into the situation, and that funding is available for new uniforms if the Army decides to go that route."
The cantankerous Pennsylvania Congressman is a lighting rod for criticism but has often used his considerable influence to push the services into action on items he views as critical to the troops on the ground.
In the mid-2009 wartime funding bill he inserted unambiguous language to force the Army to examine an alternative to its new combat uniform – at least for Afghanistan deployments.
"Soldiers deployed to Afghanistan have serious concerns about the current combat uniform which they indicate provides ineffective camouflage given the environment in Afghanistan," the bill states. "The Department of Defense [must take] immediate action to provide combat uniforms to personnel deployed to Afghanistan with a camouflage pattern that is suited to the environment of Afghanistan."
Congress ordered the Army to provide a report on its progress by Sept. 30.
The Army declined a Military.com interview request, but the Army's top logistician said in a statement the service is looking into Murtha's demand.
"The Army is reviewing the report language on combat uniforms in Afghanistan that is contained in the FY09 Overseas Contingency Operations conference report," Deputy Chief of Staff (G-4) Lt. Gen. Mitchell Stevenson wrote. "Once the bill is finalized, we will work with the conferees to address their concerns. The Army looks forward to working with the Congress to meet their intent."
The Army made a dramatic change in uniforms in 2004 when it shifted from the Desert Combat Uniform and Vietnam-era Battle Dress Uniform and black boots to a year-round digitized camo uniform with scuffed tan boots.
The uniform has received mixed reviews from Soldiers who think the camo pattern doesn't match desert backgrounds or woodland ones, but Army officials contend the color and pattern best match a range of environments.
The Marine Corps was the first service to introduce a digital patterned combat uniform, providing both a woodland version and a desert one depending on the environment. Marines are authorized to wear either uniform in Afghanistan depending on their operations area.
The ever-popular MultiCam pattern designed by New York-based Crye Precision is gaining some institutional credibility, with Army Special Forces troops donning the pattern in certain operations in Afghanistan and Air Force pararescuemen wearing a MultiCam "combat system" during a recent deployment to Djibouti.
But with the Army spending millions to switch to an all-in-one pattern not too long ago, switching to a two-uniform system may be too costly in time and resources.
The Army digital uniform cost approximately $88 when it was first deployed. Assuming a replacement would cost a comparable amount, the Army would need $35.2 million to re-outfit 40,000 Soldiers in Afghanistan.
http://www.military.com/news/article/congress-orders-afghanistan-uniform-probe.html