New Standard for gear color

[PSYOP Rob]

I was wondering if anyone has any insight on this question. With the changeover to ACUs what pattern and or color will the Army change to for everything that used to be woodland. Will it all switch over to the ACUs digital design, or will we switch to a monochrome color like coyote brown or RANGER/smoke green? Your thoughts?

[Bill Harsey]

Originally Posted by PSYOP Rob

I was wondering if anyone has any insight on this question. With the changeover to ACUs what pattern and or color will the Army change to for everything that used to be woodland. Will it all switch over to the ACUs digital design, or will we switch to a monochrome color like coyote brown or RANGER/smoke green? Your thoughts?

Any direction on how or who to contact to track this would be good news.
This is not a small question,

Who's in charge of color?

[PSYOP Rob]

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

Any direction on how or who to contact to track this would be good news.
This is not a small question,

Who's in charge of color?

I asked this same question on Lightfighter, was told to use the search button (I did, my keywords didnt match) and was directed to various threads that contained a lot of opinions. The consensus over there seems to be that the ACU digital pattern will be the new standard. Some companies are already in production of items in this pattern. Others seem to be heading more towards the coyote brown or smoke green colors. Nothing against Lightfighter, but Id like to see if anybody here has any insight on this. Id like to add that of all the boards I am currently a member of, this one really is the hallmark of professionalism. Thank you all for your experience, excellent information and maturity.
Darren

[Eagle5US]

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

Any direction on how or who to contact to track this would be good news.
This is not a small question,

Who's in charge of color?

THat would be the Army Uniform Board, part of the US Army Quartermaster Corps Research and Development Command, based out of Natick, Mass.
Tried to find you a link, but my google-fu is weak this morning.

I called them before to gripe (specifically when they took all the baffles out of the BDU pockets and started sewing them down "for a better appearance in garrison". There was a civilian gal in charge then, she didn't care too much for my opinion, for the like of me I couldn't understand why not

Eagle

[Bill Harsey]

Thanks, I will try and sort out how to make contact.

[Roguish Lawyer]

Originally Posted by Eagle5US

THat would be the Army Uniform Board, part of the US Army Quartermaster Corps Research and Development Command, based out of Natick, Mass.
Tried to find you a link, but my google-fu is weak this morning.

http://nsc.natick.army.mil/about/index.htm

[Sacamuelas]

I don't think that is the right link RL.

Army Regulation 70–1
Research, Development, and Acquisition
Army Acquisition Policy
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
31 December 2003
UNCLASSIFIED


8–5. Clothing and individual equipment (CIE)

a. Scope of clothing and individual equipment (CIE). CIE items are relatively low cost items that are worn and used by the individual soldier. They are part of the soldier’s equipment and integral components of the Soldier System. As such, they must be functionally compatible. This policy applies to the Active Army, the National Guard Bureau, the Army Reserve, and the ROTC. CIE is worn in accordance with AR 670–1. CIE includes the following three categories:

---(1) Clothing bag items and dress uniform items. All Army uniforms in the initial and supplemental clothing allowances contained in CTA 50–900 for enlisted soldiers; mess, dress and service uniforms for officers; and optional purchases uniform items for all soldiers (AR 670–1).
---(2) Optional purchase uniforms. Clothing bag and dress uniform items that officers and enlisted personnel may procure from AMCSS with personal funds.
---(3) Organizational clothing and individual equipment (OCIE). Items issued to enlisted and officer personnel in accordance with CTA 50–900, CTA 50–909, or CTA 50–970. These items are usually issued from central issue facilities (CIF) and remain the property of the U.S. Army. These items include, but are not restricted to, ballistic/ personal protection clothing and equipment; tactical/environmental clothing; nuclear, biological, and chemical clothing and equipment; and individual soldier/unit equipment.
b. Milestone Decision Authority for CIE. The MDA for clothing bag, mess, dress, service, and optional purchase uniform items is the CSA.

(1) The Army Uniform Board (AUB) is the primary review forum for clothing bag, mess, dress, service, and optional purchase uniform items. The AUB resolves issues, provides, and obtains guidance and makes recommendations to the CSA. The CSA approves the initiation of concept development and adoption of these items.
The AUB will:
---(a) Conduct milestone reviews on new or improved items and make recommendations to the CSA for decision.
---(b) Review policies pertaining to the wear of new or improved clothing items.

(2) The requirement for an AUB meeting is usually generated by the receipt of documentation from PM–Soldier requesting a formal milestone review.

(3) The AUB is chaired by DCS, G–4. Membership includes—
---(a) ASA(ALT).
---(b) DCS, G–1.
---(c) Director of Requirements, Office of the DCS, G–3.
---(d) Deputy Inspector General.
---(e) Director, Army National Guard.
---(f) Chief Army Reserve.
---(g) Deputy Chief of Staff for Combat Developments, TRADOC.
---(h) CG, SBCCOM.
---(i) Senior female officer on the Army General or Special Staff.
---(j) SMA.
---(k) A senior female representative from the OASA(M&RA).
---(l) A senior female noncommissioned officer.
---(m) A junior enlisted female soldier.
---(n) A junior enlisted male soldier.

(4) The DCS, G–4 is authorized to appoint an Associate Army Uniform Board (AAUB) composed of officers and noncommissioned officers to provide advice on uniform matters.

[Bill Harsey]

????????????????????????????????????
Who is in charge of color?

[Peregrino]

All those females - obviously! While at the 5th GP COC w/TR I stopped in the Ft Campbell MCSS. They already had vendor items (SO Tech I think) available for purchase in the new camo pattern plus a lot of coyote and smoke green from other manufacturers. (Actually had a pretty good selection - pretty important considering how much time 5th SFG(A) and the 101st spend in the sandbox.) Just thinking about it asses me off! The FCKY MCSS is 2/3 the size of the one at FBNC yet they have twice the selection and actually sell stuff you can't find outside the internet here at Bragg. This is especially true when it comes to personal preference field gear and OCIE. It's reached the point where I wonder if AAFES is the best steward of the troops interests. End rant - Peregrino

[Viking]

army times a few weeks ago said all gear would go to acu pattern. there is a place on reilly road with variety of mag pouches, saw pouches, frag etc....
so far, i don't really like the chest pockets on the acus among other things.

[Bill Harsey]

After using some Google-Fu,
It seems the selection for Army camo is done at the US Army Soldiers Systems Center in Natick Ma by the department contained within called the Camouflage Evaluation Facility.
Yes the color seems to be locked down for the new ACU pattern.

What I will have to continue to research is:
What is all the other gear supposed to look like and what does this do (if anything at all) to all the tactical nylon and other gear makers who are providing gear to the US Army?

Edited to add: This uniform will come in three sets of colors, Green-Woodland, Grey-Urban and Sand Brown-desert.

All of the above is open source information.

[Razor]

I have read, in places other than LF.com, that the complementing color to the ACU (used for webbing, buckles and other solid colored components) will be foliage green.

[Bill Harsey]

Originally Posted by Razor

I have read, in places other than LF.com, that the complementing color to the ACU (used for webbing, buckles and other solid colored components) will be foliage green.

Thanks Razor.
This won't be a one time question, I'd better find a way to contact the source of this information directly.
Speaking of working with folks in the government, when I first started working with the GSA a few years ago I was told by a top manager in GSA that they won't sell knives because they are weapons... ....while their own catalog was full of them.

This got solved.

[Archangel]

Originally Posted by Bill Harsey

Edited to add: This uniform will come in three sets of colors, Green-Woodland, Grey-Urban and Sand Brown-desert.

I believe they changed that & now there is only one color. Doesn't make much sense for the troops, but I guess it makes sense for the accounting department.


http://www.uscalvary.com/prodinfo/enlarged/27440L.jpg

[militarymoron]

i posted some info regarding ACU colour on the 2nd page of the crye multicam thread. natick is working on a colour guide that will have all of the Army and Marine's core colours in it, which is not related to the pantone standards. right now, material manufacturers are going by a standard roll sample.
i got this info from the colour specialist on the "Engineering, Prototype & Performance Evaluation Team" at natick.
cheers,
MM