|
Categories
Latest Postings
Links
Archives
|
« Anchortex Welcomes Back RBR Tactical Under Its New Name, RBR North America (August 5, 2011) | Setina Vehicle Partitions Help Keep Drivers Protected (September 23, 2011) »
Airman Battle Uniform Replaces BDUs and DCUs for US Air Force on November 1st, 2011
While the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) has been in use for several years already, it will officially replace the Desert Combat Uniform (DCU) and Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) as the combat uniform of the United States Air Force on November 1st, 2011. If you’re still wearing BDUs or DCUs, it’s time to get your ABU orders in; there is currently no backorder on ABU components, but that may change very quickly as the due date approaches. The following are required components of the Airman Battle Uniform: ABU Coat (Shirt). The ABU Coat must be made of 50% nylon/50% cotton material, with button fastenings and Air Force digitized tiger stripe print. Rank insignia for officers is on the collar on the left side; rank insignia for enlisted personnel is on the sleeves, centered on the outer arm halfway between the elbow and shoulder seam. Name tapes will be worn immediately above the upper ABU pocket on the wearer’s right; the ‘US Air Force’ service tape will be worn on the upper ABU pocket on the wearer’s left. Up to two relevant chaplain, aeronautical, space, cyberspace, and/or occupational badges are authorized for wear above the US Air Force tape, the first centered 1/2 inch above the tape, the second 1/2 inch above the first. Duty Shields for members of the Office of Special Investigations, Security Forces, or Fire Protection, as well and Missile Badges (where authorized) are centered between the bottom of the pocket flap, bottom of the pocket, and left and right edges on the ABU coat’s left pocket only, and are the only items authorized for placement in this location. T-Shirt - Desert Sand (Tan). A desert sand T-shirt will be worn under the ABU coat and tucked into the trousers; it may be replaced by a desert sand turtleneck. Installation commanders may prescribe a unit designation and cloth or silkscreen emblem to be worn on the left side of the chest not to exceed 5 inches in diameter. Pockets are not allowed, and gender-appropriate undergarments are required to be worn with all uniform combinations. ABU Trousers. The ABU trousers must be made of 50% nylon, 50% cotton, with button fastenings and Air Force digitized tiger stripe print. The waistband must rest on the Airman’s waist, and the trouser must present an evenly bloused appearance. If not bloused, the straps must be removed and the trousers must be allowed to hang naturally to ankle length. Belt - Desert Sand (Tan). The ABU Belt must be a one-piece rigger-style nylon web belt, 1 3/4″ in width, and must be worn with the ABU trousers. Combat Boots - Sage Green. The Sage Green Combat Boots must be worn with the Airman Battle Uniform; these boots must be lace-up with plain or capped rounded toe with or without a perforated seam. Zippers and elastic inserts may be included, if they do not have a design or logo. These combat boots may include a safety toe at the wearer’s option. Exceptions: Commanders may temporarily authorize the use of black leather boots with ABUs in industrial work environments or work centers where industrial products or processes cause irreparable staining to the sage green suede or tan suede boot, until a stain-resistant green boot becomes available. Theater Commanders may authorize tan combat boots for wear only in theaters of war. Socks - Sage Green. As part of the Airman Battle Uniform, Airmen are required to wear sage green socks; plain white socks can be worn underneath the sage green socks as long as the white socks are not visible. ABU Patrol Cap. Headgear is required when outdoors at all times unless in a designated no-hat zone. The typical requirement is the ABU Patrol Cap, made of 50% nylon/50% cotton with Air Force digitized tiger stripe print. Officers wear a subdued metal or cloth rank insignia centered on the front of this cap; enlisted personnel do not wear ranks on their caps. An installation commander may optionally approve usage of a sage green watch cap instead for use with ABU authorized outer garments. All Purpose Environmental Clothing System (APECS). For outdoor use only as outerwear. APECS coats and APECS trousers use Air Force digitized tiger stripe print, and require a slip-on rank insignia to be worn on the rank tab. A sage green fleece liner may be worn under the APECS, as long as it is not visible. Sage Green Fleece. The sage green fleece can be worn outdoors by itself with the Airman Battle Uniform, but must be removed when indoors (local commanders can allow indoor wear as mission needs dictate.) It can only be worn over the ABU coat. When worn as an outer garment, uniform regulations require a Velcro ABU print last name tape with dark blue block lettering centered between the zipper and sleeve seam on wearer’s right chest. Regulations also require a 2 inch squared Velcro subdued cloth rank insignia with solid sage green background (no ABU pattern on background) flushed and centered above the last name tape on the wearer’s right chest. A Velcro ABU print ‘US Air Force’ service tape with dark blue, block lettering will be placed even with the last name tape and centered between zipper and sleeve seam on wearer’s left chest. The original document containing the Air Force Dress Regulations is available at http://www.e-publishing.af.mil/shared/media/epubs/afi36-2903.pdf without restrictions, so if you’re curious about what the 179-page document actually contains, you’re cleared to look it over yourself. If you’re looking for a quick outfitting solution for your troops, contact our sales department with the name, rank, shoe size, hat size, trouser size, and shirt size of all soldiers who need a complete uniform solution and the quantity of each item you need and we’ll give you a combined quote based on the quantity of your order. Attached, Velcro-backed, or loose insignias, badges, name tapes, and service tapes are available to meet your needs. We will happily deliver to military bases, consolidation points, APOs or FPOs with a minimum of fuss. Let us know what we can do for you, your unit, your squadron, or your base today.
Leave a Reply |