Air Force Developing New ABU

[unhappycamper]

Air Force Developing New ABU
March 29, 2008
Stars and Stripes|by Lisa Burgess

ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air Force is starting work on a lightweight version of its Airman Battle Uniform that will be more comfortable to wear under the merciless sun of the Middle East.

Three different fabrics will get wear-tested, each with the same color and pattern used in the current ABU, said Lt. Col. Gary Salmans, the Air Force's program manager for uniforms.

The ABU's current fabric, which is a permanent-press blend of half nylon and half cotton, was supposed to eliminate the need for both winter and summer weight uniforms.

But in e-mails to Stars and Stripes, airmen who have been issued the latest uniform to wear while deployed to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan are reporting that it is much too heavy for the environment.

"Being in a deployed location where the temperature is in the 100s (degrees) daily, these uniforms are very uncomfortable," wrote Staff Sgt. Cornelius White from his undisclosed base in the U.S. Central Command.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/air-force-developing-new-abu.html?wh=wh



uhc comment: Sounds like these guys are planning to stay for while.