Badger 6 has escaped the gravitational pull of the blogosphere and has become a full-fledged columnist!

In an article over at Military.com, he considers how the "New Army Uniform Doesn't Measure Up". Obviously, he is not the biggest fan, but has suggestions.

When the ACU was first introduced, I was a big fan. Having lived and worked in the uniform for over in year in various field environments - including combat in Iraq - it is clear the goal has not yet been achieved. With a few changes, the Army can complete the process and ensure today's Soldiers have a top-quality uniform ready to take them into combat.

Jason at Countercolumn is less generous as he damns with faint praise: "Still, the uniform is better than the universal issue of berets, imposed upon us by the sainted General Shinseki".

But as Badger 6 points out:

"One of the main goals of the change was to have a uniform that worked in all environments - woodland, desert, and urban - and held up to the rigors of combat duty, as well as the strictures of day-to-day work in garrison.

A great deal of time and money was spent on the development of this new uniform and the Army Program Executive Office Soldier did extensive testing with Soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and at home in the United States.

Considering all the testing the uniform went through, it is surprising such a mediocre product finally emerged."

Unfortunately, it should be no surprise that this "ACU" is so mediocre, given that it didn't even win the Army test to select a new a "Universal Camouflage For The Future Warrior".

According to the Army's own briefings, out of four candidates the 'Urban Track' (essentially the ACU) pattern "...was typically the 3rd or 4th worst performer in each site (with the exception of one urban site where it tied with desert brush for the highest rating)."



In fact the 'Desert Brush' pattern "...is Significantly Better than the Other Three Systems." and had the "...Highest mean blend rating of the four systems tested (Combining all terrains and day/night testing)..."

That begs the question "Then why wasn't it chosen?"  I guess I can understand.  I mean what are the odds we will go to war in the Middle East where a desert pattern might be useful, right?

But seriously, lets face it. 'Urban' in Iraq is more of a 'Desert' anyhow. Urban cammo might work great for CONUS SWAT teams, but doesn't really cut it in a dusty desert environment where many of the background objects are made from that very same dust/dirt.

Hopefully the Army will look hard at switching to 'multicam', and incorporating suggestions from guys like Badger 6 who have the practical experience that no test program could simulate.

Hat Tip to Noah Shachtman of Danger Room for some previous posts on the ACU topic back at his old blog that shall not be named!

Next up: The 'Airman Battle Uniform' (ABU). In the perpetual motion machine that is the Air Force's drive to be 'unique', we had to come up with our own new cammo pattern. Of course no one ever considered that with all the other services switching away from the green BDUs, we could have kept what we had and still have been 'unique'. Not to mention saving a lot of money out of the Air Forces budget and mine....



It doesn't look bad to me, but I guess based on Badger 6's experience, we should wait to see how they actually wear in the field. But they are a damn sight better than the ones they originally wanted us to wear....