Posted: 1/29/2008 11:10:51 AM EDT
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Hey guys, I asked this on another forum and got no answers. Thought about calling a cousin in the AF, but I know she doesn't have ABUs yet and is trying to never get them (out in May). I was just wondering if there is any cold weather clothing for using the ABU pattern for airmen yet. If there isn't, do they just have to wear woodland M65s? |
New AF policy came out today according to the e-mail I got. The ABU ECWS (gortex) will not start being on shelves until Feb so if it is not available in your area, then the M65/BDU gortex is authorized for wear with the ABU. www.military.com/military-report/air-force-adjusts-uniform-policy?ESRC=miltrep.nl Commanders are now authorized to permit Airmen to wear a woodland-patterned camouflage Gore-Tex coat or field jacket with their ABUs if the new APECS jacket is unavailable at their location and other approved cold weather options are unavailable or unsuitable for duty. APECS jackets are projected to become more widely available starting in February 2008. |
One of the MSgts in our Com Squadron has one. I have no clue where he got it though. I would not doubt it is a knock off. I am laughing my ass off at everyone in my wing running out and buying the ABUs out of their own pocket. Being Guard we will be issued them in a year or so. That is a lot of money to shell out to just look trendy. |
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no, not knockoffs. there ARE abu gore-tex outfits out there. i think the only maker is propper, the same folks who make most of the uniforms. i'm kinda surprised they don't allow the air force folks to wear acu pattern cw gear since they have to wear acu web gear... |
Hell, take it one step further. Why didn't we just adopt the ACU and delete the pocket sleeves if they wanted to keep the enlisted rank on the sleeve? It would have made things a lot simpler. 
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ABU & ACU suck, IMO. The army's uniform, while functional and sharing an effective "digital" pattern similar to the MARPAT, is by far the least effective coloration of any uniform issued. Gray does not blend with the woods. Gray does not blend with the sand. If they wanted a good all-around coloration, they should have adopted the MULTICAM pattern. I'd honestly like to know how the guys actually wearing the stuff in the field feel about them. |
It would have been simpler but someone felt the need for equally ineffective camo in a different pattern. |
Thanks for the answers, guys. Yeah, I thought there would be some sort of stopgap in place for the time being. It was just a random thought. By the time I get around to getting in, everything in woodland will probably be worn out. I'm one of those people who thought, "why not just go back to OD?" 
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Highlighted above. Wing CC must approve, you can't just do it. APEC was in some clothing sales early on, but then the AEF sucked them up. It's not as good as the Gortex jacket pattern. There is no liner so it's not great for a mild temp coat like the current one. I've also heard the zipper isn't designed well and allows wind, sand, etc thru the jacket. I laugh every time I think that the Uniform Board made excuses on why we didn't have sleeve pockets, rank tabs, and side opening chest pockets on the ABU because "Senior leaders decided after hearing from the field they were unnessesary", and yet their $170 jacket has all of these features. These same guys, during their "extensive field testing" never discovered that the interior pockets and overall fabric are very uncomfortable and hot in the desert! Einsteins one and all! Guess when all the wear testers are working at the pentagon, these things don't matter. At least they changed the colors! |
Hot as hell in the summer, cant wait for that san antonio sun 
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Exactly. And the dumbshit CCs at both bases here said no-go on any cold weather gear. The inside pockets are very easily removed, and the fabric is more comfortable than the old nylon blend DCUs. I wore my ABUs in the 120 degree heat of Iraq and they were no hotter than the DCUs I had been wearing prior. The fabric isn't any heavier, it's just a different type of weave, and since it looks like denim everyone thinks it's thick or hot. It's not. It's the same exact material the USMC uses in their uniforms, and I don't see them whining about theirs being too hot or thick. 
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Good to know, all I heard was people complaining about how hot they were 
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Thanks for the info. I will be able to confirm this in May. Balad for 180!!! 
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Makes me damn glad I am not a missle cop up there right now.
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But it's not cold in LA. Heck, it's jsut starting to be long pants weather up here in ND. lol... |
| Why in hell are the new ABU boots nearly twice the price of any of the old black ones? I've worn Corcoran black boots for the entire 5 years of my AF career. At $55-$60 they were a great value, and I've been through about 3 pairs. I usually kept 2 pairs, one for the office and one for the field. I may have to rethink that, as I don't relish having nearly $300 tied up in friggin' footwear. |
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For some reason they had the about 5-6 APECS jacket's in our BX before we had the ABU but of course there all long gone now, and there is now way im gonna go outta pocket for one. I'm gonna stick with my BDU's till i have to go throught ALS then I'll put on my ABU's that I have sitting in the closet. |
I'd say screw wearing the ABU's even at ALS until after 2011. Hell I only wore my BDU's 5 times in ALS. The rest of the time we were in Class B blues. |
If there was ever a place to authorized it it's GF. Heck they issue more non-standard gear there than anywhere so that policy makes no sense! Back in the day, if you were caught on the flightline with a green parka, you were asking for an ass kicking! (GF 1990-1994) |
When did you go through ALS ? A couple buddys just went throught in December and said they wore blue's 2-3 times. |
Wear your desert boots until they stop allowing it. I have half a dozen pair of those I got for free. Of course I got my ABU boots for free too, but they are uncomfortable so I wear my tan ones still.
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