Airman Battle Uniform

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Image:USAF Airman Battle Uniform.jpg The Airman Battle Uniform, or ABU, is the new battledress uniform for the United States Air Force. It is currently in the beginning stages of being phased into service and will replace the Battle Dress Uniform by Fiscal Year 2011. The ABU will be "wash and wear," meaning the only care needed will be to wash and dry it.

The ABU will replace the familiar camouflage-pattern Battle Dress Uniform (BDU), which replaced the olive drab "fatigues," and has been in use since 1981. The BDU was the field utility uniform for all branches of the United States Armed Forces, except the Navy and the Marine Corps used a distinctive cap. The Navy, Marines, and Army have also developed distinctive uniforms to replace the BDU.

1 History
2 Notes and References
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

The first prototype of the ABU was unveiled in the summer of 2003.<ref>Columbus Federal Voice, (2003). Air Force personnel test new uniform. Retrieved April 7, 2006.</ref> The early uniform prototypes consisted of trousers, an embroidered undershirt, and a blouse. The camouflage pattern used was blue, non-digitized tiger stripes.

After months of "wear testing," Air Force officials revised the color scheme and camouflage pattern due to feedback received from Airmen. The new pixelated tiger stripe pattern would trade its dominant blue overtones for a more subdued palette.<ref>About.com US Military, (2004). Air Force Changes Color for Proposed Utility Uniform. Retrieved April 7, 2006.</ref>