My Report on the ABUs

[Stonewall]

I got issued one set of ABUs and have worn them for about 6 days total.

• Wash, dry, hang up....wear.  No ironing (I did iron the stripes before sewing them but that's it).


• They fit great.  I was told the tops were small so I ordered 1 size bigger and it fits nicely.  The pants fit great in the waist, but they're long as all get out.


• It hasn't been hot yet so I don't know how that'll be, but they're otherwise comfy.


• I don't much care for the sage boots so I'm wearing desert colored 8" Oakley SF Assault boots.  Click here to see how to get them about 1/2 price.


• I don't think they look bad, but other than what I described above, they're the same as BDUs, except we don't have woodland and desert options.


• I think it's stupid to have tigerstripe nametapes but the skill badges have a solid background.  Not to mention, the nametapes I got were obviously made from a different manufacturer because they are much darker, almost a brown, than the ABUs themselves.

[Cecil DP]

I have 4 sets issued before I went to Iraq in 2006. They are good and don't get too hot. But I hate the velcro, if you rub against something the insignia can get moved or removed and of course, everytime you change uniforms or wash them you have to completly remove all insignia and reset them.  Also unlike BDU/DBDU, etc you can't roll the sleeves up.

[MIKE]

^ ABU, not ACU.  Different uniform, different service.

[Stonewall]

^ ABU, not ACU.  Different uniform, different service.

LOL...but I'd rather have ACUs 

[DNall]

The ANG cops at the gate were in ABUs for the first time this wknd. They look a little weird, but okay I guess. The boots look dumb, and expensive. The sand background badges look silly. I haven't heard from anyone else about how they wear yet. Have heard they're hot, but that's about it. I'm not a fan of 2-pc flight suits, but the A2CUs we have for aircrew are really nice & present a good uniformed appearance.

[mikeylikey]

The ANG cops at the gate were in ABUs for the first time this wknd.

Same here.....not too bad looking.  I did see them walking around about 6 months ago, and the pants and shirt did not match.  I suppose they worked that out. 

As far as they go, I think they could have designed something a little more "fieldy" than "garrisony".  They look sharp walking around base/post, but we shall see how they hold up in year rolling around in the sand. 

Kirt.....take note, you will have to keep us all updated on how they hold together under "normal" living conditions when you deploy!

[Hawk200]

The ANG cops at the gate were in ABUs for the first time this wknd. They look a little weird, but okay I guess. The boots look dumb, and expensive. The sand background badges look silly. I haven't heard from anyone else about how they wear yet. Have heard they're hot, but that's about it. I'm not a fan of 2-pc flight suits, but the A2CUs we have for aircrew are really nice & present a good uniformed appearance.

"Sand" background badges? Like a tan or khaki color? The cops at our base are wearing badges with a grey background to them.

[Stonewall]

Kirt.....take note, you will have to keep us all updated on how they hold together under "normal" living conditions when you deploy!

Didn't you get my PM?  I thought you responded.  As of now I'm an alternate (if someone ends up not going).  Since my wifey is preggo and will give birth smack dab in the middle of the deployment date, the Chief made a decision to not make me and 2 others alternates.  Yep, 3 of the 26 are expecting.

"Sand" background badges? Like a tan or khaki color? The cops at our base are wearing badges with a grey background to them.

Nah, they're the AF greenish-tannish-greyish background on the badge with blue embroidery.  I just think it looks silly when the badges are that solid color and name tapes are tiger stripe.

[ddelaney103]

Nah, they're the AF greenish-tannish-greyish background on the badge with blue embroidery.  I just think it looks silly when the badges are that solid color and name tapes are tiger stripe.

I know all the cool kids are doing it, but I wish we could have skipped the AFPAT nametapes.

Fortunately, they're not nearly the eyetest that woody MARPAT nametapes are.

With any luck, I'll get my new suits  next month.  After all the spinup on an "all but certain" 6 month TDY, I'm an alternate as well.  I really need to get the new 5 levels downrange for a turn in the barrel.  I just feel funny staying home.  Maybe something will come up.

[DNall]

Nah, they're the AF greenish-tannish-greyish background on the badge with blue embroidery.  I just think it looks silly when the badges are that solid color and name tapes are tiger stripe.

Forgive the dumb army guy, but I don't know what greenish-tannish-greyish means. It looks sand to me. Pretty much like this:


The really high contrast looks weird, both badge to background & background to ABU. With ACUs we use black metal, so it's kind of like ACU background but more of a pain in the butt. Just be thankful you got sewn on stuff.

The stripes I saw looked real good on there though. Didn't really pay attention to the name/branch tapes so guess they were okay.

[adamblank]

The badges look a little lighter than the DCU background.  I think it is nowhere near as bad as Kirt mentioned with the nametapes/matching uniforms.  At our MCSS there a few different "colors" of the ABU.

[lordmonar]

DNALL,

I think your ANG types may have the wrong badges on the ABU's.  The correct badges should be on a green back ground.

I have the ABU's too.  I got them last Aug just as it was cooling off here in Vegas.  They are not too bad...but they don't breath as well because of the map pockets in the coat.

The next set I buy...I'm going to cut out the map pocket panel and use the material for the name tapes to solve the fabric mis-match.

Overall I like the ABU's better because of their low maintenance.  Also they travel well.  I have been TDY with my ABU's several times in the last year and I roll up my uniform in my bag.  I take it out and hang it up and it looks like it just came out of the laundry.

[Stonewall]

DCU Insignia


ABU Insignia


ABU Stripes


DCU Stripes

[Stonewall]

Here, judge for yourself.

[DNall]

Okay. That's not what our folks were wearing. : They were wearing these. Which are described on that site as ABU insignia. That's all I've seen on the seven people I've seen in ABUs so far. Thx for the clarification. The stuff you posted looks fine to me. Much better than when we first went to ACUs with OD background tapes/grade.

I got some complaints about ACUs, that I'm interested in knowing if ABUs will avoid. ACUs are ok for wash & wear at first, but after several washes they just look a bit wrinkly all the time (like you're in the field), the collars in particular. I'd like to see if the thicker ABU material avoids that. Also, ACUs get tons of cables after you wash them, and the light colored material fades bad & stains easy from mud, not to mention mustard, which is real obvious.

[NIN]

At my senior meeting last night I gave my officers a thumbnail sketch of what I knew went on from National Board.  I started out with  "There were 14 agenda items pertaining to 'other business,' and then they got down to the nitty gritty of the meeting: the 7 agenda items pertaining to uniforms.." (Everybody laughed)

My supply officer asked "When will CAP transition to the new Air Force uniform?"

Before I had a chance to answer, my AEO who is a retired O-6 F-15 driver and currently the PMS (or whatever word they use) for an AFJROTC unit nearby, piped up and said "When hell freezes over!"

I had to laugh. I seem to recall this exact same statement made when BDUs were the "uniform in question."

IIRC, the first year we could wear BDUs was 1991 (I could be wrong, BTW... I don't seem to have any photos from the 1991 encampment, only 1992, where we're definitely all in BDUs. My faulty remembery says that we were in BDUs in 1991, too, but I don't trust that..<GRIN>).  I'm not sure how many years that was after the "official wearout date" of the pickle suit in AF service.  But what I do remember about the transition was that every service was in BDUs, and pickle suits had disappeared from the shelves at AAFES.

And that was pretty much a deciding factor: Availability of uniforms.

Nowadays the Marines, Army, Air Force and Navy have moved away from BDUs.  In a year or two, nobody will be wearing them.  AAFES has already stopped stocking BDUs in the MCSS.  When my supply officer goes down to Hanscom AFB to pick up stuff, she is having a harder and harder time obtaining uniform items.  Pretty soon, it will be darn near impossible to pick up, for example, a BDU cap and a blue web belt with black buckle thru the AAFES supply chain.

So we're in that period where BDUs have become the pickle suit of old.  (yeah, yeah, they're available thru surplus places, online vendors and such, but the fact remains: nobody in the US military is wearing them. Eventually, we will stick out like a sore thumb in our unique "woodland-ness")  Eventually, the Air Force is going to say "Alright, CAP, you need to look more like us again.."  and *poof* we'll be in ABUs.

And when that order comes down, much like the move to BDUs, I expect it will be a very fast transition.  Like the move from pickle suits to BDUs.

(then again, if you have to pay big $$$ for your boots, unlike the transition from pickle suits to BDUs where black boots were still part of both uniforms, maybe the move won't be quite as quick.)

[O-Rex]

Like NIN, I think it's all about availability: when surplus stocks of BDU's dwindle, the USAF will eventually acquiesce.

As for sticking out like a sore thumb, unless you hang out at an AFB, it's no big deal.

At lease we'll look like a number of third world armies that have adopted the woodland pattern.....

Boots are definitely gonna hurt the wallet, but think of what you'll save on kiwi: over the course of about 45 years, the boots will pay for themselves.

[Hawk200]

I just think it looks silly when the badges are that solid color and name tapes are tiger stripe.

Know what you mean, it looks like the badges are kinda floating too high. It's a wierd look. Pin on badges on the ACU look OK, mostly because the Army tape stands off the uniform a bit due to the Velcro, so you can tell the badge is sitting over something.

Okay. That's not what our folks were wearing. : They were wearing these. Which are described on that site as ABU insignia. That's all I've seen on the seven people I've seen in ABUs so far.

That's what I thought you meant. Monar is right, those guys are wearing the wrong stuff. I could understand it though, the current version of 36-2903 (the one with the 2007 Change 1 added) says that the insignia are tan. You'd think that in adding Change 1, they could have updated that too. I don't even think there is a current message concerning what is to be worn on the ABU. The only official stuff out there that I've seen so far says to wear the tan. If anyone has a copy of a message specifying the grey background, could you post it up?

I got some complaints about ACUs, that I'm interested in knowing if ABUs will avoid. ACUs are ok for wash & wear at first, but after several washes they just look a bit wrinkly all the time (like you're in the field), the collars in particular.

Mine stay wrinkled too, especially when I've packed them in my ruck for drill. The only thing that seems to work is to roll them real tight when I pack them. It minimizes the wrinkles but doesn't eliminate them.

[DNall]

Are the A2CUs pretty much the same deal too? Mine are on order but I hadn't gotten them yet.

Far as ABUs making it to CAP. Obviously that's a function of when the AF supply chain gets them taken care of & enough surplus capacity builds up to subsidize CAP cadets with. Everything I've heard says that transition for the AF will be pretty fast. When it reaches the right point, then CAP will be authorized. BDUs are fine till then. Hopefully we can get white on the AF backgrounds & finally get rid of glow in the dark blue.

[Hawk200]

Are the A2CUs pretty much the same deal too? Mine are on order but I hadn't gotten them yet.

Actually, no. They're actual Nomex, and I don't think I'ver gotten wrinkles in them. Pull them out, shake them, good to go.

As for you having them on order, you flying now too? Or are you a fueler?

[DNall]

Leaving for school beginning of next FY. They're issuing to outbound officers & WOCs before we go. Just because they can basically. The unit is in refit after coming back from Iraq, so taking advantage of the supply chain to get stuff while it's avail. Don't know if they want us wearing it before we start IERW or if it'll ever even come in, but that's what we were told.

[Hawk200]

Leaving for school beginning of next FY. They're issuing to outbound officers & WOCs before we go. Just because they can basically. The unit is in refit after coming back from Iraq, so taking advantage of the supply chain to get stuff while it's avail. Don't know if they want us wearing it before we start IERW or if it'll ever even come in, but that's what we were told.

Good deal. What are you slotted to fly?

[DNall]

AH-64A!!! We're supposed to get longbows in a few years, but it may end up being ARH-72s, not sure yet, lots of rumors.

We're insanely short of pilots right now though. We were only 70% strength when they alerted for Iraq, had to pick up from other units. Lost those guys coming back, and some folks got out. Then everyone we sent to trng from the rear det got snagged by our sister Bn to go this year in blackhawks, so we're down around 50% pilot strength now & have to be ready to go again in Jan 2010. So it's kind a critical. We're sending people as fast as funded slots can be found & begging for more. Nice time for me to land in the unit.

[CAP006]

Personaly I don't like the fact of not being able to roll up the sleaves with the ABU's. With extream hot weather I like to roll the sleaves.

Although, I also like the fact that the ABU's are a little bit heavyer than the normal BDU's which will come in handy in cold weather.

There are deffenetly some Pro's and Con's with the ABU's but you cant always please everyone.

[Stonewall]

Personaly I don't like the fact of not being able to roll up the sleaves with the ABU's. With extream hot weather I like to roll the sleaves.

There are many arguments about sleeve rolling.  Such as having more circulation in your arms when the sleeves are down.  Lots of folks with IBS (Imaginary Bicep Syndrome) like to roll their sleeves ultra tight which is not good in hot weather.  Additionally, sleeves down offers more sun protection than any sunscreen can.

See, the whole mentality with all branches of the military these days is being "combat ready".  Generally speaking, you don't roll your sleeves in the field (or combat), thus the non-rolling capability of the ACU and ABU. 

[CAP006]

Personaly I don't like the fact of not being able to roll up the sleaves with the ABU's. With extream hot weather I like to roll the sleaves.

There are many arguments about sleeve rolling.  Such as having more circulation in your arms when the sleeves are down.  Lots of folks with IBS (Imaginary Bicep Syndrome) like to roll their sleeves ultra tight which is not good in hot weather.  Additionally, sleeves down offers more sun protection than any sunscreen can.

See, the whole mentality with all branches of the military these days is being "combat ready".  Generally speaking, you don't roll your sleeves in the field (or combat), thus the non-rolling capability of the ACU and ABU. 

I fully understand that. See I don't have really big bicepts so I don't have that problem. 

I understand the fact of having the sleaves down to have more circulation but with the sleaves down in hot weather, won't it make you a little more dehidrated and sweat more?

[Stonewall]

Picture yourself shaded by a tree with air flow as opposed to standing in direct sunlight with airflow.  Which is cooler?  The one in the shade, right?

Sleeves on the field uniforms are loose and provide protection (shade) from the sun, thus it's like your arms are in the shade.  Plus, sunburn will dehydrate you long after the sun has gone down.  Not to mention damaged skin, pain, itching, etc.  Additionally, in field conditions, where I see a lot of CAP folks with their sleeves up (mostly for looks), sleeves down will provide additional protection from things like bugs, scrapes from branches and poisonous plants.

In addition to my many years a ground team member in CAP, I spent 10 years as an infantryman where my "office" was the field.  I can tell you, from desert to jungle to your typical North American woodlands, the furthest I'll go as far as sleeve rolling is maybe rolling the cuffs up once or twice to get them out of the way of my weapon.  And I always keep the cuffs buttoned on the biggest setting to allow for airflow; in the field, not in garrison.

[NIN]

Personaly I don't like the fact of not being able to roll up the sleaves with the ABU's. With extream hot weather I like to roll the sleaves.

My first extended time in ACUs was spent in July at Fort Bragg.  85-90 degrees plus 80+% humidity.  I thought sleeves down was going to be a problem. It was not.

[mikeylikey]

Just look at Arab tribes.  They wear 12 freaking layers of clothes.  It actually keeps the body cool.  They have been doing that for well before our civilizations existed.  I think they know what they are doing. 

There is no practical need to roll BDU sleeves.

[Stonewall]

There is no practical need to roll BDU sleeves.

Especially when you already got 2/3 of the sleeve cut off and put the cuff  up at your bicep area.  Yep, my fluff and puff 1Sgt did that along with his patent leather boots.  Every once in the while the Air Force (guard) does something that blows my mind.  Once, the wing commander was coming to talk to us so he had to run to his office and put on a long sleeve BDU top so he could look like the rest of us. 

Honestly, I think the last time I rolled my sleeves was back in basic trainin in 1991 when we were in the barracks area doing clean-up.  Other than that, it has mostly been policy to keep'em down.

[Hawk200]

There is no practical need to roll BDU sleeves.

Especially when you already got 2/3 of the sleeve cut off and put the cuff  up at your bicep area.  Yep, my fluff and puff 1Sgt did that along with his patent leather boots.  Every once in the while the Air Force (guard) does something that blows my mind.  Once, the wing commander was coming to talk to us so he had to run to his office and put on a long sleeve BDU top so he could look like the rest of us. 

Honestly, I think the last time I rolled my sleeves was back in basic trainin in 1991 when we were in the barracks area doing clean-up.  Other than that, it has mostly been policy to keep'em down.

I think the last time I regularly wore sleeves up was back in '94. I was out at Edwards, and after getting sunburned a few times, I just left them down. After a few years, I didn't bother rolling because it was annoying to do it. Now it just doesn't really do anything for me anyway. The most I do is open the cuffs. 

[Slim]

IIRC, the first year we could wear BDUs was 1991 (I could be wrong, BTW... I don't seem to have any photos from the 1991 encampment, only 1992, where we're definitely all in BDUs. My faulty remembery says that we were in BDUs in 1991, too, but I don't trust that..<GRIN>).  I'm not sure how many years that was after the "official wearout date" of the pickle suit in AF service.  But what I do remember about the transition was that every service was in BDUs, and pickle suits had disappeared from the shelves at AAFES.

I seem to remember us being in BDUs in '91, with the transition from fatigues in progress.  I seem to remember both being authorized at that point, but you could have thrown a rock into a formation and not hit someone in a pickle suit.

I know for sure we were completely in BDUs in 1992, and I got photo proof.

[SarDragon]

Sundown on the pickles was 1 Jan 96. We were in BDUs at my overseas unit in 89. In fact, I was the only one in pickles when I left in Aug '89, because I wasn't sure of my future in CAP when Ileft the Navy, and didn't want to spend the bucks on something I might not ever wear after I got out, and became a fuzzy.

[PHall]

Personaly I don't like the fact of not being able to roll up the sleaves with the ABU's. With extream hot weather I like to roll the sleaves.

Although, I also like the fact that the ABU's are a little bit heavyer than the normal BDU's which will come in handy in cold weather.

There are deffenetly some Pro's and Con's with the ABU's but you cant always please everyone.

Where did you get that "info"?

According to the latest ABU Wear Policy message (072013Z SEP 07) you are authorized to roll the sleeves.
The rules that apply to the BDU/DCU also apply to the ABU according to the above referenced message which is on the Air Force Uniform Board page of the Air Force Portal.

[Slim]

Sundown on the pickles was 1 Jan 96. We were in BDUs at my overseas unit in 89. In fact, I was the only one in pickles when I left in Aug '89, because I wasn't sure of my future in CAP when Ileft the Navy, and didn't want to spend the bucks on something I might not ever wear after I got out, and became a fuzzy.

Not doubting you Dave, but I didn't think BDUs were authorized prior to 1990.  For some reason, 1 Jan 91 stands out as the sunrise date for BDUs.  Maybe the overseas units had special authorization to transition early due to the lack of supply for pickles/lack of DRMO access, and the ready availablity of BDUs?  Not sure on that one, but seems logical.

I've got pictures from our 1990 encampment, where we were all wearing pickle suits.  I don't have any pictures from 1991, but those I do remember seeing showed us in BDUs (that was when the only authorized undershirt color was white, and looked silly).  Darin, somewhere I have a picture of K-Deuce sitting at his desk in BDUs/white t-shirt.  The pics I have from the 1992 encampment show everyone in BDUs.

I remember the sunset very well, I dusted off and updated my old jungles and wore them to our last meeting in 1995, as the OG-107's last hurrah.

[mikeylikey]

According to the latest ABU Wear Policy message (072013Z SEP 07) you are authorized to roll the sleeves.
The rules that apply to the BDU/DCU also apply to the ABU according to the above referenced message which is on the Air Force Uniform Board page of the Air Force Portal.

Both Stonewall and I posted the ABU messages from the AF Portal here in another ABU specific thread.  I do believe I remember reading that.  Now why in hell would you roll your sleeves in the sandbox?  They should have eliminated that clause.  Once again I would like to point out, CAP is not the AF....and at every CAP activity I have run, I demanded a "sleeves down" approach.  The only reason to roll your sleeves is to look cool.  Well I could care less if little Cadet Snuffy looks cool.  Am I a cold-hearted MF'er.....you bet!

[Gunner C]

According to the latest ABU Wear Policy message (072013Z SEP 07) you are authorized to roll the sleeves.
The rules that apply to the BDU/DCU also apply to the ABU according to the above referenced message which is on the Air Force Uniform Board page of the Air Force Portal.

Both Stonewall and I posted the ABU messages from the AF Portal here in another ABU specific thread.  I do believe I remember reading that.  Now why in hell would you roll your sleeves in the sandbox?  They should have eliminated that clause.  Once again I would like to point out, CAP is not the AF....and at every CAP activity I have run, I demanded a "sleeves down" approach.  The only reason to roll your sleeves is to look cool.  Well I could care less if little Cadet Snuffy looks cool.  Am I a cold-hearted MF'er.....you bet!

Many years ago I was on a team with a guy who was really proud of his biceps.  He'd go to the field w/sleeves up but arms cammied.  What a . . . People caught on pretty quick.  Luckily, we got a team sergeant who had biceps bigger than his - that stopped it. 

There's a time for looking cool and a time for work.

GC

[mikeylikey]

^ Can't agree with you more!

[lordmonar]

IIRC the USAF allowed certain units to wear BDU's as early as '86 starting with SP, combat comm units and TACP's.  By 92 everyone was in BDU's.

See this AU graphic.

http://afehri.au.af.mil/Documents/History%20of%20USAF%20Uniforms.pdf

Fixed URL -TA