6.30.2011

All About Multicam Unit Patches

Patches have been used by major formations of the Army of the United States of America. Each has its own unit patch and that the military person must have each unique patch. It has been a part of the military uniform ever since. It is usually worn on the upper left shoulders of the uniform. The Multicam pattern of the Army Combat Uniform has been used and that there exists multicam unit patches. They are embroidered on the multicam pattern textile. The textile is a 7-color pattern of shades of tan, brown, gray, green, or pink. This would increase the mimicry for the army in combat. Furthermore, the silhouette that it may have when seen with infrared goggles are lesser compared to other patterns available. It has been through great experimentation that the said pattern has been approved. Nowadays, the multicam pattern is used by the United States Army for the operations in Afghanistan.


Before, multicam patches were sewn directly into the uniform itself. This makes it non-removable in case of busy operations and that there are no possibilities that it would be lost. This was the traditional way of having multicam patches with the uniform itself. Nowadays, there has been a slight difference with the way it is being put on. There are Velcro and hook fasteners to try and put into the uniform. The Velcro type can be removed easily and changed in case it is the wrong one. Also, it is easily attached and removed whenever you would want them to. The patches are to be worn in the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (OCP) uniform. It was derived from Crye Precision's proprietary pattern. The Velcro has been the method of attachment to the ACU SSI uniform. It depends on the wearer on how the unit patches would be attached to their own respective uniforms. What is important is that the military personnel would be identified with the use of the unit patch.


The multicam unit patch is worn for identification sake. The most common part for it to be worn is on the shoulder, but sometimes, it is also worn on other places. Some are sewn directly or embroidered into the same multicam textile. A lot of patterns are available and that there are different designs that you could choose from, depending on the unit that you are included. They come in prices that are affordable enough and that you would never have problems on locating the right pattern for you. You can try searching over the Internet for the multicam unit patches that are available, look at the picture of how they would look like, and their specifications.


Multicam uniforms are never complete without the unit patches that come with it. No matter what formation you are into, a unique patch is indeed available for you. Try weighing the benefits and decide on what you would want to have to be properly identified. Multicam patches are out in the market and it is never a problem to have one.

6.23.2011

Discover The Origin Of Flightsuits

The clothes worn when flying an aircraft such as airplanes, gliders and helicopters are called flightsuits. One of the purposes of these suits is to keep the one wearing it warm. They are known to be durable, even acting as a fire retardant. They are also practical, featuring lots of pockets. Sometimes used as a combat uniform, the flightsuit may show rank insignia. It is designed similarly to a jumpsuit.


The basic jumpsuit design and the presence of several pockets in the flightsuit are born of a need to keep warm and to prevent the loss of articles. Aviation in its infancy included the experience of being exposed to unheated and open cockpits, this need for warmer clothing. After this, the flightsuit underwent many incarnations, most with the goal of keeping the wearer warm. In the First World War, different types of flight jackets and pants coverings were introduced for the purpose of warding off the low temperatures that high altitude flying and low oxygen levels bring about. Leather made its appearance around this time and because it offered other benefits aside from keeping warm like protection from flying debris, it soon became popular. In 1917, Australian aviator Frederick Sidney Cotton introduced the Sidcot suit which are flightsuits that effectively kept pilots warm. The Sidcot endured until the 1950's and were used by the RAF.


In the Second World War, electrically heated suits were made by Lion Apparel with the help of General Electric. This was a necessity for patrol and bomber crews because at an altitude of 30,000 feet, feel could instantly freeze if it gets in contact with any metal. With the advent of pressurized cabins, the need for warmth became less of a priority. Waist gunners, though still had to contend with cold. The B-29 Superfortress finally made bulky flight wear unnecessary due to its fully pressurized crew cabin and remote controlled gun turrets.


Fighter pilots operated in tight confines so they needed a flightsuit that worked well with their environment. The AN-S-31 flightsuit was developed, which was made of either wool or tight weave cotton that worked as a fire retardant and wind resistance. Fire-protective flightsuit, helmets, goggles, masks, gloves and footwear and flak jackets were also developed. The G-suit came into existence to prevent blood pooling into the lower extremities as the pilot executed high-G combat maneuvers. When this happens, he will faint or "blackout". The G-suit is designed to ensure that the blood flow to the brain is sufficient to keep the person wearing it functioning. By the 1960's, more specialized suits came into being to facilitate higher altitude flying and finally, space flight.


Air forces around the world mostly use Nomex, which is a type of lightweight fabric made out of spun aramid. Its fire protective properties are a distinct advantage. While still currently using the BDU or the Battle Dress Uniform, the US Air Force is set to completely replace it with the ABU uniform as Fiscal Year 2011 ends on September 30 this year. The Airman Battle Uniform or ABU differs only from the ACU because of the inclusion of slate blue in its colors. This is also what differentiates it from the current Battle Dress Uniform.

Flightsuits have come a long way since aviation began. As technology progresses man will never stop looking for better options for functionality, practicality and durability. The ABU may be all set to replace the BDU but it will only last until a better option comes along.

6.21.2011

Advancements in Camouflage & Uniforms

The Army Combat Uniform, or more commonly called the ACU, is an official uniform of the United States Army. It is a design of camo that was made to change the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) and the Desert Combat Uniform (DCU) of the 80s and the 90s. Unlike the other uniforms before, the ACU is composed of more variations of color in addition to being more complex in pattern. The camouflage patterns had gone through series of experiments before it was fully approved to be used in operations. These experiments have found the ACU to provide enhanced mimicry in a wide range of conditions while lessening the silhouette of soldiers from infrared visualizers. Overall, the US Army has achieved its goal developing a new pattern that is highly versatile for a number of military units.


The ACU is made of fifty percent cotton and fifty percent nylon. It is said that Army Combat Uniform provides a breathable feel and is comfortable for a number of conditions. There are ACU jackets and pants that deliver many features. The jackets have a hook and loop fasteners for carriers and other accessories. The ACU Uniform also is complete with army name tags, patches, boots, socks, and a cap. The clothing makes up the ACU is also wrinkle resistant, and some styles are fire resistant.

Military clothing has emerged from a simple 3-color camo to highly specialized patterns that can conceal and individual in multiple environments. Even both the woodland BDU Uniform and DCU Uniform are evolving as the demand for top notch army clothing increasing. To learn more or buy ACU, BDU, or DCU uniform clothing, check out one of the military surplus stores on the web.

6.17.2011

All About Army & Military Boots

The use of the military boots by people, not only in the military profession but of civilians, is a growing trend. There are a lot of available army boots on the market, but having the specifications of what military boots are need is a must have. Most military boots are sold at reasonable prices, with fit specifications. Indeed, military boots are good buys since they are durable enough to be used for a long time.

Steel toe boots are boots made for safety. These are the durable types that have metal toe boxes to better protect the toes from heavy objects that may fall on the foot. Traditionally, the steel toe boots of the past were very heavy, but now with advancements in military boots, they have become lighter, offering increased mobility & performance.

If you are assigned in the jungle and have to go over puddles of mud and rainy weather conditions? To be free from the wet surfaces, waterproof boots come in varying styles to protect from moisture. They are made to be in the military height of eight inches and are tailored using a wide range of materials, including special cowhide leather and nylon fabrics.

Lightweight boots, like Multicam boots which make it easy to move from one place to the other, are designed to provide added mimicry with the Mulicam camo uniform. As boots are always partnered by the style of military clothes, they are designed for the concealment of the people who in the field of combat. Added mimicry helps soliders remain safer in the heat of battle.

Army boots are used in outside operations. They can be suited for tactical, desert, combat, or even winter. It depends on the climate and the places the military personnel are assigned, as to know whether what boot fits them best. Tactical boots are lighter and made of strong leather. The desert boots are usually tan in color and has wider cuffs for breathability. Combat boots are made strong enough, usually by leather, since the conditions in the jungle are tough. The military needs to walk on any type on land they need to, evem through rivers. For winter, the boots would provide more heat and insulation to the wearer.

The Ever-Changing ACU (Army Combat Uniform)

The Army Combat Uniform is used during operations in many different areas. It is made of good material and designed with many unique camouflage patterns to choose from. Experiments are in fact conducted to make camo designs more effective for added mimicry. Indeed, the soldiers need to be one with their environment, espcially in different locations, elevations, and climates. The patterns used in the Army Combat Uniform also lessens infrared silhouette, making it difficult for the opposing side to track down soldiers using infrared devices.

The ACU comes with certain name tapes. ACU name tapes are for the purpose of identification. They are made using the same textile as that of the uniform, only that the name, branch, or rank is embroidered. Name tapes for the ACU are embroidered black letters and can come with a hook fastener that may attach the uniform. There are also sew-on name tapes which are growing in popularity.

There are also ACU patches that come with Velcro or equivalent hook fasteners so that you may be able to remove or attach them easily. Units and division patches can also be directly sewn into the clothing of the military personnel. ACUs always come with the name, rank, and certain patches for official soldiers. There has always been trouble whether or not the aforementioned things were to appear with the velcro or hooking fastener, or to be sewn. Military and army officials are coming to an agreement on the standards for ACU specs.


What really is better? Using fastening equipment like Velcro, or just having everything sewn? With the Velcro-type, name tapes and patches are easily applied and removed. However, with velcro, thier is the risk of the name tape or patch to be unintentionally removed. One solution that officails claim to be the best method is to embroider everything onto the uniform. In this case, you would not have problems with it being lost.

The Army Combat Uniform has been changing through time. Stay up to date on the latest changes of the ACU on the Army & Military Blog.

6.15.2011

A Closer Look into the Army Combat Uniform

The Army Combat Uniform (or the ACU) is the uniform worn by the United Sates Army. As the ACU has been acclaimed, its use of multiple camouflage patterns helps it to be rarely seen amongst the right conditions. There are common patterns in the ACU that are like the Universal Camouflage Pattern and the MultiCam. As troops in military are beginning to apply the latest versions of the MultiCam and ACU, the commercial sale of the Army Combat Uniform has increased.

The Army Combat Uniform consists of different items that may cover you completely from head to foot. ACUs have an array of things to offer. The headgear can be a boonie hat or a patrol cap. The boonie hat is wide and the patrol cap is soft and straight-sided. There are also helmet covers available designed to meet the standards of the Kevlar helmet. They are made of nylon, cotton, or polyester.

For the body gear, they have a hundred percent cotton-made shirt. They also have jackets made to ACU standards. The ACU jacket has hook-and-loop backed attachments for items such as badges, patches, and other accessories. It is especially made to decrease infrared silhouette. The U.S. Flag insignia is also present on most ACU uniforms on the right shoulder area.

Trousers are designed with a number of pockets, all with Velcro for security. Also, the ACU has a special line-up of belts, and knee patches are also optional for more protection. By special request, a pair of flame resistant ACU trousers is readily available for extreme conditions.

For footwear, there are special boots and footwear made especially to the ACU standards. The boots must meet specific color specifications to match the Army Combat Uniform.

That is almost everything with the Army Combat Uniform. The ACU is an interesting outfit filled with complexities and functionality of some of the most advance uniforms. They are indeed made for the people who are brave enough to serve the country and its people.

Uniform Spotlight: The MultiCam

The MultiCam pattern has gained great popularity over the past couple of years. Why are army and military units choosing this design of camouflage over other designs? An interesting read of this article might quench your thirst for knowledge and may be able to help you discover the unique characteristics of the MultiCam.

Uniforms and gear made in the pattern of MultiCam are composed of seven amazing colours. You might notice that it is somewhat different from those that are just composed of two or three colours. Traditional combat gear of the past is simply composed of little colours. Despite that, certain patterns do pass experimental trial for combat, thus, enabling them to be used in operations. The colours of the MultiCam are tan, brown, dark brown, olive green, yellow green, green brown and tinges of pink. All these colorous create a pattern of blotches that make an interesting whole to increase level of mimicry in the environment. With respect to these advanced camo features, the MultiCam has been approved to be the preferred combat uniform used by U.S. Army units in Afghanistan.

There are a lot of things sold on the market that have the unique pattern of the MultiCam uniform. Combined, these items can almost give you a sense of complete camouflage from head to foot. The complete MultiCam uniform is composed of a hat (depending if it's a boonie hat, patrol cap, or helmet cover), the military top (by means of a shirt and jacket), pants, socks, and boots. There are also accessories that are included like name tapes, badges, and patches. Below is a rundown of each component.


For head gear, the boonie hat comes first. It is wide and stiff and also has foliage rings to carry twigs for a more camouflage effect. For the helmet, most military clothing stores have two helmet covers are available: one is made of cotton or nylon, which is the MICH. The other passes the military specification of PASGT Kevlar.

The body clothing of the MultiCam is composed of a shirt made of a hundred percent cotton for more comfort. It can be short-sleeved or come in long sleeves according to your choice. The jacket is however based on specific military specifications and is made with ample storage by its many pockets. A selection of pants are available, also tailored based on military specifications. There are also MultiCam pants that have flame resistance features. There can also be a lot of accessories such as belts, patches, and badges to the complete the MultiCam uniform.

Indeed, the MultiCam uniform is design that will aid soldiers in the Middle East. With high functionality, innovative design features, and intense utility, it is a good design choice for years to come.