Interesting Picture

[Razor]

Flipping through the recent issue of ARMY magazine, I come across this picture of a fire team in the FCS BCT. Notice the camo pattern they're wearing. I wonder if this is simply from left over stock at CIF from an old experiment, or if it shows things to come.

[kgoerz]

Thats Multi CAM. But the Army decided to go with those Blue Uniforms instead. I believe that picture is from the actual testing years ago.

[ZoneOne]

I found it amusing that one soldier is using an Xbox controller to operate a SUGV.

[Five-O]

How the "F" did Multi Cam lose? Can someone explain?

[jwt5]

Originally Posted by Five-O

How the "F" did Multi Cam lose? Can someone explain?

My theory is money and the rush to get a new uniform out.

[S3Project]

kgoerz,

If I recall correctly, the photo comes from a Future Force Warrior exercise circa early 2007. But I may be incorrect.

Regards,

Derek

[Guy]

Originally Posted by Five-O

How the "F" did Multi Cam lose? Can someone explain?

Stay safe.

[18Ddave]

Yeah, I kinda like the ACUs...it's 'retro'... Retro back to frickin the Confederacy’s gray uniforms.

I want to know what the hell an ACU pattern is supposed to blend into? Hesco barriers? Was they guy who picked it color blind?

Too bad we didn't get multi cam, pretty squared away pattern and co. I understand AF PJ s are wearing them in the field.
dave

[Lmmsoat]

Originally Posted by Five-O

How the "F" did Multi Cam lose? Can someone explain?

Not sure if MC was part of the down select but I do have info on how the ACU pattern was selected. Some well meaning officer decided to creat a "universal" cammo pattern. He did this by combining colors from the three most common combat AO's.

Urban = grey
Desert = tan
Woodland = green

What he did not understand was the hue affect. Up close the pattern would be distinguishable. As you move away from the pattern the colors combine to form a common hue (color). In the case of the ACU it is in the blue range. This is the primary reason why the ACU does not blend in with anything. Normally when a pattern is chossen for consideration it goes through a lengthy testing process by the alphabet soup of labs. In the case of the ACU, this testing process was shortened because of the percieved need to get the new uniform out on the street. So instead of choosing a pattern based on scientific testing, it was chosen because it was the "coolest looking". The scientific community that is responsible for the testing process attempted to protest but was squashed, again by well meaning officers.

The fact that the pattern performs well under NODs is more due to the fabric used and not the camoflauge. But the same stuff that makes the uniform NOD invisible and wrinkle free also makes it highly flamable. So you have that to also add to the list of negatives.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by kgoerz

Thats Multi CAM. But the Army decided to go with those Blue Uniforms instead. I believe that picture is from the actual testing years ago.

Its actually a recent pic of Future Combat System Spin 1, which is what caught my eye, given they're still wearing MC and haven't switched over to ACUs.