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Military Camo “Wars”, A Broken Acquistion System and Billions Down The Drain

by · June 26, 2012 · Posted In: AFSOC, MARSOC, NSWC, SOF News, Special Operations, USASOC
US-NAVY_AQUAFLAGE_SOFREP
You don’t have to look very far these days to realize that the inter-service “Camo Wars” has been a disaster and ultimately produced some terrible looking (and more importantly, poor performing) camouflage uniforms.

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A few guys at Crye Precision kicked the shit out of Natick Labs with their Multicam pattern. It took Natick and the DOD years and billions spent to finally see the light and let Multicam in the door and now it’s pervasive on the battlefield for a reason. Why? Because it fucking works, and it’s the best camouflage in the field and inventory.

The US Marines developed a kick ass “Digi” pattern, the SEALs have AOR (Area of Responsibility) and the rest are left with no chair and the camo music turned off.

A uniform should be functional first, and just as important, it should look sharp, and make people feel good about wearing it. Making people look sharp in uniform matters at so many levels and is one thing the USMC continues to do right.  They have the sharpest uniforms out of any branch of service in my opinion.

A look at some of the worst and best camouflage patterns developed by the broken DOD acquisition system (another topic coming soon) and Crye:

1. The Navy’s “Aquaflage” pattern. I don’t know of one person I’ve asked who likes this silly uniform.  Apparently it makes you vanish if you fall overboard, not a good quality if you ask me.

Navy-aquaflage-sofrep

2. The US Army’s failed attempt to hurry up and copy the USMC’s MARPAT pattern.  This one apparently cost U.S. tax payers $5 Billion and is being re-called in favor of a better solution.

Army_Combat_Uniform_sofrep

3. US Air Force’s Airman Battle Uniform or better known as “ABU”. Not sure how they got away with calling it “Airman and not Airperson” with all the bullshit around PC these days.  Anyway, it’s the USAF version of Hawaiian Camo at its finest.

Airforce-camo-hawaiian-sofrep

4. The Crye Developed “Multicam” pattern.  I estimate that this was developed for under $500k and it is one of the best camouflage patterns this Century has seen. There’s a reason combat units from all branches (including Special Operations) use it on deployment—it fucking works.

multicam_sofrep

This is clearly another example of  the need for military acquisition reform.  We need a lean and competitive system free from bureaucracy that doesn’t give us yesterday’s solutions tomorrow.  Trillions are wasted in the “good ole boy” system where the Federal Acquisition Rules (FAR) is complicated and the only winners are Washington Bureaucrats and the Big Defense companies that line their pockets with campaign donations.

You can read more and my thoughts on this debacle on the Blaze’s report on the “Huge Let Down”, and the Daily’s original article that quotes my friend Eric’s thoughts (founder of Soldier Systems).

What do you guys think?

 

About The Author

Brandon Webb is a former U.S. Navy SEAL with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the Middle East. His last tour in the SEAL Teams was as the Course Manager for the US Navy SEAL Sniper program, arguably one of the most difficult sniper courses in the world. He was formerly a contributing editor for Military.com, and currently the Editor-in-Chief of SOFREP.com. Brandon is regularly featured in the media as a subject matter expert on military affairs. An avid writer, his last two books (The Red Circle, & Benghazi: The Definitive Report) both hit the New York Times best seller list, and his writing has been featured in print, and digital media worldwide. You can follow him on Twitter @BrandontWebb
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SEAL76
SEAL76

Far too much money being spent on the perfect camo. That also goes for each branch having their own camo. Spend the money on boots, body armor, weapons, ammo, coms and medical gear.

roachindallas
roachindallas

I don't know what is worst about the Army camo:  the end product, the fact that General Shoomaker pushed it through, the idiotic folk wisdom that says "no black in nature" and took out this disruptive element from the design, the fact that it's so obviously bad and unlike colors in nature, or the fact that a Rhodesian style pattern called "all over brush" did best in testing but was not ordered due to some fast, ingenious decision making by the idiot Shoomaker.

wannabearmyteen
wannabearmyteen

 @roachindallas Technically, there is no PURE black in nature. Also, before you say there is pure black in the old M81 woodland pattern. That black along with most patterns is actually a lighter shade which we call black. The most logical reason why they took the color black from UCP was because it sticked out like a sore thumb in IR. You would probably notice woodland marpat before UCP in IR because of this. 

 

The colors for UCP were based on the Urban track pattern without the black. The all over brush was indeed  the best performer out of the group of patterns tested. Senior Army leadership really screwed up by making decisions before scientific data came in. I guess they thought the wars of the future would be mostly fought in urban environments so they took most of the urban track color palette and then put it on the new and coolest pattern at the time which was CADPAT (textured match pattern for woodland environments). What I find messed up is that they put a urban color scheme on a textured matched pattern for woodland environments. That makes no sense at all. 

http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/2466/exaq.png

 

Many people think that the Marines made their own pattern which is total BS. All they did was take the CADPAT TW pattern and give it a different color scheme and claim it as their own creation.       

Kravi
Kravi

Seems to me, OD Green is still the best general purpose battle dress. Theater specific uniforms can be issued as needed. A whole lot of money would be saved that is otherwise spent on a ego driven fashion show!

wannabearmyteen
wannabearmyteen

"Expect an announcement in 21-60 days. They had to retest in two MOE locations." -SSD

 

Can't wait to see who won the Army's CIE

 

RossElder
RossElder like.author.displayName 1 Like

I've been saying this very thing for years.  I mentioned it in my latest column for Soldier of Fortune magazine.  So many billions simply wasted on these ignorant programs that could only be driven by a broken system and over-zealous contractors constantly pushing the latest and greatest, but soon to be discarded once they hit actual use, products and designs.  To be honest, there is nothing wrong with the old BDUs.  Move the pockets around, change a thing here and there, and BINGO, you have yourself a durable and useful set of NEW BDUs.  These damn pajamas they make us wear now look retarded.  We were hoping they would let us keep our MultiCam on when we returned to the States, but we would never be so lucky.

wannabearmyteen
wannabearmyteen

 @RossElder You seem to be ignorant in the advances of camouflage.  The latest improvements in camouflage is significant. I would definitely rather wear woodland MARPAT than M81 woodland in the deep woods.  

SEAL76
SEAL76 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @wannabearmyteen  @RossElder I have stated before that camouflage uniforms are over rated. The Ghillie suit is an exception to that. That being said there will never be a perfect camouflage. Often sound, smell, movement or a reflection is what gives a soldier's position away. The bad guys in many conflicts don't wear camouflage and they do pretty well. Body armor is a far better investment.

SEAL76
SEAL76

 @RossElder I agree that the military industrial complex is alive and well when it comes to camouflage uniforms. I have said this before and will say it again, How much do camouflage uniforms really matter? The Bad Guys in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan didn't wear the stuff and they were hard as hell to find. Better body armor, comms, transport and weapon systems seems like the place to spend the money.

 

WesTower1
WesTower1

There is so much truth in this article, my neck is hurting from nodding in affirmation so much. 

MarineFO
MarineFO

Brandon, I find it awesome that a sailor can agree the Marines have the best uniforms.  I have to say I really like the Multicam stuff.  It looks really good, doesn't look cluttered or messy like Marpat or ACU.  The Navy and AF pats are a really bad attempt.  Recently got Crye G3 combat kit.  Boy is that some nice kit.  I wish my uniforms were so tech when I was active.  Adjustable height knee pads, pockets in the exact right spots, tightening straps above the knee (no need to duct tape) tension straps around the ankles (no need to tuck into boots) and the t-shirt material with durable utility sleeves? Awesome.  Anyway I think it is important to have a versatile working camo, a good cut, so it looks good but it also needs to be well thought out like the Crye design.  I do not have a lot of recent experience to compare to but the Crye stuff is bad-ass! I hope this time they buyers dont just buy uniforms because the vendor offers the cheapest price or because the CFO was a buddy from OCS or some other BS.

invisiflage
invisiflage

Who do I contact with designs for enhanced camouflage? I am a landscape Artist with 30 years experience, so I know how to make things disappear in the landscape. It was Artists who developed camouflage in the first place. More could be done. Any suggestions for contacts would be gratefully received. geoffshaw-taylor@hotmail.co.uk

The Midnight Philosopher
The Midnight Philosopher

I agree with alot of people on here and feel that the U.S. military leadership needs to stop wasting servicemen's money and time and adopt two universal patterns. Congressional subcommittee's get together quite regularly and try to hash out how they can save defense dollars, they need to start by telling the service chiefs get over the whole service tradition crap and agree on two patterns.

SEAL76
SEAL76

 @The Midnight Philosopher I agree with you. The Israeli defense forces all wear the same working uniform regardless of branch. Only their dress uniforms are different. They obviously know where to spend their money. Why do Air Force and Naval personnel need camouflage. Only their Spec Ops units really need them.

The Midnight Philosopher
The Midnight Philosopher like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @SEAL76 The IDF brothers I have spoken to told me the only thing they dislike about their BDU's is those brown boots they wear IDF wide. While there are communities in the AF and USN that do need cammies, they should all wear the same pattern. As for spec ops they should be able to wear whatever the mission dictates. 

majrod
majrod

 @SEAL76 No doubt the senior field grades and above set the tone.  I never excused my or my unit's shortcomings on my highers.  If my unit was wasting time, amo, gas, supplies etc.  That was MY fault and I "reminded" my troops of what the standard was.  Some where the choir, others were the sinners.  Ranks varied. 

 

When it came to being issued gear often times units can say no.  I know of many units where soldiers have multiples of gear.  It's "free" so they take it.  That's waste and it's not always an officer which is why I say the phenomena is pervasive.. 

SEAL76
SEAL76

 @majrod  @SEAL76 Perhaps the Colonels and above are responsible for the waste. I agree that because of all the hi tec crap our service men and women are becoming overly dependent on technology and are losing the edge when it comes to land navigation and marksmanship.

 

majrod
majrod

 @SEAL76  No I think it's pretty pervasive to the force at all levels.  Camo used to be something you did not bought.  We as a nation tend to look for material solutions to many problems that could be addressed in other ways.  The military reflects that tendency.  We are gadget crazy.  Laser range finders and GPS are great but we've largely stopped teaching range estimation and land nav.  This isn't entirely an officer issue but ultimately everything is the officer's responsibility.  I guess it's kind of cool to always have someone else to dump responsibility on.  In the civilian world many blame the gov't for things that should be getting done at home.

 

I also think waste is more accepted in general.  There was a time when pens and pads were rationed.  Not saying we should return to that level of stinginess but everyone was sensative to getting the most out of something before it was tossed. 

 

Camo is a great example.  It's nuts now both in variety and how often it seems to change. 

SEAL76
SEAL76

 @majrod Not sure what you mean by spoiled. Maybe the Officers have but not the enlisted.

majrod
majrod

 @SEAL76

 Even if we had the money we shouldn't be wasting it.  The services have become spoiled. 

SEAL76
SEAL76 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @majrod  Those taters are a waste of money a precious resources. The money for the military is drying up under the present administration as is support for the military.  If  the present administration gets another four years that support will dwindle even further. Every penny counts. It shouldn't be wasted . I'd like to know who in that bunch of 545 mischief makers in DC is getting the kickback for the contracts that produce these camo wars.

majrod
majrod

 @SEAL76   Camo acquisition has been a CF as I've stated here and much more vociferously on kit up. In the grand scheme of things it's small "taters".

SEAL76
SEAL76 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @majrod  @The Midnight Philosopher  True so lets get camo that all the services can share instead of the plethora of bullshit that is going around now. More important than camo is body armor, helmets, medical equipment, weapons, ammo, coms and transport. There are so many things that are more important than camouflage.

SEAL76
SEAL76 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @The Midnight Philosopher  @majrod  There was a time when Duck Hunter, was the only camo.  Then ERDL . Then they went to woodland, Chocolate Chip,  and tri color desert. Now they are all over the place. Again wasting money. Camo is over rated which I have said before. Ghillie suits are great but the rest not so much.

majrod
majrod

 @The Midnight Philosopher  @SEAL76

 GTG!  Just wanted to be sure it was said.  I know the site's focus is SOF but there are issues out there that impact more than SOF and just what those accounted for in people's thought processes.

The Midnight Philosopher
The Midnight Philosopher like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @majrod  @SEAL76 I agree, thats why SEAL76 and I only mentioned the AF and USN which do not have large combat arms forces. The Army and Marines should form a uniform task group and design two standard U.S. Military patterns. 

majrod
majrod like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @The Midnight Philosopher  @SEAL76  Guys, let's not forget the conventional combat arms guys?  It's arguable that the vanilla dogface grunt actually spends more time in proximity/contact with the enemy than spec ops units (with much less credit for it).

Grandma180a
Grandma180a

I have never seen anything marketed the way the Army's ACUs pattern was. Even before the announcement of that uniform the PX was packed with new items in that useless pattern. It is criminal and we will never know how many casualties we have taken from individuals being spotted just because they stand out so much. I would like to see someone held accountable for this at the decision making level. All this wasted time and money is a shining example of DOD throwing tax payer's money away and gives credibility to those who want to slash our budget. Even the untrained eye of your softest Berkley student can tell it aint camouflaging nothing. 

SEAL76
SEAL76 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Grandma180a As mentioned before ACU does work well on gravel parking lots. So we should keep as a back up just in case.

majrod
majrod like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @Grandma180a Uh, OK Grandma.  Do you plan on holding Gen Conway (former Marine Commandant) responsible for copyrighting MARPAT and prohibiting other branches from using it?

 

It's dangerous when we start throwing around words like "criminal" or "casualty causing" haphazardly.  I have no problem holding folks responsible as long as no one is above the law.  Better yet let's stop the camo insanity.  Common, shared patterns for everyone.

 

Grandma180a
Grandma180a

Not him he promoted a usable cammo pattern. The UCP as dictated to the Army was not. I can tell when I am being marketed to. I still wonder what was ever wrong with DCU/BDUs and at the time of all the uniform switches, that was never explained at the time. Did all the ground folks have all the equipment they needed? The Marines I were in contact with at the time did not all have night vision goggles. Was this money well spent with already having a usable proven system? All things be equal what could we have used the R&D money to develop for those in the fight?

 

I am into a common pattern for all services, just logistically it makes sense and I believe congress came to this same conclusion back in the day. Which is why until recently we all had a common uniform. That wisdom has been lost in the "we all need to be different" times we are in today. DOD instead of wasting money on finding new ways to make us all look different to include the cute little anchor on the MARPAT system, could start looking at things that keep us all camouflaged. ≠

majrod
majrod like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Grandma180aThe Army went to UCP AFTER the Marines made it clear they wouldn't share their pattern.  They also did not want Seabeas or even SEALs wearing MARPAT which caused the development of AOR 1, 2 and the NWU a couple of years later.   

 

The "we all need to be different" started when the Marines copyrighted their uniform and Gen Conway stated he wantred a "unique" look and other branches could not use MARPAT.  (Note: this is after the Army had shared half a century of camo patterns)

 

There was also a study done in '08 that showed multicam more effective than UCP in 11 of 12 cases.  But MARPAT was found better than multicam in 11 of 12 cases.  At that point the Marines CSM reiterated that MARPAT was unique to the Corps.  Consider that when you talk about " we will never know how many casualties we have taken from individuals being  spotted just because they stand out so much."

 

It's all spilled milk now but if we are going to hold people responsible let's hold EVERYBODY responsible.  The Army definitely screwed up the fielding of UCP it didn't get there by itself and nor did the Navy.

 

SEAL76
SEAL76

Aquaflage and the Army's Gravelflage are ridiculous. I have a friend who is a combat vet of Iraq and a full time NJARNG who told me that if ever had to go to war on a gravel parking lot he'd feel safe in his bdu.

HM3accelerateyourlife
HM3accelerateyourlife like.author.displayName 1 Like

Brandon, I wear the aquaflage everyday around Marines at OCS Quantico and it depresses me. Why couldn't it be a all grey scheme? Ships are grey and so are urban environments. Can big navy unfuck itself?

HugeFan
HugeFan moderator

 @BrianFaught Exactly! I'm sure they will but as with the Sea Dart and other worthwhile but poorly excuted/thoughtout ideas, Mother Navy is slow to respond to feed back. Just ask me about the RCC's i have submitted 3 months ago and still don't have a concrete solution to. Okay sorry that was TMI.

majrod
majrod like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @BrianFaught

 Well Brian, if the Navy can wait, there might be a bunch of UCP available at incredible prices.  ;)

 

(You have to find some humor in the Camo Fiasco)

redcastle
redcastle

As a Navy vet, the aquaflage is a joke.  One of the reason's I heard it's use was to hide paint/grease stains, use the dark blue coveralls we used to use.  When we pulled out of port the coveralls went on, back in port dungarees "simple".  And for a great laugh, look at the new dress white's coming out with the blue piping. SAD.

This comment has been deleted

SEAL76
SEAL76 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @JMattHicks  @redcastle That might make it the ideal camo for infiltrating via the water. Put on the aquaflage, strap on the drager and go for it. Of course once you hit beach you will have take it of and change into whatever the surroundings dictate. It is rather a useless type of uniform.

 

Tango9
Tango9 moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

I hadn't read this yet and posted on the loadoutroom on this.  I own marine digital cammies (2 pr) and woodland (the old ones).  I call the navy version the Seagull Pattern because... well... it looks like 300 seagulls just shit on you.  WTF is the purpose of this design?  You're on watch on a 300 ton ship and don't want someone to see YOU?  I always get a good laugh when we see some of the Navy folks that get posted to Carson or Peterson cross my path.

 

Like Brandon said the only thing this patter does is ensure your death if you fall overboard because SAR will NEVER see your ass.

Tango9
Tango9 moderator

I'll just add we call the ABU Hawaiia Luau cammo.  it's ridiculous.Note:  whenever our AF guys or you Navy guys hit the mountains, you don't wear this.  Our PJs/CCTs and the SEALs always pick up marine DCUs or MARPAT and ditch that shit.

 

Try running around the Hindu Kush in the ABU.  Might as well just wear hunter's orange.

SThomp86
SThomp86 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Surprised no one has brought up the velcro disaster. From day one I thought that was a horrible idea. I mean imagine being out on patrol trying to keep it on the DL when you have to pull something out of a velcrowed pocket. Not exactly the most discrete noise. Or that when they get dirty they don't work.

SEAL76
SEAL76

 @slowden86 You are so right. How that ever became acceptable is just beyond belief. Talk about lack of oversight and knowledge of noise discipline.

Tango9
Tango9 moderator

 @slowden86 shhh... two on the left... I've got 1 guy second deck 12 o'clock.  RIIIIIIIIIPPPPPP!

majrod
majrod

This is going to upset some folks but acquistion didn't cause eight different camo patterns.  It was for the first time in SIXTY years the copyrighting and failure to share a camo pattern with fellow branches.

 

MARPAT is a great pattern but we have shared camo patterns since WWII.  The camo worn by Marines in WWI was created by the Army as was the willow pattern on Nam helmets.  The ERDL of camo OG107s?  Yep, Army camo pattern.  As was Woodland BDUs, Choclate Chip, and coffee stain.  All that was needed by those Marines was an EGA one the chest pocket and their demeanor.

 

So while folks are patting themselves on the back and commenting how squared away they are they should take a moment and see what hubris caused. 

majrod
majrod

My bad, camo from WWII.  No camo uniforms in WWI.

chris16
chris16

well least were not the Oregon ducks football team. 

 

Logan F Crooks
Logan F Crooks like.author.displayName 1 Like

I forget where I read it, but the article said that the Air Force didn't have "concealing abilities" listed as a top priority for the ABU. They also requested "Air Force Blue" lettering on the name tapes, what the hell! The UCP, ABU and NWU patterns suck! MARPAT is great, AOR1 and AOR2 are great and OCP/Multicam is also great. Let's not forget the other great patterns like A-TACS too. I also love Vietnam Tiger Stripe for Jungles as well. As other people have said before, if there is a Sailor overboard, then you're gonna want to see them as clear as day. The Navy just copied the Marine Corps and the Army (who copied the Marines)  by adopting a Digital Pattern and ripped off the Devil Dogs even more by incorporating their symbol called the "A.C.E." (Anchor, Constitution and Eagle) into the Uniform like the Marines do with their EGA (Eagle, Globe and Anchor). If the Navy REALLY wanted to improve the Working Uniform, then they should've incorporated SOLAS Reflective Tape that is Coverable into it. Personally, I think Crye Precision could've come up with a unique Garrison Uniform for all the Services jam packed with features (but then they wouldn't adopt it).  Lastly, let's not forget about about the Coast Guard here, they can barely finance a new Cutter and while they "Improved" their ODU (Operation Dress Uniform), their Uniform for TACLETs, MSSTs and PSUs are hand-me-downs from their big brothers in the form of old DCUs and BDUs when they should be given a more "Tactical" Uniform in the form of G3s, PCU Level 9s or something similar. http://soldiersystems.net/2012/03/19/bad-cammies/

http://soldiersystems.net/2011/02/03/amazing-how-four-panels-can-say-so-much/

http://soldiersystems.net/2010/02/19/a-blast-from-the-past/

Thought of these articles when I saw this article. Enjoy!

SEAL76
SEAL76 like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 5 Like

Camouflage is over rated unless it makes you invisible or is a ghillie suit. The bad guys in, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq and plenty of other wars didn't or don't wear it. They seem to do all right at killing plenty of our people. Spend the money of weapon, armor, communication, transport and medical gear improvements and development. This will help our people more than suits with funny colored patterns. Wjavascript:void(0)hat the hell are sailors on ships wearing camo for anyway?