December
21, 2006: For the last five years, the U.S. Air Force has been trying to design
a new "combat uniform." To the army and marines, this effort has been the
source of much mirth. But the air force does have people, besides pilots, who
are trained for, and actually get involved in, ground combat. These are the air
force security troops. In effect, the air force has about five brigades worth
of these men and women. They are trained to use rifles, pistols, machine-guns,
grenades for ground combat. They guard air force bases, and in Iraq they help
guard convoys and bases. It's the air force grunts that have had the most
problems with the new air force uniforms.
The
first version of the new air force combat uniform (or ABU, for Airman Battle
Uniform) came out in 2003 and immediately raised a howl of protest from the
security troops. The camouflage pattern of the ABU was in blue and gray. It
looked nice, in a hanger or office, but there was no camouflage effect. Taken
aback, the air force brass backed up and came up with a new color scheme
(green-gray-blue-tan), that worked for the grunts. But the ABU designers made
another error, by leaving off the extra pockets on the shirt. The army and
marines had these extra pockets, and they were very useful when you were
suiting up for battle. The air force brass disagreed, and the air force grunts
are still grumbling about it.
Another
source of complaint is the order to not put any patches on the ABU. The idea is
that you spend a lot of time putting the patches on, and taking them off, when
you transfer. But the grunts, who operate with soldiers and marines, like to
have people know who they are. Unit pride and all that. The air force brass don't
get it, and apparently feel that this ground combat stuff will soon be gone,
and the air force can get all their people back to offices and hangars.
