Air Force Finalizes New Utility Uniform

After reviewing more than 150,000 bits of feedback throughout the initial seven-month wear test of the proposed new Air Force utility uniform, Air Force leaders recently decided to eliminate the flashy blue and green tiger stripes. Instead, they will conduct a limited field test of a digitized pattern with subdued green, tan, blue and gray. Special operations and survival, evasion, resistance and escape Airmen will conduct the test of the new design at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Hurlburt Field, Fla., and Fairchild AFB, Wash., in June. The Air Force plans to procure the uniform, with any modifications indicated by the wear test, in mid-2005, officials said. Airmen can expect to purchase the uniform starting in fiscal 2007. It then will be phased in over four or five years.