 FASHION
PARA VINTAGE STYLE PANTS
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US AUTHENTIC VINTAGE (USED) BDU PANT
THE HISTORY OF B.D.U.'s - BATTLE DRESS
UNIFORM
Since the beginning of World War I these uniforms have been issued
as utility, field, training, or combat uniforms and are not intended
to be worn as all-purpose uniforms when other uniforms are more
appropriate. BDUs may only be worn on duty when prescribed by the
commander. BDUs are authorized to be worn off post unless restricted
by commanders. They are not for travel, nor for wearing off military
installations except in transit between the individual's quarters
and duty station. BDUs are not authorized for air travel except
when soldiers are deploying as part of a unit move and the mode
of transportation is for the exclusive use of the military. BDUs
are not authorized for wear in establishments that primarily sell
alcohol.
The "green sateen" uniform developed and procured by
the Army was designated a universal issue uniform to be worn by
all services. In 1968 the green sateen utilities were replaced in
Vietnam by the Army green poplin jungle uniform. Subsequently, personnel
in Vietnam wore the camouflage pattern rip-stop poplin jungle utilities.
These were phased into the recruit issue in 1978, and were later
replaced beginning in 1982 by the current woodland camouflage utility
uniform.
There are camouflage patterns for just about everything: regular
3-color green BDU (USA and USMC issue); desert 3-color BDU; 6-color
desert (AKA "chocolate chip"). General patterns -- like
the USA green BDU -- are a compromise to try to give some reduced
detection in as many scenarios as possible. Specific patterns, like
tree bark, work very well in very specific locations, but not as
well generally. The camouflage pattern most familiar as Tiger Stripe
was developed for US Special Forces during the Vietnam era (circa
1965) for jungle fighting. It is an adaptation of an earlier British
design developed during the Malyasian confict in the 1950's. It
is for ultra-close range (50 yards or less) fighting in heavily
foliated jungle.
SSCOM's Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center(NRDEC)
has developed a reversible camouflage fabric with a 4-color woodland
pattern on one side and a 3-color desert pattern on the reverse
side. Future potential pattern combinations for camouflage printing
include urban/desert and urban/woodland.
Brightness difference with the background (contrast) is the initial
detection cue to the human eye. Light colored camouflage blends
well in rocky, sandy areas, or in dead grass, and light green single
color BDU's might blend well in short, green grass. Patterns and
shape are the next most important cues. The camouflage pattern should
match the "blobiness" of the background. Too large a pattern,
with color patches on the camouflage that are larger than the average
patch of color in the background -- generally increases shape cues,
while too small a pattern generally increases contrast cues. The
average size of the "blobs" -- the predominate or average
spatial frequency of the pattern -- is directly proportional to
the expected range of engagement and the expected envrionmental
background. The spatial frequency of the camouflage pattern should
match the spatial frequency of the background at the range of engagement.
While it is in theory possible to use fractal patterns to match
the spatial frequencies over some span of ranges, and present there
are no good fractal patterns, though this remains an area of pattern
research.
Temperate and Hot Weather BDU
The cap has a visor, a circular top crown, a side crown with an
outside crown band, and retractable earflaps. The cold weather woodland
camouflage pattern coat is lined, hip length with a bi-swing back,
convertible stand-up collar with concealed hood, slide fastener
front closure with two breast and two lower pockets. The woodland
camouflage pattern coat is a single breasted "bush type"
design with a back yoke, collar, four patch bellow type pockets
with flaps (two upper and two lower). The coat has a straight cut
bottom, waist take-up tabs on both sides (new version only), and
cuffed sleeves with reinforcement patches at the elbows. The woodland
camouflage pattern trousers contain four standard type pockets and
two leg bellow type pockets. Reinforcement patches have been added
at knees and buttocks. The trousers have a buttonhole fly with protective
flap (hot weather only), adjustable straps at waist and leg hem
drawcords. Hot weather coat and trousers are 100 percent ripstop
cotton, in a four color woodland camouflage pattern. Temperate coat
and trousers are 50/50 nylon and cotton twill in a four color woodland
camouflage pattern. The temperate and hot weather battle dress uniforms
(BDUs) are authorized for year-round wear by all personnel when
prescribed by the commander. Commanders may prescribe a specific
uniform for formations or ceremonial occasions, such as parades
when uniformity in appearance is required. When a specific uniform
is not prescribed, soldiers may wear either the hot weather, temperate
BDU, or other authorized utility uniforms. The commander may require
these uniforms to be pressed for those special occasions when appearance
should be especially sharp such as parades, reviews, inspections,
or other ceremonial occasions. When sleeves are worn rolled up,
the camouflage pattern will remain exposed. The sleeves will be
rolled neatly above the elbow but no more than 3 inches above the
elbow. The hot weather and temperate uniforms will not be worn intermixed.
Desert BDU
The desert battle dress uniform (DBDU) is authorized for year-round
wear on duty by all personnel when issued as organizational clothing
and prescribed by the commander. The color of desert terrain varies
from pink to blue, depending on the minerals in the soil and the
time of the day. No color or combination of colors matches all deserts.
Patches of uniform color in the desert are usually 10 times larger
than those in wooded areas. These conditions led to the development
of a three color pattern DBDU, which replaced the six color DBDU
used in Desert Storm. The six color "chocalate chip" pattern
will be authorized for wear until current stock is depleted and
the uniforms becomes unserviceable.
The coat is a "bush type" design with breast and lower
pockets. The cold weather desert coat is lined, hip length with
a bi-swing back, convertible stand-up collar with concealed hood,
slide fastener front closure with two breast and two lower pockets.
The desert camouflage hat has a stiff crown with a standard width
quilted stitched brim, chin strap, and camouflage band. The desert
camouflage night pattern parka has a hood, a button front closure,
two slit type hand openings with flap, draw cords at neck, hood,
waist, and hemline, and buttons on inside for attachment of liner.
The desert camouflage daytime pattern trousers contain four standard
type pockets, two leg bellows type pockets, and reinforcement patches
added at the knees and buttocks. The desert camouflage night pattern
trousers have a front opening, two-side slit type openings with
flaps, and two hip patch pockets with flaps.
Cold Weather Uniform
In winter the soldier is challenged because the whiteness of the
country side emphasizes any item which may not blend in naturally
with the surroundings. All outer garments are white to help blend
in with the almost all white environment. The cold weather camouflage
parka fabric is a triple layer laminated waterproof, windproof,
and moisture-vapor permeable nylon material. The garment repels
water but is sufficiently porous to prevent moisture buildup from
perspiration. The parka has a hood with an attachment piece that
allows fastening of the fur ruff, inside map pockets that can be
opened without unzipping the parka, two large lower cargo pockets,
and a two-way, full front slide fastener to provide full face protection,
leaving only the eyes uncovered. The parka is woodland camouflaged
and is fully lined with a windskirt. cold weather camouflage trousers
are also made from a triple layer laminated waterproof, windproof,
and moisture-vapor permeable nylon material that repels water, but
is sufficiently porous to prevent moisture buildup from perspiration.
The trousers have seat and knee patches, pass through pockets, and
zippered leg openings to allow easy donning and doffing without
removing the footwear.
The snow camouflage white parka is made from a lightweight, white
nylon filament, water repellant treated cloth. The parka has a snap
fastener front closure, storage pouch, elastic wrists, and drawcords
at the waist, hood, and bottom. The parka is used as a camouflage
outer layer in snow terrain, and is not a substitute for the parka,
cold weather, camouflage. The snow camouflage white trouser is also
made from a lightweight, white nylon filament, water repellant treated
cloth. The trousers have front pass-through pockets, cargo pockets
with flaps, suspender loops, inside button tabs for attaching a
button-in liner, slide fastener openings on legs, a waist drawcord,
storage pouch, and elastic cord at leg bottoms. The trousers are
used as a camouflage outer layer in snow terrain, and are not a
substitute for the trouser, cold weather, camouflage or the trouser,
cold weather, field, nylon and cotton.
Urban Camouflage
The US military does not currently have an official urban camouflage
uniform. The 21st Century soldier will face battlefield challenges
that are more complex and greater in number than ever before. One
of the greatest challenges is to conduct Military Operations in
Urban Terrain (MOUT). The technical challenges in developing effective
urban camouflage are many. Camouflage colors and patterns (shapes)
in a combat uniform fabric must provide the least amount of contrast
between the soldier and his background. Part of providing low contrast
to the background is the ability to break up or distort those recognizable
features of the soldier, his silhouette and his outline. Urban camouflage
combat uniforms must be effective across the widest variety of urban
environments. Camouflage requirements for urban areas present a
different challenge from those of woodland or desert terrains. For
one thing, in most cases, the tactical ranges would be closer in
urban fighting than in woodland or desert warfare. This would translate
into smaller designs with closer merge distances. Also, urban backgrounds
generally require more straight edge camouflage, vertical and horizontal
designs to blend with home, buildings and other urban structures,
etc.
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