New ABUs filter into 916th Air Refueling Wing

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brandon Rizzo
  • 916th Air Refueling Wing
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  More Airmen around the 916th Air Refueling Wing are showing up to work in the new Airman Battle Uniform every week.

However, clothing sales here has been receiving the ABUs only in limited sizes and quantities. If maternity ABUs are what you're looking for here, then you're in luck. There seems to always be a few of those left on the shelf. Otherwise, the size you need probably has sold out within minutes of their arrival.

So where is everybody getting them from?

"I purchased mine online from AAFES," said Senior Airman Charlene L. Kapp, a personnel apprentice with the commander support staff, 916th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "I have heard that Lackland Air Force Base is one of the many bases with ABUs on their shelves."

Army and Air Force Exchange Service offers an advantage over some other companies that distribute the ABUs because there are no shipping charges, said Maj. Jeffrey O. Poupart, the commander of the 916th Security Forces Squadron.

Another advantage of using AAFES is that the blouses and trousers are more likely to match in color, said Airman Kapp.

Though several websites advertise the sale of ABUs and other uniforms, AAFES and Propper International are among the most popular sites for U.S. military servicemembers.

Propper International's website states they are "... the only manufacturer to have been granted permission by the creator and copyright holder of the Air Force Digital Tiger Stripe pattern to produce and sell a commercial version of the U.S. Air Force Airman Battle Uniform." (http://www.epropper.com/abu.php)

Though there seems to be a mad rush to buy the ABUs, non-deployed personnel are not required to wear them until 2011.

Two main factors that seem to be motivating Airmen to buy them so early are the "wash and wear" feature, as well as the permanent creases on the sleeves and legs.

"Maintenance-wise they are great - no more dry cleaning or pressing," said Maj. Poupart, who recently returned from a deployment in Iraq. "You can even take them right out of luggage after being compacted for days, shake them, put them on and wear them, and they still look good."

According to a 2006 article published by Air Force Print News, the Air Force wanted to provide a uniform that was inexpensive and easy for Airmen to maintain. They also wanted something that was more functional.

The result was a uniform with new pockets placed on the left sleeve and lower right leg to hold small tools and pens. Inside one waist pocket is a cell phone pouch, and the ABU blouse contains interior map pockets.

The new pockets are supposed to be accessible while wearing body armor, according to the AFPN article.

"The map pockets are worthless and just make the uniform heavier and hotter," said Major Poupart. "Most troops cut those interior pockets out. Overall, the pockets are not placed well. If you are armed, many of them are unreachable."

The new uniforms are made of a thick material, similar to that of the winter-weight Battle Dress Uniform. This has increased the uniform's durability.

However, some 916th SFS troops reported being "miserably hot" in the uniform throughout the summer season, even prior to their July 2007 Middle East deployment.

"They were very hot at first and quite stiff like canvas," said Major Poupart. "It gets a little better after they are washed several times, but not much. However, they are far more comfortable, as they are sized more correctly for the individual."

There is a notably larger selection of ABU sizes for Airmen to choose from, as opposed to the BDU. However, due to high demand, most companies' stocks of ABUs are considerably depleted.

One of the most interesting new features is the Near Infrared (NIR) Signature Management Technology.

The infrared technology is used by the U.S. Department of Defense to prevent detection by NIR Image Converters.

According to the Propper International website, these devices do not detect temperatures, but rather infrared radiation variances.

"NIR-compliant uniforms use a special fabric that allows soldiers to appear at the same radiation level as the surrounding terrain, thus making them more difficult to detect," the website states.

The technology also makes uniforms less visible in low-light environments by reducing the reflection of light, according to the website.

NIR technology can be negatively affected by certain laundry detergents, said Airman Kapp. This is due to optical brighteners contained in those detergents.

Propper International's website contains a list of detergents that are free of optical brighteners. The link is https://www.epropper.com/nir.php.

"One thing to remember is to check your sleeve pockets before washing since that is where most people keep their pens," said Major Poupart. "I made that mistake once."

Aside from being hotter and having to be careful of which detergents you use on the ABU, the general consensus among the Airmen of the 916th ARW is that it is still better than the BDU, due to the low-maintenance factor.