Posted on 05/25/2014 12:41:07 PM PDT by null and void
The U.S. Army is quietly putting the word out to commands that it is replacing its current Universal Camouflage Pattern with a pattern the service has owned for more than a decade.
The Army's senior leadership has selected Scorpion, a pattern similar to MultiCam that was developed around 2002, according to a source with knowledge of the decision.
The Army was poised to announce the results of its multi-year camouflage improvement effort nearly a year ago, but congressional language in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2014 called on the Pentagon to put an end to the services branding their ranks with unique camouflage uniforms.
The Army has been considering replacing UCP with Crye Precision's MultiCam -- a pattern that has demonstrated consistent performance in multiple tests and was selected in 2010 for soldiers to wear in Afghanistan.
Army officials even tried to buy the rights to MultiCam but rejected Crye's figure of $25 million, according to Caleb Crye, owner of Crye Precision. Army officials also balked at paying for "printing fees" the company receives on MultiCam -- a small figure that amounts to about one percent of the 20 percent price hike uniform companies want to charge the Army for MultiCam.
And, ironically, in March 2013 the Army decided to drop the fifth finalist -- a government pattern developed at the Army's Natick Soldier Systems Center. The pattern, known as Scorpion, was too similar to one of the industry submissions, Army officials said.
The unique blend of greens, browns and tans has been a favorite of Special Operations Command for almost a decade. The Army selected MultiCam in 2010 as the clear winner over several other patterns to issue to soldiers deploying to Afghanistan.
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
“This is all so contractors can make millions that can be funneled into other pockets in kickbacks.”
It is also massive makework, which during these times of high unemployment must also be a factor. Fake economy...
“And where will they be made? China?”
How else will the Chinese implant RFID chips in the material so they can monitor the location of all American troops on the battlefield?
And somehow the Israelis continue to kick ass with plain old OD green....
Interesting you should say that. Over the last few years, I’ve. Been buds with several Sgts Major in the G-4. Honored warriors, all. But they spent an inordinate amount of their time and energy dealing with uniform changes being offered by vendors and considered by three and four star GOs. Is this really what we want senior leadership concerned with? Imagine Patton, Eisenhower, Ridgeway and their like dealing with this.
TC
Certainly General Casey did no better than any of the rest of the Army fashion mavens, so rank is probably not a factor. What is important is that leadership understand the role and value of the uniform. The Marine Corps does this the best. The Army and Air Force, not so much.
Good point!!!!!!!!!
I have to admit that I was really hesitant to click on this link. I was thinking soldiers trying to keep themselves from being seen in the flower fields of Holland.
Where are they made?
Another battle-dress uniform for four star generals sitting in the Pentagon to wear thousands of miles from the battlefield.
In the biggest war ever, and the one we one, I never had to see General Marshall or Admiral King wearing battle uniforms.
Even Ike who was commanding the invading allied armies in Europe, or MacArthur in the Pacific did not have to dress themselves up as front line warriors like these modern politically correct ones do.
“won”, not “one”.
Damn spellcheck.
My daddy was a submariner and this was his favorite movie. I think of him every time I watch it, and miss him.
Yep. Another way to stick it to the troops.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.