ACUs available in 2006
Soldiers must ensure uniform is authorized, comforms to regulation

Wilson A. Rivera
Monitor Staff

 

WILSON A. RIVERA


A Soldier checks the sizes among a rack of ACU trousers deciding whether to purchase a set of ACUs or wait until a later date to learn more about commercial military vendors.

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Fort Bliss has yet to receive shipments of the new Army Combat Uniform at the Military Clothing and Sale Store, which has left Soldiers seeking alternate sellers of the ACU in El Paso.

The Fort Bliss Army & Air Force Exchange currently has the ACU scheduled to be in stock by April 2006, but it may become available as early as Jan. 1, 2006.

AAFES apologized for not having the ACUs available, but they will carry them when the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia makes them available to AAFES, according to Ted Wulff, AAFES general manager.
“It’s a major transition for Army uniforms,” Wulff said.

Information within Army Regulation 670-1, updated Feb. 3, doesn’t clearly specify whether or not a Soldier can purchase a uniform from a commercial source, but it does state the requirement that Soldiers wear specification-compliant uniforms.

Commercial retailers are not allowed to sell ACUs with the standard infrared tabs on the uniform. In order to make them compliant with the regulation, they are sold separately and can be sewn on, according to Rick Alvery, law enforcement and military clothing sales store manager.

AR 670-1 states that commanders will conduct periodic inspections to ensure that all personnel possess the minimum quantities of prescribed uniforms, that they wear only authorized insignia and awards and that they wear only uniform and heraldic items produced by certified manufacturers.

The regulation also states Soldiers purchasing uniforms, uniform items or heraldic items from establishments other than the Army military clothing sales store must ensure the items are authorized for wear and they conform to appropriate military specifications or are manufactured in accordance with the heraldic quality control system.

When items appear deficient, Soldiers should submit a Product Quality Deficiency Report through their servicing MCSS, where forms are available. Commercially purchased items authorized for wear in lieu of military-issue items must conform to the basic specification of the military-issue item, unless otherwise specified in AR 670-1.

Maria K. Bustamante, AAFES Post Exchange manager, emphasized for Soldiers to wait for AAFES to receive the ACU and purchase them at a better price or to have their ACU issued by the Central Issuing Facility.
“The price of the ACUs tends to become more expensive off post,” Wulff said.

The cost of the $88 ACU is intended to cut down on the expenses from dry cleaning and having to sew on nametags, badges and patches.”