PEO Soldier - The new Army Combat Uniform

Very Proffecional looking. We are the best ARMY in the World We have tol look good and Efficient.

We are the best ARMY in the WORLD.

Agree on the professional looking, it shows that we mean business and have zero tolerence for terrorists. Being retired and a veteran of the Gulf War, the t-shirt and velcro pockets, rank, etc., makes the uniform easier to get ready for any situation. Oops, I forgot, 'WE ARE THE BEST ARMY IN THE WORLD".

most new soliders dont like the ACU's because they are morons but what they dont understand is that the ACU uniform is great because about after 30 meters its very hard to be seen.

-100% American Solider HOOAH!

it is a nice uniform ,i like it. see you ppl in january. continue with your effort the wear is100%good

uniforms ok.anyway have u SOLDIERS seen the MARINES cammo they changed theirs theirs too. I like theirs too. BeSt ArMy In ThE WoRlD HOOAH

like every thing about it except the velcro the marine got the shit down pat

Im home on Christmas Exodus right now and im on my 6th week at Fort Knox for Basic Training. We were issued 4 pairs of ACU's. So far, 2 of the 4 pairs of ACU's have ripped. I hope that they change the construction, and material selection eventually. They do look badass though.

great ACU / WHEN I WAS IN I PUT THE OD GREEN.JAJA
THEN THE COMO THEN
THE NEW ONE I LIKE THE NEW ACU
ARMY STRONG HOORAA''''

how could i get a kit; cos i;m intrested in it.

unifrom is so fake looking and cheaply made. This is the way US gets out of debt!

MORE POCKETS, MORE AMMO.HOW'S THAT FOR SIMPLIFIED.

THE DUMBEST THING IN WAR EVER- VELCRO.

the look pajama-like to me. I thought the BDU's were so much sexier on my husband. but whatever. I guess that's not what matters anyway, huh. oh well.

the acu's look cool and seem to blend in well in desert and urban envirnments but it just plain sucks in a woodland envirnment. It is much too light to blend in. There is no such thing as a universal camo. The Army should keep the current pattern for desert and urban and get something like the Marines stuff for woodland camo.

Why go with a uniform that is so delicate that it can not be washed with most detergents, I got a chuckle out of the fact that a baby detergent made the do not use list. I have been a soldier for 20 years and the ACU is a dud, bottom line. Here is the do not use list again.
Dreft Liquid
Dreft Powder
Era Liquid (all versions)
Gain Liquids (all versions
Gain Powders (all versions)
Ivory Snow Liquid
Ivory Snow Powder
Tide Liquids (all versions)
Tide Powders (all versions)
Tide Tablets (all versions)
Fab (all versions)
Dynamo (all versions)
Ajax (all versions)
Suavitel Fabric Softener (all versions)
All laundry products made by Colgate-Palmolive
Arm & Hammer Liquid (all versions)
Arm & Hammer FabriCare Powder (all versions)
Arm & Hammer Fresh 'n Soft Fabric Softener (all versions)
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
Rain Drops Water Softener and Detergent Booster
DeliCare Fine Fabric Wash (all versions)
Wisk (all versions)
All Liquid (all versions)
Surf Liquid (all versions)
Yes (all versions)
All Dial Laundry Products including:
Purex Powder (all versions)
Purex Liquid (all versions)
Purex Fabric Softener (all versions)
Purex Baby (all versions)
20 Mule Team Detergent (all versions)
Zout (all versions)

The cammo pattern, zip-front, and pocket placement looks good. Why does the Marine-designed patrol cap look so much better than the army's? My biggest gripe is the boot color... light tan... WTF? The black-and-OD jungle boots would've looked a lot better (especially if we're keeping that black beret), or at least a brown boot. Aside from not blending in with any environment EXCEPT desert, it just looks lame with the uniform. And while I'm on the topi of black berets, why not add a shoulder strap on the left shoulder so we have someplace to keep the beret when not wearing it... this is how all the European countries do it, and it looks sharp. Better than smashing it up in yer cargo pocket with your leaders notebook, pogey bait, map markers, TP, etc.

I would wonder if we had a war that was not in a desert invironment, what it would look like? A part of a soldiers disipline is in taking care of his uniform. Too iron it and the most important thing, too shine his boots. Troops care about these little things. Too be honest with you this new uniform looks like a nasty ass troop that has been in the bush for too long. If you take the old BDU and put it in the dirt, whalla, you have the ACU. As an old Ranger, I like the USMC version better.

I think that we should be allowed to wear ACU covers over the side velcro since the self life is only 6 months on this uniform.
The covers make the uniform look a whole lot better and more professional looking

Camo pattern DOES NOT WORK in Iraq. We practically glow. Our Iraqi troops are laughing at us for choosing such a stupid camo. Cloth is too thin and ripps too easy. Too expensive for somthing that does not last as long as the BDU. Velcro...WTF!!! I like the pattern but we need to go to MARPAT or MULTICAM with buttons and sew on patches...PLEASE!!!

I cant believe that we are fighting this war with velcro and cheap pejamas! its really un profesional .our army needs strong clothes and camo that fits the enviorment .

The ACU is terrible. It doesn't blend in anywhere, looks like an overwashed worn-out set of Marine Corps utilities, and VELCRO?? For cryin' out loud, you might as well just wear a Revolutionary War redcoat uniform. This uniform makes our Soldiers look like un-squared-away bags of crap who've failed to replace their overwashed and unservicable uniforms.

ACU is horrible..
go look up multicam, its 50x better

ACU's are pretty tough to get clean, any grease or dirt stains that you get on them really stay in them for awhile. if they could fix that problem, and make them a little more durable then they would be perfect. they are definetely very comfortable

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thats a laugh the u.s army the best in the world...that did make me laugh!! may be if they tatooed u.s army all over it they might slightly reduce the "friendly fire" sorry if i sound bitter but i have been to iraq and was shot at by the americans and lost 3 of my best friends when it could have easily be avoided, so before they update the uniforms they should update the troops!
fusilier ******** 5Th battalion royal reguiment of fusiliers british armed forces

Give the ACU a break, I think it looks good and feels great. The cleaning of it is a bit of a hassle. By the way where is the approved detergent list?

I think the uniform print is descent but I think they should of gone with a darker color what good is the camo if most wearing it is not working out to well

Ive tested out the ACU in the desert and it is very easy to see as long as it is not raining. call it moonpat. The marines have mush better ccamo, every army in the world has a camo for woodlant and a camo for desert and every good army has one for urban... ops except for the supposed "best army" in the world, the U.S. Army.

i think that the soldiers should get the same uniform and not have to worry about ruining the new uniform and i also think that the General & the Colonel should decide on who gets the NEW uniform and i think that the higher rank soldiers should also have the right to decide if the new cadets or the upper classmen should have an agreement on who gets the uniform and im not sure if the General/Colonel should issue the NEW uniforms to the cadets that have just have joined the Military

The Army General that recommended this change to ACU with velcro should retire; what a geek. And a new hard core Army Strong General should change to digital woodland and desert camo like the leathernecks with sew-ons; hooah. Change it General!

I just graduated basic a few months ago and the new uniform is easy to see in the woods, about the velcro though, great idea, if someone is taken prisoner then they are required to give name and rank well guess what with velcro a captain (or other high rank) can go from captain (or other high rank) to private in less than a second if ever captured in war and taken as a prisoner. Then you have an officer (or some other type of leader) in with the other prisoners and the enemys dont even know it.

Good thought Dunn. That's what I want to see, Captain to Private in less than a second. Hooah!

from ricky hi my size is 2xl

yes the new acu isnt very good but neither are our new abu's either same material I think. It is a good lookin' uni. though.

silly army effective uniforms are for marines, your leaders have failed you again... some general is gonna get a cashie cool job at who ever makes your pj's

Dunn, Marines take off the rank insignia before battle. So a Captain and his team can go to nobody in a second.

The look of the ACU'S are nice but has it's faults. Our son will tell you they get torn & wear out very quickly. For what you have to pay for them, is it worth it? Need to be more durable. You should see some of the ACU'S he brought back from Iraq. He felt like it was a disgrace to wear the tattered & torn uniform. But, when you're fighting in a war everyday, there's no time to buy new.

I want to know who has the contract to make this impractical uniform. Follow the money... They will sell lots of them if they wear out and tear easily. Who are the major stockholders of the manufacurer? The boots don't look like they belong with the rest of the uniform. What is happening to our Army? Why are we experimenting with uniforms during a war?

Is verry cool this uniform because I am going to used that uniform very soon.

Like an old swiss army knife, good for a few things and sucks at everything else. I'd rather have 3 sets of ACUs of different colors specialized for wherever I'm going, instead of ONE that is inefficient everywhere. The Marines have a good idea with their uniforms, no velcro, removable rank insignia, and it's actually semi-form fitting. My brother is a marine and I tried his desert and woodland cammo on and they're actually made of different material, both and light and the desert cammo is actually cooler in temperature. WE NEED THAT!!!

The ACU is the worst uniform ever created. does not blend in anywhere. they look so freakin ugly. i ubderstand the the digicam but the colors are horrible. who are the dumb ass joes who said they wnated it during a survey. pogs thats who. stop fuckin with our lives. and give us uniforms that acually blend in to envirment. who are the dumb ass officers that lick and kiss the sweaty balls of politicians who probably said we need to make cheaper uniforms! Multicam was created by the army and thats what should have been chosen. Not something cause its cheap. we need diffrent uniforms for diffrent envirments. To many kiss assing officers who worry to much about their carrers then thier joes!

Alright, this is good and all, but I've heard rumors of an new uniform, outside of the ACU's; A friend of mine has told me that he's seen pictures of them, just wondering if anyone would know what I'm talking about and where to find these pictures? Being in the army, this is a point of intrest for myself

Multicam by Crye Precision, out of New York, is who should have won the contract for uniforms. These Confederate Starship Trooper uniforms suck! Too light, do not blend in, not durable, zippers cannot be repaired, patches are routinely lost, stains easily, boots look ridiculous, and pocket design is not sensible. We need to return to buttons and sew-on patches. Get rid of those silly contractor boots, we are soldiers not construction workers. The only smart thing about the ACU might be the draw string for the waist. Aside from that, I'm thoroughly disappointed with PEO-SUCKERS for buying into the bearueacratic BS of retiring brass looking to secure their civilian jobs in an effort to avoid another rotation to the sand box. Too bad this time the Jarheads actually have something on us. Oh nice weapons and out-dated equipment boys, looks like you have some issues to work out on your own as well.

they honestly should have gone with the Multicam. if you look around on the net you can see comparisons of the ACU, MARPAT (digi woodland style), and multicam. the Multi-cam out does the ACU GREATLY.

the MULTI-CAM actually blends very well in the woods BUT not as well as MARPAT does. HOWEVER the MULTI-CAM can be applied to most environments.

I thank that the mor pokets the beter beter shos the les noeaz

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The murmur has been growing to a dull roar on this corrupt uniform situation. Back in 2004 they told us they were testing various designs and wanted soldier input. In Army Times they encouraged us to vote on a pattern. Within weeks...literally weeks we had some fielding initiative at Campbell asking our privates to try out a new uniform for the duration of a week or so. These fresh faced inexperienced sources of input acted as the reference to justify a uniform, that when worn, is a walking atrocity. I have called, questioned and cross referenced varying people in the Army. PEO Soldier won't comment, the higher level brass doesn't see any change happening either. The reality is that there probably won't be any change until some fresh thinking permeates the rotting heap that allowed this to happen to our uniform. The black beret, grey pajama, and khaki-white boot uniform has got to go. A clown outfit would be better. In all seriousness, either the Army needs to adopt MARPAT or Multicam. If the DOD had any sense we'd drop the four different contracts for the individual services and all agree on a uniform like we did with the BDU. I guarantee you this whole dumb ass idea is going to result in fratricide somewhere down the line.

What the Army is doing to its uniforms with the ACU and dress blue service uniform has me convinced to join the Marines. They serve the same country and look proud doing it with sensible uniforms.

I would rather wear the old woodland or desert BDU's than this. I mean, the ACU looks cool, but in this case looks really do kill. The pattern does not seem to blend in very well anywhere, at least not as well as other readily available patterns. If the army is going to spend the money on issuing 4 uniforms per soldier anyway, why not issue 2 in a woodland pattern, and 2 in a desert one. The only advantage I can think of for having a "universal" camo pattern is that it costs less. Funny though, we can afford million dollar battle tanks and billion dollar fighter planes, but we can't get our troops decent quality, effective uniforms.

The camo pattern isn't actually that bad. Most of the pics on the internet of the early media appearances are are actually much lighter than the current issue uniform (newer ones are much darker). From what I've seen the actual current issue ACUs seem to take on the lighting of the surrounding environment, and where ever you are, the corresponding color of the uniform stands out most. If you are in the woods, the lighting makes the uniform seem more green, in an urban setting it looks more grey, in a desert it looks more tan. I think the pattern actually works. It's obviously not the best for every environment, but it works. Now, I think the construciton and quality of the uniform itself is total garbage...

This is the most ridiculous uniform ever. I bought a set before the BDU wearout date and wore it for a week. Dosent breath, The mandarin collar rubs the hell out of my neck and I lost my combat patch in formation when another soldier brushed me to leave formation. It stuck to his velcro!The pattern is horrible in woodland and from what i can see desert as well. And on a closing note why does every branch now need its own uniform?

ACUs are horrible they look totally un professional they are not designed to fit properly and bulge out on everyone making them look fat, velcro does not last especially in Iraq sand just gets stuck. Also univeral camoflauge my food it ONLY blends in w/ a dying field or a gravel pit. The marpat desings for both woodland and desert are much much better they actually work plus they fit propper and utilize buttons. ACUs will have to be redesigned relatively soon due to the inefficiency, they rushed to copy the marines and try to outdo them w/ the whole universal thing and now they have something that looks horrible, doesn't last and doesn't work! They need to use some new designers.

how much doe the new uniforms cost? do you have to pay for your uniform if you are going to the army?

the acu's suck
they look unproffessional, cant press them, the boots are a joke.
the idea of velcro and zippers on a field uniform is ludicrous, they are non field repairable. ive worn bdu,s (original and summer) dcu's and they wear and last longer.
the current ACU uniform wears out way to fast an is expensive to replace. yea privates may like not pressing uniforms or shinning boots but this uniform makes the army look shoddy and a jioke.
we need better, and yes virginia we will be fighting in other than a desert so dx the stupid boots.

I agree with most of the statements above; The uniform is a joke. One of the key issues I find to be a problem is that with a 6 month wearout date, why the hell are we not able to DX the uniform? I, personally, dont get paid enough in my Base Pay (let alone my clothing allowance) to replace a set of uniforms twice a year. I haven't deployed yet but have had the ACU since it came out and none of my original name tapes or patches stay on. I have to keep buying new ones. The CRYE Precision design of the uniform and color is, by far, better in appearance and style. But I am a lowly SPC, what can I do...

To the stupid creator of the ACU:
The Velcro on my wrist is peeling away and fuzzy, the back of the uniform bulges in the back and makes me look like the hunchback of Norte dame. Is this what you had in mind when you created the travesty called the ACU?!! Unfortunately today I look sloppy, unkempt, and overwieght and I'm only 110lbs! I had to staple my wrist Velcro so it’s not flapping in the wind. Thanks a lot, I hate them thoroughly

"SoldierGirl" you are awesome. The only good thing about these silly things is that I don't have to spend 30 minutes a night shining boots. But, we could have just been allowed to wear brown boots with BDUs right?

The next-generation uniform should build on the ACU, changing what was wrong, and keeping what was right.
Here's what the next generation uniform should retain from the ACU:
-Arm pockets with velcro closure, because placement on the arms would make buttons hard to operate.
-Extra cargo pockets on the calves. Very handy for a spare notebook, boot blousers, a spare pocket-knife, anything lightweight that it's OK to get wet.
-Pen pockets on the left arm, although they should be a little bigger to accomodate a sharpie.
-Slanted chest pockets are great, but they shouldn't slant quite to so steep an angle.
-Drawstring waist on the pants.
-Suede boots-- the old smooth ones were glow-in-the-dark with IR, and the suede is also more durable and softer on your feet. But, possibly a darker color, like the coyote brown the Marines have. If they switched, we could all just dye our existing tan suede a darker color.
-The ACU is non-IR-reflective. That is the reason for the detergent restriction-- the "optical brighteners" increase reflectivity.

And, here's what should be changed.
-The pattern-- separate woodland/desert just make sense, that's why we did it in the first place. MARPAT looks great, we shouldn't be ashamed to admit our brothers in the Marine Corps did something better than us.
-A return to the 100% cotton ripstop we had on the old hot weather BDUs. It was lighter weight and breathed better than the NYCO on the ACU's. You could wear a set of BDUs in the field for weeks, till they rotted off your back, but you have to change ACUs fairly often because the fabric gets "clogged up" with dirt. I can't really explain it, you just have to experience it. The NYCO also doesn't flex and stretch as well, which is the partial reason for the frequent crotch blow-outs. The BDU also didn't stain so easily-- the ACU retains grass stains far too easily.
-Return to the button closure on the pants cargo pocets. The drawstring/velcro combination looks unprofessional and you lose stuff when you IMT.
-Return to button closure on the chest pockets, because the Velcro is too noisy and wears out.
-Keep the velcro for the unit patches on the arms and the rank insignia, but return to sew-on for name tapes, special skills identifiers like Airborne wings, Ranger tabs, CAB/CIB.
-Bing back branch insignia for officers. It could be worn over the name tape, where the Chaplains wear their crosses.
-Sturdier seams everywhere. The crotch blows out because it gets the most stress on it from movement. But examine the other seams, and they are just as shoddy.

That's pretty much it.

The new a.b.u. is a cracking joke!!! velcro for rank. good! velcro for pocket's in combat stupid!!! just light a flare to let the enemy know where you are, or just get a P.A. and tell them!!! plus the fact of such a cheap B.D.U. that's like pajama's that rip on a tree's leaf & you cant even wash them with bar soap if you need to!!! what use are they trash & replace!!! good way to spend $ U.S. army!!! also the camo suck's fool's you need camo for every enviorment!!! snow, sand, jungle, woodland, & urban!!! WAKEUP!!! FOOL'S!!!

All terrain my ass! It sucks! HAVE YOU TRIED IT IN ANY WOODLAND/JUNGLE AREAS. I´D RETHER WALK NAKED OR STH!! iT STANDS OUT WORSE THAN THOSE FIRST WWII CAMO. VIETNAM TIGER STRIPES ARE A WAY BETTER FOR JUNGLES THAN THAT CRAPPY CAMO, JUST FOR THE FACT THERE IS NO SUCH A THING AS AN ALL TERRAIN CAMO. THE MARINES CAME UP WITH DIFFERENT PATTERNS FOR DIFFERENT ENVIROMENTS AND THAT´S HOW IT SHOULD BE UNTIL THE DAY THEY COME UP WITH STH LIKE THAT PREDATOR`S CAMO SYSTEM, OR SOME INVISIBILITY SUIT! THAT ARMY CAMO SOUNDS LIKE TRYING TO CUT DOWN EXPANSES BY BRINGING OUT THAT STUPID "ALL TERRAIN BULLSHIT".THEY SHOULD GIVE THE GI´S SPECIFIC CAMO UNIFORMS, ACCORDING TO WHERE THEY GO.THAT "ALL TERRAIN CAMO" GOES AGAINST THE BASIC PRINCIPLES OF CAMOFLAGE. LET´S GET REAL AND CUT THE BULLSHIT OFF! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!

OK HERE IS ONE FOR ALL OF YOU TO SOLVE!!! WHY HAVE POCKETS THAT CREATE NOISE WHEN IN A COMBAT ENVIRONMENT YOU NEEDS SILENCE? THEN YOU CAN ONLY USE A FEW DETERGENTS BUT WHEN YOU AREIN IRAQ THEY WASH WITH HOT WATER AND USE CHEAP NASTY SOAP AND UR UNIFORM COMES BACK JUST AS DIRTY. AT LEAST IN THE BDU'S U LOOKED PROFESSIONAL.

Not a big fan, but also not a hater.
This is a parade uniform and should be called the APU. I don't mind the pattern and have used it to my advantage in the field. Pull off all of the patches, roll around in the weeds and presto instant concealment. Drop the hook and loop (velcro) and bring the buttons back. Like the calf pockets. The uniform overall looks sloppy. I guess I'm used to starch and press.

Sounds like to me everyone (almost) is complaining 1. after the fact and 2. to the wrong people. Do it the ARMY way!! Grin and bear it!!!
Oh by the way, the whole world gets to read this; it seems to me some of you would proof read your blog...ARMY STRONG but not on grammer and spelling!

ACUs sorry but they got to go, i am in the military and the best uniform ever i would say BDU's and the DCUs when in combat. what is the deal with all this velcro. sorry after wash and wash they are ugly very expensive too. BDUs are awesome get them press with shiny boots looking very professional. Now combat DCUs are great dont have to worry about dam name tapes or patches coming off , or dam velcro coming off the uniform. Not a good idea !

when in combat you keep getting your gear on gear off to go out on missions and you got all this velcro sticking to your vest and gear and then just a MESS! how about a uniform say as to like the marines they are kept simple and looking sharp. when it comes to throw gear on its all in one place not a MESS!

This is my second tour to Iraq. I've been in the army long enough to compare the BDU's and ACU's and finally the FRACU's. If you think the ACU's are bad, wait till you get the FRACU's (fire resistant ACU's). These things last a total of two months before the velcro wears out. They rip even easier than the ACU's do and wear out quicker as well. The Army digital grey doesn't blend in with anything and stains are there to stay. When the velcro wears out it leaves a "fuzzy" appearance. The caps make everyone look like gomer pile. The new desert boots absorb water in an instant unlike the old black leather boots. PEO soldier must be full of POG's who've never spent an honest day in the suck. Thanks a lot Army. Glad I'm about to ETS.

The ACU is a no-go. My biggest issue is the crotch of every pair of pants is ripped. I never had this problem with BDUs. Secondly, how tatical is velcro, really? That's right, not at all. What happened to the buttons? It's a money pit and the army should figure out a durable, tatical, cost efficient uniform for soldiers.

There is a reason that the government made a final decision rather than a bunch of simple folk who have never been in the Army or just want to look cool in the BDU's. These uniforms have been tested and ARE STILL BEING IMPROVED. Hell you want complaints look back to when they first issued the BDU, go ahead and look up the problems. As for the haters of Velcro, that is much easier and less time consuming than stitching on each individual patch because I have had to do that with my BDU's. The ACU for me is 10x better. Much good the DCU did when we still had Woodland camoflague flak jackets right? The way I see it the ACU blends in with everything it's around but none of you think so because you have never been to actual combat ;). If you look at statistics the number of troops we lost has gone down significantly since the ACU was issued. Again there is a reason that the GOVERMENT has made the final decision.