FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Army News Service, May 4, 2007) -- The Army Program Executive Office Soldier will soon provide an improved Army combat shirt to Soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan.
The flame-resistant long-sleeved shirt, which retains the moisture-wicking capability, breathability, and durability of other components in the ACU, also has many of its other features, including cargo pockets, infrared identification tabs, and hook-and-loop fasteners for the American flag.
The new shirt has a foliage green torso and sleeves in the universal camouflage pattern, and sports seamless shoulders and side panels for comfort, along with integrated anti-abrasion elbow pads, and a small Army Strong logo centered on the chest.
The high performance shirt, designed to be a base layer, can be worn directly under the Interceptor Body Armor, according to Maj. Clay Williamson, assistant product manager for clothing and individual equipment.
The ACS is made of an anti-microbial cotton and rayon blend fabric treated with a new process that penetrates to the fiber level. It provides fire-resistance for the life of the garment. "It is completely safe, non-toxic, and allows us to treat fibers that were once not treatable," Maj. Williamson said.
The shirt integrates with other flame-resistant components, such as the Army combat pants, to provide head-to-toe protection against burns. The Army combat pants are the same as the ACU pants, except they are made of a flame-resistant material, according to the major. Soldiers' hands are protected by flame-resistant gloves that have been a part of the Army's Rapid Fielding Initiative.
This ensemble further complements the Army's system-of-systems approach to force protection, which integrates layers of protection for Soldiers on the battlefield.
"I want to assure the American public, the Soldiers, and their Families that they have the best equipment when and where they need it. If there were something better, we would buy it; and we're always looking for something better," said Brig. Gen. R. Mark Brown, Program Executive Officer Soldier.
(Debi Dawson serves with the Program Executive Office Soldier Strategic Communications Office)
Article Opinions
carlos b. wrote:
you look sporty not like a PROFESSIONAL
Posted on 05/10/07 13:20:04
SGT. Smith wrote:
I know from experience that with all the crap you have to wear over there. this will be a huge improvement. when its 120 degrees outside and your wearing acu top interceptor and all the damn attachments they make you slap on. by the time your done with a mission. you take off your gear and you look like you just got out of a pool. your soaked in sweat. i think this is a much needed improvement and i cant wait to use it next deployment.
Posted on 05/10/07 14:40:23
Abnrgr24 wrote:
What ever happened to prioritites? We've got crap weapons, units far behind on good optics, shit radios, but oh yeah, we've got great uniforms....At least I'll look good in my casket.
Posted on 05/10/07 22:12:08
Armycwg wrote:
I can sympathize with the troops down range for heat. But that uniform top looks retarded. I really hope we are not required to wear that. If it is an option to wear it... I may change my mind when I am down range but as for now, I could live with our long sleeves and sweatin til I am soaked.
Posted on 05/14/07 03:03:32
SSG OLSON wrote:
It will be alot cooler when wearing the body armor
Posted on 05/15/07 08:48:18
pvt hammack wrote:
comfort is a good thing to have in the war we fight today 80 pnds of gear can wear a soldier down in high heat
Posted on 05/15/07 16:05:13
pvt joe snuffy wrote:
I agree that it'll be much more comfortable in the heat.. it looks a lot like the multicam combat shirt made by Crye Precision... I wonder if the Army will come out with the vest to go with it like the multicam one.
Posted on 05/15/07 19:47:02
steve, 9 years army infantry wrote:
my experience tells me a few things....
one, this will eventually only be for desert ops. woodland and cold weather duty stations, no way. two, this camo patternt they have now, this all encompassing acu pattern, it doesn't work. it doesn't fit in the desert or wooded ares. it makes you stanbd out like a sore thumb. make a camo pattern that is specific to the region. granted, this may be good for our troops now since they're dying in the desert heat, but if and when this iraq and afghanistan thing is over, the military, army specifically, will have to reinvent this crap all over again.
Posted on 05/16/07 11:28:02
hatiniraq wrote:
My time over here in the past 9 months has been dismounted the entire time.The acu top bunches up under body armorand feels like your wearing a solar blanket when out on patrols.I can't wait to get this shirt.when will it be fielded?
Posted on 05/19/07 20:56:12
Paradoc wrote:
I wounder how pissed off crye precision is for getting ripped off by the Army. And since were ripping off Crye precision, why dont we just get multicam, If the Army wants to spend millions on uniforms?..
Posted on 05/21/07 12:09:31
Old Dog92 wrote:
The Grunts know, the Army is ripping off Crye Precision for good reason, it's and excellent design. I'm sure Crye has a Licensing agreement with the Army and Marines (Yes, The Marines are getting a version also) One of the greatest disservices the Army has done to its soldiers, in the past 20 years, was the establishment of the Procurement Branch. That group of a**holes has fielded all of the crappy equipement our troop must work with. There are many excellent uniform, weapon and other field equipement designs developed by private industry, that are far superior to the crap our troop have. Camelbak, Trijicon, Danner, DragonSkin Armor, just to name a few, superior commerial product in every use, in the sandbox.
Posted on 05/23/07 02:30:29
AirAssault wrote:
I did my own one ,I got and old loking ACU(well thy all fade quik) I cut the sleves and got the iraqi tailor to fixit to one of my shirts it look horrible but with my body armor no body have notice Iam wearing it...
Posted on 09/20/07 07:59:47
willwild wrote:
I would rather have body armor (dragonskin) that protects me better than what is issued. I would rather have a weapon (HK416) that is proven more reliable than what is issued. What has happened, is the Army would rather stick with the contractors they have, because of the kickbacks rather than field the best equipment avaliable. A soldiers live does not equal a nice new Bentley in the driveway.
Posted on 09/21/07 09:32:28
SGT BIG CITY SMITTY wrote:
I wish we had these when we were over there.I have no concerns with this tactical shirt and think it will be bearable compared to the ACU Top. Anyone who has been over there knows that those tope are not comfortable nor do they breath correctly when you are all geared up. I hope I get this on my next rodeo. Hopefully you SGT Majors out there allow these on your FOB. When I was doing convoy security over there we had to accomodate to each Fob uniformity wise, PT belts int he day time, M-4 as opposed to my 9 mil or vice versa. Lets get our priorities straight and allow our soldiers to fight the fight in some good gear. My unit was fully hooked up with equipment over there.
Posted on 10/29/07 10:31:34
CSM V wrote:
Dragon skin isnt all it is cracked up to be....looks good on paper and the media but testS under extreme conditions prove that it isnt any good. The Tatical shirt is only to be worn when in combat situations and that being said looking professional doesnt matter or help when YOU wear your IBA.
Posted on 11/20/07 14:56:41
jar 2/5 wrote:
ya, how they have money to spend on a new uniforms, but not upgrade from the Interceptor body armor to Dragonskin. i am a USMC vet, i know this combat shirt will help keep soldiers cool, but alive is more important. get new body armor first, then new shirts.
Posted on 11/25/07 23:34:34
jar 2/5 wrote:
in response to CSM V, i personally own Dragonskin level IV in MARPAT, and it is all its cracked up to be. Interceptor armor is garbage, the only reason they dont want to use it is the price, a little over 5000 for dragonskin, only 1100 for interceptor.
Posted on 11/25/07 23:38:24
ssg b wrote:
to all the cry babies out there saying that they want wear the shirt. wait until you doing a foot movement or out there in the heat for 3hrs or more raiding house or looking in the palm trees. then come back and there me you want wear the shirt. im infantry and every one in my BN is looking for nsn and a place to purchase this shirt.
Posted on 11/29/07 12:19:41
SERE117 wrote:
My brother is ex ranger. he personally hates ACU and wishes he could kick the REMFs A** whom approved that stuff. we both bought a pair for hunting and 3rd party testing. we also bought multicam. multicam murders. ACU gives it on both knees + swallows. the idea of a cooler shirt is great but survival is better. i agree that armor is better. newer stuff is needed. if given a choice between old DCU/BDU and ACU, i would choose BDUs anytime.
Posted on 01/04/08 15:39:32
grunt wrote:
why the fuck do these fags put army strong on the shirt? They could probably save 100k by taking that off and put a piston upper on our rifles.
Posted on 02/05/08 13:11:26
SSG B wrote:
Check out a company called massif mountain gear they make the shirts. I have been wearing it for a week now and love it. It breaths better, is more comfortable, and does not smell after I wear it for 3 days straight. But be aware.. Army leaders are not tracking it I have already been told I can not wear it any more. If your in a regular unit your S-4 can probably order it through the class 7 account. I am on a MiTT so we had to order them privately. The shirts are worth every penney though. good luck
Posted on 03/12/08 16:21:53
loko wrote:
My question is, if this new shirt is so great then when are we getting it? I checked it out on massif mountain gear website and they are $120.00 and we all know that if it isnt issued, you cant wear it. Meaning that the whole unit has to have it before your "authorized" to use it. If anybody out there has a clue on when these shirts are being fielded please post it here.
Posted on 03/18/08 08:06:38
Infantry Leads The Way! wrote:
Ms. Dawson, you know good and well that while this is a smart implement it should be in a different pattern. Soldiers have resoundingly spoke out with dislike for the ACU yet PEO soldier and your OIC refuse to redress the issue. For over four years now, intelligent, combat arms soldiers who actually rely on the performance of their uniforms have told you people we want MULTICAM. Believe it or not, a pattern can have a direct effect on a soldier's survivalbility. If you are easily acquired even at night (because we now glow in the dark) your odds of success are greatly diminished. I beg PEO Soldier to objectively test the proposal put forth by so many and re-field multicam. Otherwise, you're gonna get pockets of war-fighters wearing what makes sense regardless of what command wants. Soldiers will not willingly die for stubborness.
Posted on 04/07/08 21:05:26
S-4 Dude wrote:
I wish the Army would let me order it for the soldiers in my BN they do convoys in southren Iraq. Yet there's a lot of red tape and I got to depend on people that are echelons above me to get it. There's NSN's for it I wish the would remove the restricted code on PBUSE so my supply sergeants could order the stuff. This would really help out our guys that are stuck on the road for days on end.
Posted on 05/24/08 07:48:37
S4 Geardo wrote:
I absolutely agree wiht S-4 Dude. We have been in theater for going on 10 months with five months left and the "high speed" units have these shirts and are wearing them everywhere. The big picture is the Army hasn't recognized CSS units as warfighters yet even though we roll or walk side by side the combat arms troopers on a daily basis, outside the wire. I keep getting the same answer, "they're in testing," or "we can only commit 317,000 Combat Shirts to theater;" WTF Over, there is 365,000 total in theater (Army, Air Force, Marine, Navy, Coast Guard AND civilians) so at least one per SM for the time being isn't acceptable? And, there is one civilian contractor per SM in theater right now so that means almost two per Soldier! A driver, gunner, and TC in an overly modified, 10x1million candlepower KC lights everywhere, with marginal at best AC, even at night need these shirts on mission to keep their core temperatures down. I get that it shouldn't be worn as a stand alone on the FOB/COB/COP but when did our efforts turn so garrison minded? Let the supporters keep supporting and fighting and the fighters keep fighting in whatever keeps us alive or gives us an advantage over human or environmental dangers!! Ditto on the camo pattern color comments though. The ACU works great in the Southeast US but in the desert we look like fish out of water.
Posted on 05/24/08 08:59:57
S4 Geardo wrote:
Oh yeah, Ditto on the priorities and the logo! The millions we have spent on uniforms could have gotten us better weapons or NVDs. But, it's done and we can't get the $ back so lets make the best of what we have already mistakenly purchased and spent millions in testing and production on!
Posted on 05/24/08 09:07:58
MedicOnConvoys wrote:
I am a Medic over in iraq doing convoys. I just had this for my last mission and i was way cooler and more comfortable with this than the standard ACU uniform. While i agree that money is better spent on body armor, they are wasting money on IOTV's. They are suppose to be better than the IBA. Hell no. They are awful, they arent practical at all. They dont fit you right now matter how hard you try, they fall apart while you are in the middle of anything, and they are no more safe than the IBA. They are a waste of money. Dragonskin would be nice, and the shirts are nice. Its a work in progress, i hope.
Posted on 07/06/08 12:00:28
cory wrote:
were can i buy this shirt?
Posted on 07/23/08 00:16:17
Just back from the sand wrote:
Like everything else, this will eventually get out to all. The brits have been using similar shirts for a long time. It took us long enough! Will definately help under that freaken IBA
Posted on 07/26/08 02:15:56
Eddie Hernandez wrote:
I'm a civilian and I own one. It sucks though, seeing soldiers who want/need them and don't have them.
Posted on 08/23/08 07:29:18
Eddie Hernandez wrote:
The shirt itself is great though.
Posted on 08/23/08 22:26:02
Nearing the End wrote:
To my brothers (male and female) in arms, thanks for having my back. Between the National Guard, Army Reserves, and Active Army I have spent 21 years in uniform. And I agree that the funds to purchase these shirts could be used a bit wiser. Make no mistake, these shirts or something similiar is needed for those who go outside the wire. We could use better equipment. The testing of these new and improved equipment should done by those who apporves the purchase and they will see that 1) ACUs glows in the dark 2) an AK47 is better than an M16 3) IOTV (insert your own thoughts) and the list can go on an on. S4 Geardo it will happen after we have spent 1 trillion dollars and the GAO finally admits that the money could have been spent better on bettter equipmet
FORT BELVOIR, Va. (Army News Service, May 4, 2007) -- The Army Program Executive Office Soldier will soon provide an improved Army combat shirt to Soldiers deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan.
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