ACU Wear and care policy

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED / NONE

1. THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO ANNOUNCE IMPLEMENTING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CARE AND WEAR OF THE NEW WRINKLE-FREE, UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN ACU ENSEMBLE APPROVED BY THE CSA ON 21 MAR 04. POLICY CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE IS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

2. THE ACU REPLACES BOTH THE TEMPERATE AND ENHANCED HOT WEATHER BDU IN THE CLOTHING BAG AND THE DESERT CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM (DCU) AS AN ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT (OCIE) ITEM. THE ACU BEGAN BEING FIELDED AS AN OCIE ITEM IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) AND OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) TO DEPLOYING UNITS IN FEB 05. THE ACU WILL BE PLACED IN THE FY06 CLOTHING BAG, IN THE ARMY MILITARY CLOTHING SALES STORES IN APR 06, AND WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE KENTUCKY LOGISTICS OPERATION CENTER IN APR 06.

3. ENSEMBLE COMPOSITION:
3A. THE ACU ENSEMBLE CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
ACU COAT
ACU TROUSERS

3B. ACU ACCESSORY ITEMS:
ACU PATROL CAP
ARMY COMBAT BOOTS HOT WEATHER (TAN)
ARMY COMBAT BOOTS TEMPERATE WEATHER (TAN) BOOT SOCKS (GREEN) TWO-INCH RIGGER BELT MOISTURE WICKING T-SHIRT (TAN) UNDERGARMENTS ELBOW PADS KNEE PADS HOOK AND LOOP (VELCROED) FULL COLOR U.S. FLAG INSIGNIA HOOK AND LOOP IR SUBDUED U.S. FLAG INSIGNIA HOOK AND LOOP SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA HOOK AND LOOP EMBROIDERED GRADE INSIGNIA HOOK AND LOOP SUBDUED NAME TAPE HOOK AND LOOP SUBDUED U.S. ARMY TAPE

3C. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE ALSO WORN WITH THE ACU:
BERET WITH ORGANIZATIONAL FLASH
ACU SUN (BOONIE) HAT
SOCKS (BLACK, CUSHION SOLE)
BLACK ALL-WEATHER COAT
COAT, COLD WEATHER, (FIELD JACKET) (ACU UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN) PARKA, COLD WEATHER, CAMOUFLAGE (GORTEX JACKET) (ACU UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN) TROUSERS, COLD WEATHER, CAMOUFLAGE (GORTEX PANTS) (ACU UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN) PARKA, WET WEATHER, CAMOUFLAGE (WET WEATHER JACKET) (ACU UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN) TROUSERS, WET WEATHER, CAMOUFLAGE (ACU UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN) ACU FLEECE BLACK OR GREEN (EXTENDED COLD-WEATHER CLOTHING SYSTEM-ECWCS) BELT, WEB WITH OPEN-FACED BLACK BUCKLE CHAPLAIN’S APPAREL GLOVES HANDBAGS (FEMALES ONLY) HAT DRILL SERGEANT MILITARY POLICE ACCESSORIES NECKGAITER, (OCIE) SCARVES T-SHIRT, BROWN (COTTON AND MOISTURE WICKING) COMBAT AND SPECIAL SKILL BADGES (PIN ON SUBDUED) (OPTIONAL) – 5 MAX BRASSARDS RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION INSIGNIA (CHAPLAINS ONLY) – ABOVE NAMETAPE HEADGEAR INSIGNIA SUBDUED PIN-ON RANK INSIGNIA HOOK AND LOOP, SUBDUED SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA-FORMER WARTIME SERVICE (SSI-FWTS) “COMBAT PATCH” (OPTIONAL)
HOOK AND LOOP SKILL TABS (OPTIONAL) ORGANIZATIONAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMANDER MEDICAL ITEMS IAW CTA 50-900 OR CTA 8-100 (MEDICAL PERSONNEL) PERSONAL HYDRATION SYSTEMS, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMANDER DRILL SERGEANT AND RECRUITER BADGES (PIN ON) (NON-SUBDUED)

3D. THE ACU UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN WILL EVENTUALLY REPLACE BOTH BDU AND DCU CAMOUFLAGE PRINT ITEMS OF EQUIPMENT. THE PHASE-IN PERIOD FOR THE ACU UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN IS MAY 05 TO MAY 08. DURING THIS TIME PERIOD, SOLDIERS WILL HAVE A MIX OF CAMOUFLAGE EQUIPMENT. COMMANDERS CAN AUTHORIZE THE WEAR OF BDU AND DCU CAMOUFLAGE EQUIPMENT WITH THE ACU UNTIL THOSE ITEMS ARE REPLACED.

4. THE ACU CARE POLICY.
THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED WHEN CARING FOR THE ACU IN ORDER TO MAXIMIZE THE SERVICE LIFE AND MAINTAIN OPTIMUM PERFORMANCE:
SOLDIERS WILL NOT STARCH THE ARMY COMBAT UNIFORM UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE USE OF STARCH, SIZING, AND ANY PROCESS THAT INVOLVES DRY-CLEANING OR A STEAM PRESS WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT THE TREATMENTS AND DURABILITY OF THE UNIFORM AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED. WASH IN COLD WATER AND MILD DETERGENT CONTAINING NO OPTICAL BRIGHTENERS OR BLEACH. TUMBLE DRY AT LOW HEAT (NOT TO EXCEED 130 DEGREES FARENHEIT). REMOVE IMMEDIATELY FROM THE DRYER AND FOLD FLAT OR PLACE ON A RUSTPROOF HANGER TO ENSURE HEAT FROM THE DRYER DOES NOT SET WRINKLES. TO DRIP DRY, REMOVE FROM THE WASHER/WATER AND PLACE ON A RUSTPROOF HANGER. DO NOT WRING OR TWIST.

5. THE ACU WEAR POLICY.
5A. THE NEW ACU IS USED AS A COMBAT UNIFORM DESIGNED TO BE WORN UNDER BODY ARMOR. THE UNIFORM IS PRESCRIBED FOR YEAR-ROUND WEAR FOR ALL SOLDIERS, UNLESS OTHERWISE DIRECTED BY THE COMMANDER. SOLDIERS MAY WEAR THE ACU OFF POST UNLESS PROHIBITED BY THE COMMANDER. THE ACU WILL NOT BE WORN FOR COMMERCIAL TRAVEL UNLESS AUTHORIZED BY AR 670-1, PARAGRAPH 1-10C. THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO POLICY IS FOR SOLDIERS PARTICIPATING IN THE REST AND RECOUPERATION PROGRAM. ANY OTHER EXCEPTION TO POLICY MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF, G-1 FOR APPROVAL. PERSONNEL WILL NOT WEAR THE ACU IN OFF-POST ESTABLISHMENTS THAT PRIMARILY SELL ALCOHOL. IF THE OFF-POST ESTABLISHMENT SELLS ALCOHOL AND FOOD, SOLDIERS MAY NOT WEAR THE ACU IF THEIR ACTIVITIES IN THE ESTABLISHMENT CENTER ON DRINKING ALCOHOL. THE ACU IS NOT NORMALLY CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE FOR SOCIAL OR OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS OFF THE INSTALLATION, SUCH AS MEMORIAL SERVICES, FUNERALS, WEDDINGS, INAUGURALS, PATRIOTIC CEREMONIES, ETC. THE ACU IS ISSUED AS A COMBAT UNIFORM AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR WEAR AS AN ALL-PURPOSE UNIFORM WHEN OTHER UNIFORMS (CLASS A OR B, DRESS, AND MESS UNIFORM) ARE MORE APPROPRIATE. THE COMMANDER MAY PRESCRIBE ORGANIZATIONAL AND INDIVIDUAL EQUIPMENT ITEMS IAW CTA 50-900 WHEN THE ACU IS PRESCRIBED FOR PARADES, REVIEWS AND CEREMONIES. THE COMMANDER MAY AUTHORIZE THE WEAR OF SUBDUED PIN ON COMBAT, SPECIAL SKILL, AND IDENTIFICATION BADGES IN GARRISON. COMBAT AND SPECIAL SKILL BADGES WILL NOT BE SEWN OR ATTACHED USING HOOK AND LOOP PADS ON THE ACU. SEWING OF THE RANK INSIGNIA ON THE ACU PATROL CAP, ACU SUN HAT, AND KEVLAR CAMOUFLAGE COVER IS AUTHORIZED. THE ACU WILL BE LOOSE FITTING AND COMFORTABLE; ALTERATIONS TO MAKE THEM FIT TIGHTLY ARE NOT AUTHORIZED. THE ONLY ALTERATIONS AUTHORIZED ARE THOSE LISTED IN AR 700-84. ITEMS SHOULD BE FITTED LOOSELY ENOUGH TO ALLOW FOR SOME SHRINKAGE WITHOUT RENDERING THE GARMENT UNUSABLE.

5B. THE COAT IS WORN HOOK AND LOOPED AND ZIPPED. THE COAT HAS HOOK AND LOOP FASTNERS FOR WEARING THE U.S. FLAG INSIGNIA, SKILL TABS, SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA, SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA – FORMER WARTIME SERVICE, RANK, U.S. ARMY TAPE, AND NAME TAPE. THE COAT HAS A ZIPPERED FRONT CLOSURE, TILTED CHEST POCKETS WITH HOOK AND LOOPED CLOSURE, HOOK AND LOOPED SLEEVE CUFF CLOSURE (WHICH MUST BE CLOSED AT ALL TIMES), INTEGRATED BLOUSE BELLOWS FOR INCREASED UPPER BODY MOBILITY, AND SHOULDER POCKETS WITH HOOK AND LOOP. THE MANDARIN COLLAR WILL BE NORMALLY WORN IN THE DOWN POSITION. SOLDIERS ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE MANDARIN COLLAR IN THE UP POSITION WHEN WEARING BODY ARMOR OR WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS DICTATE THE WEAR AS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMMANDER. THE COAT IS NORMALLY WORN OUTSIDE THE TROUSERS, AND THE TROUSERS ARE WORN WITH A BELT. THE COAT MAY ALSO BE WORN INSIDE THE TROUSERS WHEN DIRECTED BY THE COMMANDER (I.E., WHEN WEARING THE OUTER TACTICAL VEST, MOPP GEAR, ETC.). THE COAT WILL NOT EXTEND BELOW THE TOP OF THE CARGO POCKET ON THE TROUSERS AND WILL NOT BE HIGHER THAN THE BOTTOM OF THE SIDE POCKET ON THE TROUSERS. THE ELBOW POUCH WITH HOOK AND LOOP CLOSURE FOR INTERNAL ELBOW PAD INSERTS MUST BE CLOSED AT ALL TIMES. PERMANENT INFRARED FEEDBACK SQUARES AFFIXED TO EACH SHOULDER FOR NIGHTIME IDENTIFICATION WILL BE COVERED WHEN INSIGNIAS ARE NOT WORN ON THE POCKET FLAPS. SLEEVES WILL BE WORN DOWN AT ALL TIMES, AND NOT ROLLED OR CUFFED. THE MOISTURE WICKING TAN T-SHIRT OR COTTON T-SHIRT IS WORN UNDERNEATH THE COAT AND IT IS TUCKED INSIDE THE TROUSERS AT ALL TIMES.

5C. SOLDIERS WILL WEAR THE TROUSERS TUCKED INTO THE TOP OF THE BOOTS OR BLOUSED USING THE DRAW STRINGS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TROUSERS OR COMMERCIAL BLOUSING DEVICES. PERSONNEL WILL NOT WRAP THE TROUSER LEG AROUND THE LEG TIGHTLY ENOUGH TO PRESENT A PEGGED APPEARANCE OR INSERT ANY ITEMS INSIDE THE TROUSER LEG TO CREATE A ROUND APPEARANCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TROUSER LEG. WHEN BLOUSED, THE TROUSERS SHOULD NOT EXTEND BELOW THE THIRD EYELET FROM THE TOP OF THE BOOT. THE KNEE POUCH WITH HOOK AND LOOP CLOSURE FOR INTERNAL KNEE PAD INSERTS AND THE BELLOWED CALF STORAGE POCKET WITH HOOK AND LOOP CLOSURE ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT LEGS WILL BE WORN CLOSED AT ALL TIMES.

5D. HEADGEAR.
5D1. BLACK BERET. THE BERET IS A CLOTHING BAG ISSUE ITEM. SOLDIERS WHO ARE NOT ASSIGNED TO UNITS OR POSITIONS AUTHORIZED WEAR OF THE TAN, GREEN, OR MAROON BERET WILL WEAR THE BLACK BERET. THIS INCLUDES SENIOR AND JUNIOR ROTC INSTRUCTORS, UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED. SOLDIERS IN INITIAL MILITARY TRAINING WILL RECEIVE THE BLACK BERET DURING THE PHASE II (DRESS CLOTHING) ISSUE FROM THE CLOTHING INITIAL ISSUE POINT. ROTC CADETS, OFFICERS, AND WARRANT OFFICERS ARE AUTHORIZED WEAR OF THE BLACK BERET UPON INPROCESSING AT THEIR BASIC COURSES, AND USMA CADETS UPON GRADUATING FROM USMA. SPLIT-OPTION SOLDIERS OR SOLDIERS IN THE SIMULTANEOUS MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM WILL WEAR THE BLACK BERET ONLY WHEN PERFORMING DUTIES WITH THEIR UNITS, AND THEY WILL WEAR THE ACU PATROL CAP WITH THE ACU WHEN IN A CADET OR TRAINEE STATUS. SOLDIERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED OR WHO DO NOT WEAR THE BLACK BERET WILL WEAR THE PATROL CAP WITH THE ACU.

5D2. THE ACU PATROL CAP. THE ACU PATROL CAP IS WORN WITH THE ACU IN FIELD ENVIRONMENTS WHEN THE KEVLAR HELMET IS NOT WORN, ON WORK DETAILS, OR IN OTHER ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE WEAR OF THE BERET IS IMPRACTICAL AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMANDER. PERSONNEL WEAR THE ACU PATROL CAP STRAIGHT ON THE HEAD SO THAT THE CAP BAND CREATES A STRAIGHT LINE AROUND THE HEAD, PARALLEL TO THE GROUND. THE PATROL CAP WILL FIT SNUGLY AND COMFORTABLY AROUND THE LARGEST PART OF THE HEAD WITHOUT DISTORTION OR EXCESSIVE GAPS. THE CAP IS WORN SO THAT NO HAIR IS VISIBLE ON THE FOREHEAD BENEATH THE CAP. SEWN OR PIN ON RANK IS WORN ON THE ACU PATROL CAP. THE LAST NAME TAPE WILL BE WORN CENTERED ON THE HOOK AND LOOP PADS ON THE BACK OF THE ACU PATROL CAP.

5D3. THE ACU SUN (BOONIE) HAT. THE ACU SUN HAT IS WORN WITH THE ACU IN FIELD ENVIRONMENTS WHEN THE KEVLAR HELMET IS NOT WORN, ON WORK DETAILS, OR IN OTHER ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE WEAR OF THE BERET IS IMPRACTICAL, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMANDER. PERSONNEL WEAR THE ACU SUN HAT STRAIGHT ON THE HEAD SO THAT THE WEB BAND CREATES A STRAIGHT LINE AROUND THE HEAD, PARALLEL TO THE GROUND. THE ACU SUN HAT WILL FIT COMFORTABLY AROUND THE LARGEST PART OF THE HEAD WITHOUT DISTORTION OR EXCESSIVE GAPS. THE ACU SUN HAT IS WORN SO THAT NO HAIR IS VISIBLE ON THE FOREHEAD BENEATH THE HAT. THE DRAW STRING ON THE ACU SUN HAT CAN BE WORN UNDER THE CHIN, AROUND THE BACK OF THE HEAD AND NECK, OR TUCKED INSIDE. THE DRAW STRING WILL NOT BE WORN OVER THE TOP OF THE ACU SUN HAT. THE ACU SUN HAT WILL NOT BE WORN ROLLED, FORMED, SHAPED, BLOCKED, OR WITH AN UPTURNED BRIM. SEWN OR PIN ON RANK IS WORN ON THE ACU SUN HAT.

5D4. THE MICRO BLACK FLEECE CAP. THE BLACK MICRO FLEECE CAP IS WORN WITH THE ACU IN FIELD ENVIRONMENTS WHEN THE KEVLAR HELMET IS NOT WORN, ON WORK DETAILS, OR IN OTHER ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE WEAR OF THE BERET IS IMPRACTICAL, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMANDER. PERSONNEL WEAR THE BLACK FLEECE CAP PULLED DOWN SNUGLY ON THE HEAD. SOLDIERS WILL NOT ROLL THE EDGE OF THE CAP. STANDARDS OF WEAR AND APPEARANCE SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPHS 1-7 AND 1-8 OF AR 670-1 APPLY AT ALL TIMES.

5E. BOOTS. ARMY COMBAT BOOTS (HOT WEATHER AND TEMPERATE WEATHER), AND OPTIONAL BOOTS.

5E1. ARMY COMBAT BOOTS (HOT WEATHER AND TEMPERATE WEATHER) MADE OF TAN ROUGH SIDE OUT CATTLEHIDE LEATHER WITH A PLAIN TOE AND TAN RUBBER OUTSOLES. THE BOOTS ARE LACED DIAGONALLY WITH TAN LACES, WITH THE EXCESS LACE TUCKED INTO THE TOP OF THE BOOT UNDER THE BLOUSED TROUSERS, OR WRAPPED AROUND THE TOP OF THE BOOT. METAL CLEATS AND SIDE TABS, AND SEWN-IN OR LACED-IN ZIPPER INSERTS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED. A RUBBER OUTSOLE IS THE ONLY OUTSOLE MATERIAL THAT CURRENTLY MEETS THE NEED FOR DURABILITY AND TRACTION ON SURFACES. OTHER MATERIALS (THAT MAY BE OF A LIGHTER WEIGHT) MAY HAVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS IN THESE AREAS.

5E2. OPTIONAL BOOTS – SOLDIERS MAY WEAR COMMERCIAL BOOTS OF A DESIGN SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE ARMY COMBAT BOOT (TAN), 8 TO 10 INCHES IN HEIGHT AS AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMANDER. THE BOOTS MUST BE MADE OF TAN ROUGH SIDE OUT CATTLEHIDE LEATHER, WITH A PLAIN TOE, AND HAVE A TAN, RUBBER OUTSOLE.
SOLDIERS MAY WEAR OPTIONAL BOOTS IN LIEU OF THE STANDARD ISSUE ARMY COMBAT BOOTS (TAN) – HOT WEATHER AND TEMPERATE WEATHER; HOWEVER, THEY DO NOT REPLACE ISSUE BOOTS AS A MANDATORY POSSESSION ITEM. OPTIONAL BOOTS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR WHEN THE COMMANDER ISSUES AND PRESCRIBES STANDARD ORGANIZATIONAL FOOTWEAR FOR SAFETY OR ENVIRONMENTAL REASONS (SUCH AS INSULATED BOOTS OR SAFETY SHOES).

5F. SOLDIERS MAY WEAR THE BLACK ALL-WEATHER COAT AS A RAINCOAT WITH THE ACU ONLY IN A GARRISON ENVIRONMENT WHEN THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ISSUED ORGANIZATIONAL RAINGEAR. WHEN THE COLD-WEATHER COAT OR OTHER AUTHORIZED COLD WEATHER OUTER GARMENTS ARE WORN, SOLDIERS MAY WEAR THE OLIVE-GREEN SCARF AND GLOVES, BUT ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO. SOLDIERS MAY WEAR THE HOOD OF THE COLD WEATHER COAT AT THEIR OPTION. HOWEVER, WHEN THE HOOD IS NOT WORN, SOLDIERS WILL TUCK THE HOOD INTO THE JACKET WITH THE ZIPPER CLOSED. THE BLACK OR GREEN ACU FLEECE (ECWCS) CAN BE WORN AS AN OUTER GARMENT WHEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMANDER.

5G. SOLDIERS MAY WEAR GLOVES WITH THE ACU WITHOUT THE COLD WEATHER OUTER GARMENTS (I.E., GORTEX JACKET OR FIELD JACKET, ETC.)

5H. FEMALE PERSONNEL MAY CARRY HANDBAGS WITH THESE UNIFORMS ONLY WHILE IN A GARRISON ENVIRONMENT.

5I. COMMANDERS MAY AUTHORIZE THE USE OF A BLACK OR CAMOUFLAGE (WOODLAND, DESERT, OR ACU COLORS) PERSONAL HYDRATION SYSTEM ONLY IN A FIELD ENVIRONMENT, IN HIGH-HEAT AREAS, OR ON WORK DETAILS. SOLDIERS WILL NOT CARRY HYDRATION SYSTEMS IN A GARRISON ENVIRONMENT UNLESS THE COMMANDER HAS AUTHORIZED IT FOR ONE OF THE SITUATIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE.

5J. ARMY FLASH. NO CHANGE TO CURRENT POLICY.

5K. HEADGEAR INSIGNIA. NO CHANGE TO CURRENT POLICY.

5L. SKILL BADGES. PIN ON. SOLDIERS MAY WEAR UP TO FIVE (5) BADGES ON THE ACU. ALL SKILL BADGES WILL BE WORN ABOVE THE U.S. ARMY TAPE. BADGES WILL BE WORN IN ORDER OF PRECEDENCE FROM THE WEARER’S LEFT AS FOLLOWS:

5L1. ONE BADGE, WORN 1/8 INCH ABOVE AND CENTERED ON THE U.S. ARMY TAPE.

5L2. TWO BADGES, WORN VERTICALLY, 1/8 INCH ABOVE AND CENTERED ON THE U.S. ARMY TAPE, WITH 1/4 INCH BETWEEN BADGES.

5L3. THREE BADGES, WORN VERTICALLY, 1/8 INCH ABOVE AND CENTERED ON THE U.S. ARMY TAPE, WITH 1/4 INCH BETWEEN BADGES.

5L4. FOUR BADGES, WORN VERTICALLY AND SIDE-BY-SIDE IN STACKS OF TWO, 1/8 INCH ABOVE AND CENTERED ON THE U.S. ARMY TAPE, WITH 1/4 INCH BETWEEN BADGES VERTICALLY AND 1/2 INCH BETWEEN BADGES HORIZONTALLY.

5L5. FIVE BADGES, SAME AS ABOVE. IN ADDITION, THE FIFTH BADGE IS PLACED 1/4 INCH ABOVE AND CENTERED OVER THE TOP TWO BADGES.

5M. RANK INSIGNIA. THE EMBROIDERED RANK INSIGNIA IS 2 INCHES HIGH AND 1 3/4 INCHES WIDE, HOOK AND LOOPED AND WORN CENTERED ON THE FRONT HOOK AND LOOP-FACE PAD OF THE ACU COAT FOR RANKS PRIVATE THROUGH GENERAL. THE BACKGROUND OF THE RANK INSIGNIA CAN BE EITHER OLIVE GREEN OR THE UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN. THE RANK INSIGNIA BACKGROUND WILL MATCH THE BACKGROUND OF THE NAME AND U.S. ARMY TAPES.

5N. BRANCH INSIGNIA. BRANCH INSIGNIA WILL NOT BE WORN. AS AN EXCEPTION, THE U.S. ARMY CHAPLAINCY RELIGIOUS DENOMINATION INSIGNIA MAY BE WORN 1/8 INCH ABOVE AND CENTERED ON THE NAMETAPE. THE INSIGNIA WILL BE PINNED ON.

5O. LAST NAME/U.S. ARMY TAPE. LAST NAME/U.S. ARMY TAPES ARE 5 INCHES IN LENGTH, HAVE A HOOK AND LOOP-FACED PAD, AND ARE WORN IMMEDIATELY ABOVE AND PARALLEL WITH THE TOP OF THE SLANTED CHEST POCKET FLAPS. THE BACKGROUND OF THE LAST NAME/U.S. ARMY TAPE CAN BE EITHER OLIVE GREEN OR THE UNIVERSAL CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN.

5P. SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA (SSI) – UNIT PATCH. THE SSI IS CENTERED ON THE HOOK AND LOOP-FACED PAD ALREADY PROVIDED ON THE LEFT SLEEVE OF THE ACU COAT.

5Q. SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA – FORMER WARTIME SERVICE (SSI-FWTS) – COMBAT PATCH. THE SSI-FWTS IS CENTERED ON THE HOOK AND LOOP-FACED PAD ALREADY PROVIDED ON THE RIGHT SLEEVE OF THE ACU COAT.

5R. U.S. FLAG INSIGNIA – THE U.S. FLAG INSIGNIA (FULL COLOR OR SUBDUED) IS WORN ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER POCKET FLAP OF THE ACU COAT. THE FLAG INSIGNIA IS PLACED DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE HOOK AND LOOP-FACED PAD ALREADY PROVIDED WITH THE ACU COAT SHOULDER POCKET FLAP. THE SUBDUED U.S. FLAG INSIGNIA IS WORN AS DIRECTED BY THE COMMANDER UNDER TACTICAL OR FIELD CONDITIONS.

5S. SKILL TABS – A MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) SKILL TABS MAY BE WORN WITH THE ACU. SKILL TABS WILL BE PLACED CENTERED ON THE SHOULDER POCKET FLAP OF THE HOOK AND LOOP-FACED PAD ALREADY PROVIDED ON THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE ACU COAT IN ORDER OF PRECEDENCE IAW AR 670-1. THERE ARE ONLY FOUR AUTHORIZED SKILL TABS (PRESIDENT’S HUNDRED, SPECIAL FORCES, RANGER, AND SAPPER). THE MAXIMUM OF THREE (3) AUTHORIZED SKILL TABS DOES NOT INCLUDE TABS THAT ARE PART OF UNIT ORGANIZATIONAL PATCHES SUCH AS THE AIRBORNE OR MOUNTAIN TABS, WHICH ARE WORN WITH THE SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA BELOW THE SHOULDER POCKET FLAP.
5T. IDENTIFICATION BADGES – A MAXIMUM OF TWO (2) PIN ON IDENTIFICATION BADGES MAY BE WORN CENTERED ON THE ACU COAT POCKETS. NO MORE THAN ONE IDENTIFICATION BADGE WILL BE WORN CENTERED ON EACH BREAST POCKET IN ORDER OF PRECEDENCE IAW AR 670-1.

6. BATTLE DRESS UNIFORM (BDU) AND DESERT BATTLE DRESS UNIFORM (DBDU) WEAR POLICY. THE FOLLOWING ITEMS, WHICH ARE PART OF THE ACU ENSEMBLE, ARE AUTHORIZED FOR WEAR WITH THE BDU AND THE DBDU:
6A. RIGGER BELT
6B. MOISTURE WICKING T-SHIRT (TAN)
6C. GREEN SOCKS
6D. ARMY COMBAT BOOTS HOT WEATHER AND TEMPERATE WEATHER (TAN)

7. WEAR OUT DATES FOR THE BDU AND THE DBDU WITH ACCESSORIES (I.E, BELT, WEB WITH OPEN-FACED BLACK BUCKLE, OPTIONAL BOOTS (I.E., JUNGLE (GREEN), BROWN T-SHIRT, SOCKS, ETC.) TBD.

8. THE ACU MANDATORY POSSESSION DATES (MPD) ARE AS FOLLOWS:
2 EACH ACU BY 1 MAY 07 (AC, USAR & ARNG)
4 EACH ACU BY 1 MAY 08 (AC, USAR & ARNG)
4 EACH ACU BY APR 2010 (ROTC)

9. MANDATORY POSSESSION DATES (MPD) FOR THE ARMY COMBAT BOOTS (HOT WEATHER AND TEMPERATE WEATHER) (TAN) THE ARMY COMBAT BOOT (TEMPERATE WEATHER) BASIS OF ISSUE (BOI) FOR THE ARMY ACTIVE COMPONENT (AC), US ARMY RESERVE (USAR), AND ARMY NATIONAL GUARD (ARNG) IS 1 EACH. THE ARMY COMBAT BOOT (HOT WEATHER) BOI FOR THE AC, USAR, AND ARNG IS 1 EACH.

THE MANDATORY POSSESION DATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
1 EACH ARMY COMBAT BOOT (TEMPERATE WEATHER) OR ARMY COMBAT BOOT (HOT WEATHER) BY 1 MAY 07 (AC, USAR & ARNG)
1 EACH ARMY COMBAT BOOT (TEMPERATE WEATHER) AND 1 EACH ARMY COMBAT BOOT (HOT WEATHER) BY 1 MAY 08 (AC, USAR & ARNG)
1 EACH ARMY COMBAT BOOT (TEMPERATE WEATHER) AND 1 EACH ARMY COMBAT BOOT (HOT WEATHER) BY APR 2010 (ROTC)

10. CURRENT POLICY OF AR 670-1, AUTHORIZING AIRBORNE, AIR ASSAULT, AND MILITARY POLICE PERSONNEL TO WEAR THE ALL-LEATHER, BLACK BOOTS WITH THE SERVICE UNIFORM (CLASS A AND B) REMAINS UNCHANGED.

11. THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE ARMY G-1.
12. HQDA POC FOR UNIFORM WEAR POLICY IS SGM KATRINA EASLEY, [email protected], DSN 426-5129, COMMERCIAL (703)-696-5129.

13. THIS MESSAGE EXPIRES UPON PUBLICATION OF THE NEXT AR 670-1 UPDATE.