US Air Force to Recieve New Uniforms

Sunday 21st of January 2007 08:00:09 PM

Over 20 years ago, American Apparel started their company, making the shirts for Army and Air Force battle dress uniforms. Since then, they have also started making utility uniforms for the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps.

Now, business is getting even better for the company. Later this year, they will fulfil an $80 million dollar contract, by supplying one of America’s newest uniforms; the airmen battle uniform.

The airman battle uniforms are expected to roll off the assembly line this autumn, and will replace the Air Force’s battle dress uniforms. Deploying units will receive the new uniforms first and other units should receive them by June 2008.

Forest green had been the standard camouflage colour for almost twenty years, but when the Marine Corps redesigned their utility uniforms five years ago, the other services followed suit.

The new airmen battle uniforms have a pattern inspired by the tiger stripe camouflage of the Vietnam era, and have a map pocket, a feature exclusive to the Air Force.

The workers that create these uniforms have a tough job; they know that one day, someone wearing a uniform they made may die. In some ways, this helps them, and one worker, whose son is in the Army, said it makes her want to do better on a garment. “You don't want your child going around with something that's not right,” she said.