I recently acquired a used but in excellent condition set of Large UCP-D. This is a set of the rare UCP-D experimental camouflage fielded in late 2009 in Afghanistan as part of a test. There are multiple sources for further information regarding this experiment, but one of the best is:
http://soldiersystems.net/camo-for-afghanistan-the-rest-of-the-story/
In short a lot of text information is available, but not a lot of pictures exist of the actual uniform. I thought I would post a few so others with a similar interest can see a set up close.
I know there are FAR more qualified people to answer the questions regarding the experiment, If any of them have any information to add it would be a great companion to the images. If anyone needs a photo of any other specific area let me know.
4th ID was wearing these when we RIP/TOA’D with them in 2009/2010. Their uniforms and gear were a mix of UCPD, regular UCP, and Multicam.
UCPD is clearly an improvement over UCP but Multicam still wins, or won for our AO at least. The UCPD just wasn’t dark enough. In all honesty BDU was probably the best pattern most of the time.
The American Apperal tag is quite interesting. I didnt expect to see that!
We need a policy change to get rid of shoulder sleeve insignia and Velcro, Marines have had it right for a long time now and we still look jacked up.
I agree with getting rid of velcro.
I recently saw the new German Aridfleck uniform, it uses the Flecktarn cammo pattern with multicam colors, it looks effective.
Interesting…
Multicam is still far better for Afghanistan than most all others…
I disagree.
To the OP…
Well, at least it’s fire retardant.
The ACU is flat out a crappy uniform. It’s physical construction, in any pattern, sucks. It is far worse than the BDU - especially modded BDUs. The Crye uniform is vastly superior to the ACU.
The UCPD (doo-dooflage) was Natick’s sad attempt to unfuck it’s criminally incompetent fuck-up of not just adopting Multicam when it was first offered by Crye around 2003.
Like UCP, UCPD really doesn’t blend in with anything.
On shoulder sleeve insignia or Velcro?
I wouldn’t want to see sleeve insignia discontinued. As a matter of fact I would like to see branch insignia worn again, it gives me a better idea of who I’m talking to.
I’ve never liked the ACU. During my first enlistment I wore OG-107 jungle fatigues, with green jungle boots. That was my favorite uniform.
BDU’s were too thick when they first came out, and the Elvis collars were so big you had to take off any pin on rank to conduct jumps, or they might smack you in the eye if left in place. BDU’s became better after some upgrades, but could have used more modifications. The Woodland pattern worked way better than the ACP. Multicam works really well. Oddly enough when I try to keep troops in sight, if they are wearing multicams it’s not as easy as when they are wearing ACU’s.
Dang I never ever seen that before, WTF where they thinking omitting the brown? I like the hook and loop patches on the sleeves the pockets I could have done with out and the name tapes/bagges could stay as pins.
Both. Not only is shoulder sleeve insignia tradition but it is also unit pride, it also tells a little bit about where a person has been and is. As for velcro, it’s 50/50. I never wore issued acu’s outside of osut as most of them had that shitty plastic looking velcro that never stuck and frayed after one wash. I always wore Propper acu’s and never once had an issue with velcro collecting lint, not sticking, fraying as well as the color of the uniform was always more green than most of the issue ones or the ones at clothing and sales. I noticed those usually looked more grey and some pinkish. I loved the layout of the acu’s compared to bdu’s and the weight of the fabric. As a basic uniform the layout was good but nothing like cryes stuff. Some changes would have been nice like a zipper fly vs. buttons, the sholder pockets slightly shorter + no pen slots in the arm so sleeves could be rolled up. As far as ripping or tearing none of mine ever did unless some c-wire was around lol. The issue I saw with people ripping or tearing acu’s was improper size or they didn’t wear the uniform properly.
The brown was not omitted from UCP, it was added for the test program, and field trials.
ACUs didn’t come around until after my initial enlistment. None of the durability issues present with ACUs were a problem with summer or winter weight BDUs. There was no zipper to sit between your SAPI plate and sternum, pockets had silent button closure, and everything was sewn on. The ACU uniform was a mistake, both construction and pattern.
I disagree. I never had durability issues and the pattern wasn’t a problem it was the color choice.
Shitttt, I had a metric fuckton of durability issues with ACUs. Velcro ripping off the fabric at the sleeve cuffs and the patch panels, pocket velcro wearing out to the point that I couldn’t keep anything in my pockets, and, worst of all, CONSTANTLY ripping the trousers in the crotch area.
I absolutely hate ACUs. Heck, I’m sitting here on duty wearing them right now. When I move, my cargo pockets or shoulder/arm velcro sticks to the chair! The rest of the velcro is frayed and the velcro for name/Army/rank badges are pilled up. It is faded, the sleeves have shrunk, the pen/pencil pockets don’t fit crap, and it’s falling apart. Whatever jackwagon who decided these were the right answer as a replacement to BDUs should be dipped in chocolate and given to a group of shipwrecked fat women.
I bought 2 new sets ($80 a set!!!) of ACUs yesterday at Clothing Sales. Looks like they have made “improvements” on them. Buttons are now back on the pants cargo pockets and the IFF tags are in the pockets (no covered tag on arms). They are Pemithian (SP) treated which means nothing to me. I took them to my friendly Asian ladies off post to take off as much velcro as possible - sewing on name, rank, tabs, and Army. Oh yeah, shirt sleeves are now a weird button configeration.
Finally - we need the multi-cam. However, like many of you can agree to - if it MAKES SENSE, the military will NOT DO IT. We will spend a billion dollars and have some new BS uniform…which will look like crap when we are climbing the hills in North Korea!!!
Rant complete.
+1. Well said. I am a simple Ordnance officer and I wear my bomb under my shirt collar. I liked walking into a room and knowing who my combat arms supportees were in relation to my fellow combat support peers. We should be proud of our branches and we DEFINATELY should remain proud of the units we deployed and fought with. So what if the Marines don’t wear them…we are not Marines.
I’m still scratching my ball sac over how UPC got selected to begin with, other than being a political move to fatten some cronies pockets. I’m in shock that no General in the chain put a stop to that abortion. This new Camo initiative & direction should have taken place 10+ years ago. If they want to save money, issue Multicam to Combat Arms only and let CS and CSS keep the UPCs, or go back to BDUs. I’m sure there’s a few warehouses full of them somewhere…