The U.S. Army has finally surrendered to overwhelming criticism of its current camouflage uniforms, which cost the service $5 billion but failed to sufficiently hide soldiers in combat.

 

The Army began using a pixilated design in 2004, claiming it would help troops blend in with natural surroundings wherever they were. But soldiers found the camo to do just the opposite, making it more difficult for them to hide from the enemy. One anonymous Army specialist who wore the gray Universal Camouflage Pattern, or UCP in Iraq, told The Daily, that “The only time I have ever seen it work well was in a gravel pit.”

 

Critics say Army brass allowed “looks” and politics to interfere with the uniform design decision eight years ago. According to Erik German of The Daily, an Army program known as Program Executive Office Soldier (PEO Soldier) put in an order for the uniforms before testing was completed.

 

Researchers are now working on a new camouflage, which won’t be ready for at least another year. Four different patterns are currently being tested.

-Noel Brinkerhoff, David Wallechinsky

 

$5b Camo Snafu (by Erik German, The Daily)

Top Ten Inaccuracies in UCP Camouflage Reporting (Predator Intelligence)

Army Redesigns Camouflage Uniforms for Afghanistan Terrain (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)