Editing MARPAT (section)

{{short description|US Marine Corps camouflage pattern}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox military gear
| name               = MARPAT (Marine Pattern)
| image              = MARPAT woodland pattern.jpg
| image_size         =
| alt                =
| caption            = A swatch of MARPAT-printed fabric in the woodland pattern variant
| origin             = United States
| type               = [[Military camouflage]] pattern
<!-- Service history -->
| service            = 2002&ndash;present
| used_by            = {{Plainlist|
*[[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]]
*[[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] (primarily [[corpsman|corpsmen]], [[military chaplain|chaplains]], and religious program specialists, all while attached to Marine Corps units; Worn with “U.S. Navy” nametapes and Navy rank & insignia)
*[[NROTC|Navy ROTC]] (Marine-option [[midshipman|midshipmen]] only)
*[[JROTC|Marine Corps JROTC]]
*[[New York Naval Militia]] (Marine Reservist & prior-service Marine members only)<ref>https://dmna.ny.gov/forms/naval/NYNMINST_1020.1C_Uniform_Regulations.pdf {{Dead link|date=February 2022}}</ref>
*See ''[[Cadetpat|Users]]'' for non-U.S. users}}
| wars               = In US service:<br />[[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|War in Afghanistan]]<br />[[Iraq War]]<br/>In non-US service:<br />[[Insurgency in Northeast India]]<br />[[Naxalite-Maoist Insurgency]]<br />[[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir]]<br />[[Russo-Georgian war]]<br />[[Insurgency in Northern Chad]]<br />[[Syrian civil war]]<br />[[Yemeni civil war (2014–present)|Yemeni civil war]]<br />[[Internal conflict in Myanmar]] (including the [[Myanmar civil war]]) <br />[[Iran and the Russian invasion of Ukraine|Iranian intervention in the Russian invasion of Ukraine]]
<!-- Production history -->
| designer           = [[Timothy O'Neill (camoufleur)|Timothy O'Neill]], Anabela Dugas, Kenneth G. Henley, John Joseph Heisterman, Jr., Luisa DeMorais Santos, Gabriel R. Patricio, Deirdre E. Townes 
| design_date        = 2000–2001
| manufacturer       = 
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 2001–present
| number             = 
| variants           =

{{Plainlist|
*Desert MARPAT
*Woodland MARPAT
*Winter MARPAT (used only on select cold-weather outer-garments; While the pattern is still “digital,” it differs markedly from the other MARPAT variants)<ref name="auto">[http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/SITES/PMICE/InfoPapers/Clothing/SnowCamo.pdf Snow Camouflage Uniform data sheet] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304135054/http://www.marcorsyscom.usmc.mil/SITES/PMICE/InfoPapers/Clothing/SnowCamo.pdf |date=4 March 2009}}</ref>
*Urban MARPAT (prototype only, never used operationally)
*See ''[[#Design and colors|Design and colors]]'' for more details}}
<!-- General specifications -->
| spec_label         = 
| weight             = 
| length             = 
| width              = 
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| diameter           = 
}}
[[File:U.S. Marines Combat Utility Uniforms 2003, Full-Color Plate (2003), by John M. Carrillo.png|right|thumb|A 2003 drawing showcasing the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform in desert and woodland camouflage variants]]

'''MARPAT''' (short for '''Marine pattern''')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://olive-drab.com/od_soldiers_clothing_marpat.php|title=Marine Pattern Uniform (MARPAT)|website=olive-drab.com}}</ref> is a [[multi-scale camouflage]] pattern in use with the [[United States Marine Corps]], designed in 2001 and introduced from late 2002 to early 2005 with the [[Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform]] (MCCUU), which replaced the [[Battle Dress Uniform|Camouflage Utility Uniform]]. Its design and concept are based on the Canadian [[CADPAT]] pattern. The pattern is formed of small rectangular pixels of color. In theory, it is a far more effective camouflage than standard uniform patterns because it mimics the dappled textures and rough boundaries found in natural settings. It is also known as the "digital pattern" or "digi-cammies" because of its micropattern (pixels) rather than the old macropattern (big blobs).

The United States government has [[patent]]ed MARPAT, including specifics of its manufacture.<ref name="main">{{cite web|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US6805957|title=Camouflage U.S. Marine corps utility uniform: pattern, fabric, and design|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129081629/https://www.google.com/patents/US6805957|archive-date=29 January 2014}}</ref> By regulation, the pattern and items incorporating it, such as the MCCUU and [[ILBE]] backpack, are to be supplied by authorized manufacturers only and are not for general commercial sale, although imitations are available such as "'''Digital Woodland Camo'''" or "'''Digital Desert Camo'''".

MARPAT was also chosen because it distinctively identifies its wearers as Marines to their adversaries, while simultaneously helping its wearers remain concealed. This was demonstrated by a Marine spokesman at the launch of MARPAT, who stated: "We want to be instantly recognized as a force to be reckoned with. We want them to see us coming a mile away in our new uniforms."<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Blechman | first1 = Hardy | last2 =Newman | first2 =Alex | title= DPM: Disruptive Pattern Material | year=2004 | publisher= Department of Publications, Maharishi | isbn = 0-9543404-0-X}}</ref> As such, the U.S. Marine Corps restricts use of the camouflage, preventing its use in most other divisions of the United States military with the exception of some elements of the U.S. Navy.