Editing Army Combat Uniform (section)

==History==
===Development===
In early 2004, some U.S. Army soldiers in Iraq were issued the "Close Combat Uniform", a variant of the [[Desert Camouflage Uniform]] (DCU) that featured new features such as shoulder pockets affixed with [[hook-and-loop fastener]]s, chest-worn rank insignia, and a new collar. The experimental features used on the CCU were eventually incorporated into the ACU,<ref name=CCUMk2>{{Cite web |url=http://camopedia.org/image/pdf/CCU_Mk2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620174322/http://camopedia.org/image/pdf/CCU_Mk2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2017-06-20 |title=History and Development of the US Army Close Combat Uniform (CCU/CU) |first=Eric H. |last=Larson |date=2009 |website=Camopedia}}</ref> which was publicly announced in June 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/htmlinks/Press_Releases/2004/June2004/15June2004-01.htm |title=Army unveils new combat uniform, replace Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) |last=Triggs |first=Marcia |publisher=United States Department of the Army |work=United States Army Public Affairs |date=15 June 2004 |access-date=18 June 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040618205930/http://www.hqusareur.army.mil/htmlinks/Press_Releases/2004/June2004/15June2004-01.htm |archive-date=18 June 2004}}</ref>

===Initial fielding===
The process of replacing the U.S. Army's [[Battle Dress Uniform|BDUs]] and DCUs with the ACU was set to begin in April 2005. However, the fielding process began two months earlier through the Rapid Fielding Initiative. Soldiers from the Georgia Army National Guard's [[48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States)|48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team]] were the first in the U.S. Army to receive the ACU, subsequently deploying with them into Iraq in May 2005.<ref name="ajc.com">{{cite news |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/content/custom/blogs/guard/entries/2005/07/17/some_ga_troops.html/ |title=Some Georgia Troops Blister Tattered Desert Uniforms |last=Hirschman |first=Dave |newspaper=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=17 July 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050720011601/http://www.ajc.com/news/content/custom/blogs/guard/entries/2005/07/17/some_ga_troops.html |archive-date=20 July 2005 |access-date=16 January 2016}}</ref> Early ACUs can be distinguished by OG-green name tapes, combat and skill badges, and shoulder sleeve insignia. Due to the increased use of [[Improvised explosive device|Improvised Explosive Devices]] (IEDs), a flame-resist version of the ACU was developed for soldiers deploying overseas, especially to Iraq.

{{multiple image
|width = 135
|image1=Acu ir closed.jpg
|image2=Acu ir open.jpg
|footer=The ACU's [[IR flag|infrared tab]], closed (left) and opened (right)}}

===Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP)===
{{Main|Universal Camouflage Pattern}}
[[File:US Navy Markings on ACU - Aug2009.jpg|thumb|The ACU of a U.S. Navy sailor attached to a U.S. Army unit during the [[Iraq War]], August 2009]]
The ACU originally used the [[Universal Camouflage Pattern]] (UCP), which used a pixelated pattern of tan, gray and green (Desert Sand 500, Urban Gray 501 and Foliage Green 502) and was intended to work in desert, woodland, and urban environments.<ref name=Factsheet>{{cite web |title=Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU) |url=https://peosoldier.army.mil/FactSheets/PMSPIE/SPIE_SCIE_ACU.pdf |access-date=19 January 2011 |date=October 2010 |website=[[PEO Soldier]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927111626/https://peosoldier.army.mil/FactSheets/PMSPIE/SPIE_SCIE_ACU.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref> In 2010, the ACU received some improvements to pockets and such.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://soldiersystems.net/acu-improvements/ | title=ACU Improvements - Soldier Systems Daily | date=19 August 2009 }}</ref>

For uniforms, the pattern was fully phased out and replaced by the Operational Camouflage Pattern on 30 September 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://api.army.mil/e2/c/downloads/396739.pdf |title=Army ACU Replacement Fielding Plan Overview |website=U.S.Army}}</ref> though UCP remains in service in limited capacities such as on some cold weather overgear and older body armor.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2019/10/01/say-goodbye-hated-army-ucp-uniform.html |title=Say Goodbye to the Hated Army UCP Uniform |first=Hope Hodge |last=Seck |date=1 October 2019 |website=Military.com}}</ref>

===Operation Enduring Freedom Pattern (MultiCam)===
{{Main|MultiCam}}
Beginning in late 2010 U.S. Army soldiers deployed to Afghanistan (starting with the [[173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team|173rd Airborne Brigade]]) were issued ACUs made in Crye Precision's [[MultiCam]] pattern, referred to by the army as the Operation Enduring Freedom Pattern (OEF, OEF-CP, or OCP),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/peosoldier/4941359595/in/photolist-8wGLsb-iNazfb-8wDL46-8BzrDs-ruzEbs-8wDL5v-7FhDpE-6UUWEq-i86TPg-ezJ3qA-fMeQf4 |title=Photo |author=PEO Soldier |website=Flickr}}{{dead link|date=June 2021}}</ref> which was far more effective for use in Afghanistan's terrain.<ref>{{cite web |first=C. Todd |last=Lopez |url=https://www.army.mil/-news/2010/02/20/34738-soldiers-to-get-new-cammo-pattern-for-wear-in-afghanistan/ |title=Soldiers to get new cammo pattern for wear in Afghanistan |website=U.S. Army |date=20 February 2010 |access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref> The flame-retardant variants of the uniforms are designed to prevent third-degree burns, along with up to thirty percent of second degree burns. Additionally, all uniforms are treated with the chemical [[permethrin]] to help protect soldiers from ticks and insects. Some U.S. Army soldiers during the latter stages of the [[Iraq War]] also wore the OEF-patterned ACU; some were seen wearing them as late as December 2011, when the United States withdrew its military forces from the country at the end of the war.{{Citation needed|date=August 2019}} The MultiCam-patterned ACUs were retired in 2019 with the UCP-patterned ones.

===Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP)===
{{Main|Operational Camouflage Pattern}}
In May 2014, the Army unofficially announced that the [[Operational Camouflage Pattern]] (OCP) would replace UCP on the ACU. The original "Scorpion" pattern was developed at [[United States Army Soldier Systems Center]] by Crye Precision in 2002 for the Objective Force Warrior program. Crye later modified and trademarked their version of the pattern as MultiCam, which was selected for use by U.S. soldiers and airmen in Afghanistan in 2010 as the Operation Enduring Freedom Pattern. After talks to officially adopt MultiCam broke down over costs in late 2013, the Army began experimenting with the original Scorpion pattern, creating a variant code named "Scorpion W2". The pattern resembles MultiCam with muted greens, light beige, and dark brown colors, but uses fewer beige and brown patches and no vertical twig and branch elements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140523/NEWS04/305230076/Army-selects-new-camo-pattern |title=Army selects new camo pattern |date=23 May 2014 |website=Army Times}}</ref> On 31 July 2014, the Army formally announced that the pattern would begin being issued in uniforms in summer 2015. The official name is intended to emphasize its use beyond Afghanistan to all combatant commands.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.armytimes.com/article/20140731/NEWS07/307310083/Army-announces-rollout-date-new-camo |title=Army announces rollout date for new camo |date=31 July 2014 |website=Army Times}}</ref> The OCP pattern fully replaced the UCP pattern on the ACU by 1 October 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/08/06/army-unveils-design-changes-for-new-camo-uniform.html |title=Army Unveils Design Changes for New Camo Uniform |first=Matthew |last=Cox |date=6 August 2014 |website=Military.com}}</ref> ACUs printed in OCP first became available for purchase on 1 July 2015, with deployed soldiers already being issued uniforms and equipment in the new pattern.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kitup.military.com/2015/07/soldiers-line-buy-camouflage-uniforms.html |title=Soldiers Line Up to Buy New Camouflage Uniforms |date=8 July 2015 |website=Military.com}}</ref>

The U.S. Air Force has also adopted the ACU, which they call the OCP uniform, from 2018 onward, and it replaced the Airman Battle Uniform by April 2021. The Air Force version differs only in name tapes and rank being embroidered in spice brown thread instead of black.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2019/01/02/new-in-2019-the-roll-out-of-the-air-forces-new-combat-uniform-gains-steam/ |title=New in 2019: The roll-out of the Air Force's new combat uniform gains steam |first=Stephen |last=Losey |date=2 January 2019 |website=Air Force Times}}</ref> The U.S. Space Force has also adopted the OCP Uniform, but with blue thread for ranks and tapes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/01/17/space-force-offers-first-peek-new-camouflage-uniform.html |title=Space Force Offers First Peek at Camouflage Uniform |first=Hope Hodge |last=Seck |date=17 January 2020 |website=Military.com}}</ref>