It replaced the Battle Dress Uniform and Desert Camouflage Uniform on 1 November 2011 after a four-year phase-in period.

All airmen have been permitted to wear the OCP Uniform since 1 October 2018, and the wear out date for the ABU was 1 April 2021.

The prototype camouflage pattern was a bluegray, tiger stripe pattern, based upon the tiger-stripe uniforms worn by airmen during the Vietnam War.

The new semi-pixelated tiger-stripe pattern would trade its dominant blue overtones for a more subdued palette, similar to the Universal Camouflage Pattern, but with some added slate blue tones.

Since 2008, it has been issued to airmen deploying to locations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

Like the ACS, the ABS is a stand-alone shirt designed specifically for use with Improved Outer Tactical Vest armor in warm and hot weather.

It is intended to greatly increase user comfort through the use of lightweight, moisture-wicking, and breathable fabrics.

The ABS features the same tiger stripe pattern on the sleeves.

The Improved Airman Battle Uniform will be made of a 5050 nylon-cotton blend and was composed of the same material used by the Army for the ACU.

Just like the ABU, the IABU is machine washable and also wrinkle resistant.

Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen.

Norton A. Schwartz gave approval of the IABU coat and pants which will be available to trainees at Basic Military Training first.

However, the uniform is worn with dark blue background and light silver lettering name and branch tapes and black boots in order to distinguish CAP personnel.

Recruits in basic training and cadets in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, and Officer Training School will start being issued OCPs on 1 October 2019.

The Airman Battle Uniform will no longer be authorized to wear after 1 April 2021.

The ABU does have essential NIR (near-infra red) qualities, and the sleeves are authorized to be rolled up.

Air Force transitions to a single combat uniform.

AF.mil. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018.

Department of the Air Force.

PDF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2018.

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Cap Bdu Uniform Patch Placement