New Marine Uniform Beats Fashion Fatigue

Jan. 30 -- The U.S. Marines may never be thought of as a bastion of fashion, but the Corps is about to make the boldest change the military has seen in decades in "battle dress uniform."

They called them "cammies" — the specially designed camouflage uniforms U.S. military troops wear on the battlefield to help keep them hidden from enemies — and they haven't changed significantly in 20 years. Until now.

This week the Corps introduces new cammies it says represent the leading edge of the type of battlefield clothing needed by a 21st century soldier.

Perhaps the most striking feature is the new camouflage pattern. Replacing the large, familiar splotches of black, brown and green — known as "woodland camouflage" — is a pattern that resembles a computerized digital printout of pixels.

The new small pattern lets a Marine virtually disappear by walking into brush or a wooded area, said Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James L. Jones, who has spearheaded the new uniform effort. For the first time last week, Jones "modeled" the latest in battle dress on a trip to San Diego.

Designed With Battlefield in Mind

The uniform was designed with field needs in mind, according to Jones. It has more brown tones (known as "coyote brown") than current uniforms. That particular change was the result of initial feedback from Marine Corps scouts and snipers who reported brown tones were better colors to help stay hidden.

Jones also says the new pattern better reflects the optical realities of the battlefield. "There are no straight lines in nature," he points out.

Another version of the uniform has light brown and sandy shades for use in the desert.

The new cammies have other features not seen before, including at least one that's sure to be popular in the ranks — the new fabric is "permanent press." That means leathernecks will no longer have to spend time at the ironing board.

The jury is still out on some of the other elements, including zip-off long sleeves on the shirt that can instantly convert it to short sleeves for hot weather. Marines generally roll up their sleeves when it's hot, but the tight roll of the fabric above the elbow often can constrict the biceps, making it more difficult to shoot a rifle, said Jones.