Q&A's regarding Airman Battle Uniform Published April 25, 2007 By Linda Capozzoli 341st Mission Support Squadron MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Editor's note: The following information was submitted by Linda Capozzoli, Casualty Assistance Advisor with the 341st Mission Support Squadron and is an excerpt from the Airman Battle Uniform Strategic Communication Plan dated Nov. 28, 2006. Questions should be directed to her at 731-2426. Q1: When is the mandatory wear date for the ABU? A1: October 2011 (FY12). Q2: Will we wear patches (e.g. Wing or Squadron) on the ABU? A2: No patches will be worn on the ABU. Only functional, duty and occupational badges will be authorized on the ABU. Q3: Will we still be able to wear baseball hats? A3: Organizational baseball hats are not authorized with the ABU. Only the ABU hat (looks like the current BDU style with the ABU print) and currently authorized berets will still be allowed. Q4: Can I wear sister services badges on the ABU? A4: No. Q5: Can I wear my black combat boots? A5: Black boots will not be authorized at anytime with the ABU. Tan boots can be used until the green boots become readily available. A phase out date will be announced at a later date. Q6: Will other Air Force-issued items change to match the pattern and/or color of the ABU? A6: Yes, some items (hat, socks, and T-shirts) will be introduced concurrently with the ABU. Q7: Will the jacket commonly known as the Gortex® jacket be available? A7: Yes, AAFES will be selling the new Air Force All Purpose Environmental Camouflage (AF APEC) Parka. Q8: Can I wear any of my over garments with the ABU until a new ABU jacket becomes available? A8: No, you cannot mix and match patterns (BDU, DCU and ABU). Q9: Will the clothing allowance be increased since the cost of the uniform will go up? A9: Yes, the clothing allowance will reflect the increase effective October 2007 (FY 08). If you choose to purchase the ABU before your anniversary date in FY08, you will absorb the cost differences until you receive your clothing allowance. If you choose to buy a set early, you must have an entire set of ABUs and accessories, i.e. tan boots, belt, hat, green socks, tan T-shirt, etc. Q10: Will officers be given a clothing allowance to cover initial costs? A10: Officers only receive an initial allowance upon commissioning. Q11: What is the estimated lifetime of the ABU? A11: The ABU has an estimated wear life of 12 months. Q12: Does the ABU require dry cleaning and/or pressing? A12: The ABU is literally a wash and wear item. In fact, starching and hot pressing of ABUs is prohibited. Also, one should not dry clean the ABU. Dry cleaning, starching and hot pressing will deteriorate the fiber in the uniform and shorten the wear life. Q13: What are the washing and care requirements for the ABU? A13: In order to maximize service life and maintain optimum performance, the following instructions should be followed when caring for the ABU: Wash in warm water with detergent containing no optical brighteners or bleach. Tumble dry at low heat. The use of starch, sizing and any process that involves dry-cleaning or steam press will adversely affect the treatments and durability of the uniform and is not authorized. Q14: How could starch damage the uniform? A14: Starching of the ABU is prohibited. Starching uniforms makes the uniform material more brittle and subsequently reduces the wear life. The permanent press and nIR (near Infrared) features of this uniform will be damaged by starching, commercial pressing and additives in the washing process. The permanent press feature will allow Airmen to look sharp and wear the ABU without incurring the costs of commercial dry cleaning or pressing. Q15: I hear the ABU is a better fit. Can you explain? A15: Yes, it is a better fit for men and women. The ABU has 236 (118 trousers and 118 blouses) sizes that will accommodate both men and women, unlike the 57 sizes of the current BDU. The ABU sizes follow commercial clothing standards. The most common sizes will be available on AAFES shelves and the total 236 sizes will be available by order through AAFES. The green suede boots will come in women's sizes unlike the current black boot in the Air Force inventory, which does not. Q16: How much does an individual set of the ABU cost? What about accessories like the jacket, t-shirts, socks, etc. A16: The cost of one set of ABUs is $81.37 plus badges and rank. The following is a complete breakout of costs for the ABU and accessories: ABU Hat - $5.98 EA Men's Trouser - $41.96 PR Men's Coat - $39.41 EA Women's Trouser - $41.96 PR Women's Coat - $39.41 EA Sand T-shirt - $4.35 EA Green Boot Socks - $2.30 PR Sand Riggers Belt - $3.15 EA Desert Tan Boots - $97.50 PR AF Green Boots - $100.55 PR AF APECS Parka - $173.25 Q17: When can I buy an ABU? A17: The ABU will first be issued to the deploying war fighters in AEF 7 and 8 (May to August 07) and then to the Basic Military Trainees in October 07. Depending on availability, the ABU will begin to flow into AAFES Military Clothing Sales Stores with AEF 7 and 8 rotation bases first and then to subsequent AEF rotation bases. Q18: Who will pay for the ABU? A18: Initially the Air Force will fund: 1) Initial issue of 2 sets of ABUs and 2 sets of DCUs to all deploying total force war fighters; 2) Battlefield Airmen career fields will be issued 4 sets of ABUs when deploying; 3) BMTs will be issued 4 sets of ABUs. All others will purchase ABUs individually as replacements are needed (using clothing allowance if authorized). Q19: Why a new uniform now? A19: The Army made the decision to phase out the BDU woodland pattern introduced more than 25 years ago, so the Air Force needed to adopt a new uniform. This gave the AF the opportunity to include design features based on input from our Airmen. Q20: What happens if I need a new uniform and I can't find a BDU in my size and the ABU isn't available in my AAFES yet? A20: Speak with a Military Clothing Sales Stores sales associate and they can inquire about having your BDU size shipped from another MCSS store. Q21: The ABU is going to be issued to Airmen deploying in AEF 7 and 8. Will members in follow-on AEFs also be issued the ABU? A21: Members in follow-on AEFs will be issued ABUs. Airmen not deploying will replace their BDUs with ABUs using their clothing allowance. The mandatory wear date is not until 2011 and the clothing allowance increase is effective October 07. Q22: I'm in a Battlefield Airman Career field. Am I going to be required to wear the ABU or can I still wear the ACU? A22: Starting with AEF 7/8, Air Force personnel currently authorized to wear the Army's ACU will be issued ABUs when they deploy to the AOR and will no longer be authorized to wear the Army's uniform. Q23: If Airmen are scheduled to deploy with AEF rotations 7 and 8, on what date will they be able to obtain their new ABUs? Where will they be able to get them? If they have them, say, a month before they deploy, can they wear them to work or must they still wear the woodland BDUs? A23: This is a four part answer. No, ABUs and DCUs are issued as deployment uniforms and can not be worn until AOR deployment commences. When the members return stateside can they wear their DCUs? No, current AFI 36-2903 policy remains in effect. No wear of DCUs outside of the AOR. When the members return stateside can they wear their ABUs? Yes, if they are still functional - however they must comply with AFI 36-2903 wear policy e.g. no mix and matching. AAFES and DSCP are the only authorized sources of ABU items at this time. Nametapes, functional badges, chevrons, rank, hats and most importantly the uniform, itself bought from outside sources are UNAUTHORIZED. Items from outside sources may not be near Infra Red (nIR) adjusted and again, are unauthorized.