Air Force Clothing

Office Oct 2006Oct 2006

Aeronautical Systems CenterAeronautical Systems Center

Chief: Libby GladeChief: Libby Glade

AFCO Responsibilities

• Research & Development for Air Force Clothing– Develop Patterns– Research Textiles– Garment Fit & Wear Testing– Develop Procurement Documentation

• Sustainment – Configuration control (patterns, components, fabrics)– Continuous improvements

AFCO Responsibilities

• Primary Responsibility in Past was Dress Clothing

• Assist With Flight Clothing, Footwear, etc, (as needed)

• Current Responsibilities include:– Physical Fitness Clothing – Utility Uniform and accessories

AF Procurements• AF only buys textiles & garments for:

– Sample Items– Fit and Wear Test Garments

LARGE QUANTITY BUYS ARE THROUGH:

• Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia (DSCP)– Issue Items in the Inventory

• Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES)– Optional Items

AFCO ProjectsChallenges

Keeping Up With High Performance / Affordable Fabrics- Comfort- Safety- Durability- New Technologies & Finishes

- Wrinkle free- Stain resistant- Anti-odor/anti-microbial- FR / “safe” garments

- Permethrin

Airman Battle Uniform (ABU)

• AF All Purpose Environment Clothing System (Marine configuration) will replace current Army BDU ECWCS – Textile: Brushed Nylon with PTFE barrier

in AF Digitized Tiger Stripe

• AF Improved Rain Suit (IRS) will replace current Army Field Coat– IRS will still use Field Coat liner – Textile: Nylon with waterproof coating

(sateen going away)

• ABU - Firefighter Uniform – projected to be 100% cotton (no details yet)

Airman Battle Uniform

• AF Digitized Tiger Strip (AFDTS)– 50% Nylon/50% Carded Cotton Twill – Garment dipped permanent press finish– Hat is Quarpel treated

• ABU shares 3 colors with ACU– Air Force will use Army solid colored item

• Sand T-shirt, Green socks, tan belt, etc

• ABU colorway is similar to ACU– AF will use Army Universal Print field gear

• Protective vests, field packs, etc

ABU T-Shirt

• ABU T-shirt - – Sharing Army sand polyester T-shirt– AF will use a 100% cotton sand T-shirt– Other T-shirts TBD

• Printed T-shirt– Design TBD

Physical Training Gear

• Physical Training Gear:– Improved PT Suit fabrics on hold.– Shorts – lining, moisture wicking, length – Sweatshirt - weight, quality, reflexivity– T-shirt - weight, quality, reflexivity

Flight Suit

• Flight Suits:– Currently looking at low-pill technology for

NomexTM fabrics– Potential for testing alternate flightsuit/FR

fabrics in the future

• Also testing t-shirts – 100% Wool – Two different NomexTM knits.

Service Dress Jacket

• The appearance of the service dress uniform needs to communicate the Air Force’s rich military heritage as well as foster the feelings of pride, dignity, and honor associated with that heritage in the individual wearing the uniform

• Currently refining design concepts

• Two Prototypes made last January– Billy Mitchell (WWI style) similar to Marine chocker collar– Hap Arnold (WWII style) similar to Army Service Coat

AFCO Contact Information

Gina Rice, AAFES POC(937)255-6073

Gina.rice@wpafb.af.mil

Yvonne Wilson, Clothing Design(937)255-2382

Yvonne.wilson@wpafb.af.mil

Carol Neri, Battelle Contractor(215)737-3854

neric@battelle.org

AAFES Certification:

New technologies:

PDs for new buys: