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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - For years, the Army community has been hearing that changes will be coming and the new Army Physical Fitness Uniforms will be introduced at some point in their careers. I’m sure many remember the numerous emails sent out in 2012 urging Soldiers to take part in surveys, deciding what we want our new uniforms to look and feel like.
After more than 76,000 Soldiers gave their input on changes they want to see made, a second survey went out later that year asking about possible color combinations. That’s what really got the Soldiers’ attention, more than 190,000 Soldiers voted on 64 design and color combinations. Now, after years of waiting, the changes have been implemented and the new uniforms have been made.
As of Jan. 21, ALARACT 016/2015 has been published, and the old grey polyester blend T-shirts and black nylon shorts have gotten the boot.
Thirty-two improvements have been made in order to appease Soldiers. They have improved the identification and key pockets, female sizes have been added and many more changes have been made. Those were some of the largest complaints about the old uniforms.
The goal of the new APFU is to use high-performance fabrics without increasing the cost from the old Improved Physical Fitness Uniform. The APFU is quick drying, moisture wicking, uses performance fabrics and, unlike the IPFU, it is not reflective.
The new APFU ensemble consists of a black and gold color combination, with the same items as the IPFU; jacket, pants, long-sleeve T-shirt, short-sleeve T-shirt, trunks and a black micro fleece cap.
The big questions are: How long will it take us to get them and when is the wear-out date for our current IPFU?
The Army plans to introduce the new APFU over several years. The first Soldiers authorized to obtain their new APFU are drill sergeants and advanced individual training platoon sergeants during the second quarter of fiscal year 2015. From there, initial entry training Soldiers will start being issued them from the clothing initial issue point at the beginning of 3QFY15.
Active duty Army, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard can begin purchasing them through their varied ordering systems beginning 4QFY15.
The last date our current physical fitness uniforms are authorized for wear is Sept. 30, 2017, with a mandatory possession date of the APFU of Oct. 1, 2017.
This is the first time the Army is introducing two versions of the physical fitness uniforms; the new standard issue and the optional APFU. The optional APFU will be sold at a higher price and may only be purchased with personal funds. The differences between the optional and issued uniforms are that they are made from different fabrics and the optional also has a pant liner and a brief-style trunk liner.
The wait is over people; now let’s see how long it actually takes for us to receive them!
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.06.2015 12:47 |
| Story ID: | 153793 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 80 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Surveys: They really work, by SGT Amber Bohlman, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
