You can wear current parkas with new ABUs

[unhappycamper]

Airmen can be allowed to wear the woodland camouflage Battle Dress Uniform coats and jackets over their Airman Battle Uniforms because of the shortage of the new ABU parkas. Airmen, however, must have their commanders consent before doing so.


You can wear current parkas with new ABUs
By Patrick Winn - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jan 15, 2008 13:52:53 EST

The shortage of new tiger-stripe Airman Battle Uniform parkas has prompted a concession: Commanders may allow airmen in cold climates to wear the woodland camouflage Battle Dress Uniform coats and jackets over their ABUs until more new parkas arrive.

The new parkas, officially called APECs for All-Purpose Environmental Clothing System jackets, have first gone to air bases in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. But it can be hard to find for airmen deployed to other domestic and foreign cold locations.

Lt. Gen. Dick Newton, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel, made the decision to allow airmen — with their commanders’ consent — to wear mismatched jackets over the new ABU, but only if the new parka is unavailable at the squadron’s location or if other approved cold-weather protection is unavailable or unsuitable.

Though he’d prefer the service didn’t have to mix the items, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force, Rodney McKinley, backed the decision.

“Unfortunately, we couldn’t get new APECS jackets out fast enough,” McKinley said, “but the bottom line is our airmen need to stay warm.”


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/01/airforce_parka_080115/