Air Force Uniforms 15 March 2007

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Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today

Air Force Uniforms 15 March 200715 March 2007

Aeronautical Systems CenterAeronautical Systems Center

Libby GladeLibby Glade

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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

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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– Organizational Clothing– Footwear

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AFCO Projects

Challenges

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

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AF Procurements

• AF currently only buys textiles & garments for:– Sample Items– Fit and Wear Test Garments

LARGE QUANTITY BUYS THROUGH

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

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

LOW RATE PRODUCTION MAY BE IN AF FUTURE

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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)

• FR ABU - TBD– Ground troops, firefighters, CE welders, etc

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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 boots– Commercial boots in production– Issue boots solicitation out soon

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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

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Physical Training Gear Update

• Physical Training Gear:– Issue Shorts

• Adjusted pattern at DSCP

– Optional Running Shorts• Working with AAFES & Industry

– Optional Sweatshirt – • Working with Industry, AAFES & DSCP

– Long Sleeved T-shirt• Working with Industry, AAFES & DSCP

– Short Sleeved T-shirt• Issue, better fit/lighter fabric

• Optional?

– Improved PT Suit fabrics on hold.

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Flight Suit Update

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

NomexTM fabrics– Alternate flightsuit/FR fabrics

• Also testing t-shirts – 100% Wool

– Two different NomexTM knits.

• Test Completed, Data Being Analyzed– Recommendations to ASSB

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Service Dress Jacket Update

• AF “Heritage” Dress Coat will be similar to Army’s – Test & Production Timeline TBD

• Issue Coat– No fabric or color change

• Commercial Coat, Trousers, Shirts, Ties– Program is TBD

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AF Rapid Improvement Events

• Rapid Improvement Event (RIE) goals to – Improve process to cut waste & time

• Uniform Enterprise is actually four interdependent processes:– Requirements, Pentagon

– Development, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

– Procurement,• Issue Items, DSCP

• Optional and Commercial Items, AAFES

• Events championed by senior leadership for each process

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AF Rapid Improvement Events

• April 2006 – First Look/Uniform Enterprise RIE

• June 2006 – Requirements RIE

• September 2006 – DSCP RIE

• October 2006 – AAFES RIE

• February 2007 – Development RIE

• April 2007 – Industry RIE– Website for organizations to respond to survey questions

• Suggestions will be summarized and taken to event

– Two representatives from each major industry organization• Discuss suggestions

– Outcome will be briefed back to industry organizations

• ~May 2007 – Second Look/Uniform Enterprise RIE

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Contact Information

Gina Rice, AAFES POC(937)255-6073

[email protected]

Yvonne Wilson, Clothing Design(937)255-2382

[email protected]

Carol Neri, Battelle Contractor(215)737-3854

[email protected]

Capt Jason Hale, APM AF Clothing(210)536-4911

[email protected]

AAFES Certification:

New technologies:

PDs for new buys:

Program questions:

Air Force Uniforms 15 March 2007

Documents

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