Unraveling the confusion over buying ABUs

[CommunityEditor]

The Air Force is phasing out the BDU in favor of the new airman battle uniform, so the sergeant, who asked not to be identified, figured he might as well upgrade to the latest and greatest.

As at most bases, the military clothing sales store didn’t have any ABUs in stock and didn’t know when they would get any. So the sergeant did what we all do these days and turned to the Internet.

After receiving assurances from a manufacturer selling ABUs online that its commercial version of the uniform is identical to those sold through Army and Air Force Exchange Services stores, the airman dropped $130 and had his new ABU a few days later.

“When I got it, I compared it to a set a buddy of mine bought through AAFES, and they’re identical,” the staff sergeant said. “I couldn’t tell anything different.”

In fact, the Air Force says, the uniforms, both legally manufactured by Propper International, are identical.

But the one sold through AAFES is manufactured in the U.S. The one sold commercially on Propper’s Web site is made in the Dominican Republic.

Not a big deal to the staff sergeant, but apparently quite a big deal to the woman working at the base alteration shop. When he took his ABUs to have his name and stripes sewed on, the clerk at the shop refused his business.

“She said they were unauthorized illegal uniforms,” he said. “She refused to do them.”

The staff sergeant and the woman at the alteration shop aren’t the only ones confused, and the question of which ABUs are authorized isn’t the only issue. Other reported problems include widespread shortages of both ABUs and BDUs — leaving many airmen who need an extra set of battle uniforms in a quandary — as well as problems with unauthorized, fake ABUs. But Lt. Col. Shawna Morrill, chief of the Air Force’s uniforms and recognition branch, said the issues are isolated and are to be expected.

What’s authorized — or not, it turns out that “authorized uniform” is a tricky term.

Morrill said the only ABUs authorized to be purchased with government funds are those sold through AAFES.

A law called the Berry Amendment requires that uniforms — like other goods purchased by the military with government funds — be made in the U.S.

That is why ABUs sold through AAFES are made in Puerto Rico — a U.S. territory. When units buy ABUs for their airmen, they must go through AAFES.

But that restriction does not apply to individual airmen using their own money — including their clothing allowances, which are considered personal funds.

The Air Force has issued licenses allowing Propper and five other manufacturers to produce and sell commercial versions of the ABU that do not need to be made in the U.S. These ABUs are identical in material and workmanship to the AAFES uniforms, an Air Force official said.

Airmen are allowed to purchase and wear these uniforms, Morrill said.

It’s a way for airmen to get around the battle uniform shortage if they need an authorized battle uniform — whether ABU or BDU — right now.

But Morrill said buying ABUs through non-AAFES outlets is a buyer-beware situation. “We are telling people ... that [what we] spend our personal funds on is our business,” she said, “so if I go to a [non-AAFES] vendor, I essentially need to be a savvy consumer and make sure it’s a viable uniform. “If there is a problem with the uniform, the Air Force can’t do anything to help you,” she said. “You are on your own. You still have to have the right number of uniforms.”

Morrill said that might be a bigger concern for airmen preparing to deploy than for those at their home stations. “If you’re deploying in it, you’re much smarter to let the unit ... get your ABUs for you through supported channels,” she said.

ABUs have thus far been available primarily to airmen deploying to the Middle East, and only 30,000 sets have been distributed to 13 or 14 AAFES stores. Morrill said a broad roll-out planned for the fall was delayed because of a backlog of orders to fill for airmen about to deploy. About 66,000 ABUs were distributed in September to airmen deploying with Air and Space Expeditionary Force 9/10, monopolizing most of the available inventory.

But AAFES will send a shipment of about 25,000 ABUs to most of its military clothing sales stores in mid-November, said Maj. Brian Schooley, program manager for Air Force military clothing for AAFES.

Also, the class of 800 new airmen that entered basic military training Oct. 3 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, was the first to be issued four sets of ABUs rather than BDUs. They will be the first airmen to spend their entire careers in ABUs.

An ABU milestone to be sure, but it further depletes the number of ABUs available for the everyday airman.

There also have been isolated reports of substandard, knockoff ABUs produced illegally by unlicensed manufacturers. Even though it’s hard to tell the difference between official or licensed commercial ABUs and fakes, officials from the Air Force, AAFES and Defense Supply Center Philadelphia — responsible for producing the uniforms — say there are important reasons you should avoid the fakes.

Foremost among these is that the workmanship is likely to be shoddy. Defense Supply Center Philadelphia tests and approves the quality of uniforms made by all official suppliers, and licensed commercial versions are made to the same specifications. Fake uniforms may have weak seams, cheap fabric or colors that bleed when washed.

It is also a safety issue. Knock-off uniforms may be made with cheaper fabric that has more polyester content, which could pose a fire hazard, and they are less likely to have the official and licensed ABUs’ protections against being visible to night-vision goggles. The official and licensed uniforms are designed with a low near-infrared signature so they will be harder to see with night-vision.

Other signs of a fake ABU are seams that aren’t doubled up, loose threads, a blurry camouflage pattern and discontinuity in the camouflage pattern between the sleeves and the body section of the blouse.

The best way to avoid a fake ABU is to buy only through AAFES and licensed commercial manufacturers such as Propper.



Article: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...tions_071023w/
ABU Buying Guide: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...guide_071022w/

[technomage1]

Uh, let me put it to you this way. If AAFES had them in stock, I'd buy my ABUs from them. Since they don't, and don't have BDUs either, I was forced to buy online from a 3rd party. While no one has refused to sew on my items, if they did I would go off base and tell the AAFES vendor to pound sand.

My biggest concern with the ABU is a) lack of stock at AAFES and b) lack of proper laundry soap at commisaries and BXs. While in the states you can just go off base for soap, overseas it's a lot harder. As to the stock issue, I think it's pretty pitiful that more of a supply isn't on hand, especially in specialty soaps like unscented and undyed, which is pretty important if you've got skin allergies. Still, I suppose eventually DECA and AAFES will get their acts together.

[Shrike]

Originally Posted by technomage1

Uh, let me put it to you this way. If AAFES had them in stock, I'd buy my ABUs from them. Since they don't, and don't have BDUs either, I was forced to buy online from a 3rd party. While no one has refused to sew on my items, if they did I would go off base and tell the AAFES vendor to pound sand.

My biggest concern with the ABU is a) lack of stock at AAFES...

Here at Ramstein, all they have are the tops. No pants for either men or women, but quite a few tops.

Good ol' AAFES...

[MACHINE666]

Ultimately this boils down to a contracting issue. Had said SSgt taken his uniforms off base to get the alterations done, nobody would've cared or noticed. I think it's disgusting how our system revolves around contracts to the point where it suffocates the little guy trying to comply with standards. If the item meets the requirements, it can be made at the North Pole by Santa's workshop for all I care.

[T-Bird]

AAFES and shortages go hand in hand! I can't remember a time when there wasn't a problem with something not being on hand. When we had a clothing sales store that was managed by Supply it ran smoothly. By the way, the pants that are needed at Ramstein are all sitting at Osan who are looking for the tops!

[chevyman]

I knew there was going to be a problem getting the new ABUs. At Hill that can't even get the uniforms at all. AAFES has plenty of boots, socks, and T-shirts but no uniforms. I ordered mine on line and there is even a shortage there too.

[Shrike]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

AAFES and shortages go hand in hand! I can't remember a time when there wasn't a problem with something not being on hand. When we had a clothing sales store that was managed by Supply it ran smoothly. By the way, the pants that are needed at Ramstein are all sitting at Osan who are looking for the tops!

Ah, good ol' AAFES. I think I'll start a new thread about them...

[Shrike]

Originally Posted by Shrike

Here at Ramstein, all they have are the tops. No pants for either men or women, but quite a few tops.

Good ol' AAFES...

For those in the KMC, Ramstein clothing sales now has bottoms. Of course, it was a feeding frenzy when I was over there earlier today, so I don't know what stock is like now.

[Measure Man]

Originally Posted by Shrike

For those in the KMC, Ramstein clothing sales now has bottoms. Of course, it was a feeding frenzy when I was over there earlier today, so I don't know what stock is like now.

He he...I was over there on Wednesday and got mine.

Now that everyone is getting the new uniforms....I want to save a set of serviceable BDUs that I will wear on the last day you can wear them...Sept 30, 2011! By then, over half the AF will have never had BDUs.

I was the last guy to wear the old fatigues in my unit too :-)

[chevyman]

After about two months of being on backorder, I finally got my ABU pants in. I wore the uniform to work yesterday. I really like it!!! But, I know it will be hot in the summer.