Army Combat Uniform The Army Combat Uniform ( ACU ) and its flame - retardant variant , the Flame - Resistant Army Combat Uniform ( FRACU ) , are the current battle uniform s worn by the United States Army . First unveiled in June 2004 , it is the successor to the Battle Dress Uniform ( BDU ) and Desert Camouflage Uniform ( DCU ) worn from the 1980s and 1990s , through the early 2000s , respectively . It features a number of design changes , as well as a different camouflage pattern from its predecessor . The ACU and its component materials are manufactured by the existing industrial infrastructure which produced the now - obsolete BDU . Official military - grade ACUs are made of 50 % nylon and 50 % cotton . All other blends are not official issue . Patterns . Universal Camouflage Pattern . The U . S . Army uses the Universal Camouflage Pattern ( UCP ) , which blends tan , gray and green ( Desert Sand 500 , Urban Gray 501 and Foliage Green 502 ) to work equally in desert , woodland , and urban environments . Similar to the United States Marine Corps MARPAT and Canadian CADPAT camouflage scheme on which it was based . This design , however , is not as effective as patterns with color schemes specific to a single environment and may have been implemented due to budgetary constraints . The color scheme of the Army Combat Uniform is composed of a slate gray , desert sand and foliage green pixel pattern , which becomes darker or lighter depending on exposure to sunlight . The shade black was omitted from the uniform since it is highly visible both to the naked eye and to modern optics . However , it does utilize several shades of grey ranging from very light to extremely dark . Pure black , when viewed through night vision device s , appears excessively dark and creates an undesirable high - contrast image . Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern ( MultiCam ) . U . S . Army soldiers deployed to Afghanistan ( starting with the 173rd Airborne Brigade ) are issued a version of the " MultiCam " pattern . Since late 2010 , all U . S . Army soldiers deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom are issued flame - resistant ACUs in the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern ( OCP ) . These uniforms are designed to prevent third - degree burns , along with up to thirty percent of second degree burns . Additionally , the uniforms are treated with the chemical permethrin to help protect soldiers from insect - borne diseases like malaria . Some U . S . Army soldiers during the latter stages of the Iraq War also wore the ACU in OCP ; some were seen wearing them as late as December 2011 , when the United States withdrew its military forces from the country at the end of the war . Components . The Army Combat Uniform features hook - and - loop fasteners , also known by the genericized trademark velcro , on its sleeve pockets . The cost to each soldier is $ 120 per uniform , compared to $ 58 for a BDU , but clothing allowances in soldiers ' pay have been adjusted to compensate for the increased cost . Insignia and tags , such as name and branch tapes , are extra purchases . Uniforms purchased from commercial websites and surplus stores that sell to the general public do not include the IR squares , which are restricted to military personnel because of their sensitive nature . Jacket . The ACU jacket uses hook - and - loop - backed attachments to secure items such as name tapes , rank insignia , and shoulder patches and tabs , as well as recognition devices such as the U . S . flag patch and the infrared ( IR ) tab . Near Infrared ( NIR ) Signature Management Technology is incorporated to minimize the infrared silhouette . Permanent IR IFF squares are sewn to each shoulder to help identify friendly personnel when night vision device s are used , and are protected by Velcro tabs in garrison or when not in use . Three U . S . flag insignia are authorized for wear with the ACU : full - color , full - color IR , and subdued IR . The U . S . flag insignia ( full - color or subdued ) is worn on the right shoulder pocket flap of the ACU coat . The subdued version is only worn as directed under tactical or field conditions . On the right shoulder of the ACU , the U . S . flag is depicted with the union ( stars ) to the viewer ' s right , instead of the usual left ( flag ' s own right ) ; this is to give the impression of the flag moving forward with the wearer . Subdued shoulder sleeve insignia are always worn . The jacket ' s Mandarin collar is worn up in combat to fit with the Improved Outer Tactical Vest ( IOTV ) body armor , and worn in the down position otherwise . The front closure is zippered and reinforced with velcro , designed for use with OTV . The tilted chest pockets , cuffs , and elbow pad insert pockets also utilize hook - and - loop closure . There is a three slot pen pocket on the left arm of the jacket , and blouse bellows for increased mobility . Originally only pin - on skill badges were authorized for wear on the ACU , with no more than 5 at any one time . In the summer of 2011 , regulations were changed to allow for wearing of sew - on embroidered skill badges like the ones worn on the older BDUs . The 5 - badge limit remained in effect , and there could be no mixing of sew - on and pin - on badges . At the same time , the US Army nametape , personal nametapes , and rank insignia could be sewn - on at the wearers preference . Skills tabs , such as the President ' s Hundred Tab , Special Forces , Ranger , and Sapper are worn on the left sleeve pocket flap , and are subject to a 3 - tab - only rule . A tab that is an integral part of a unit patch , such as the " Mountain " or " Airborne " tab , is not counted against the rule . The U . S . Army Chaplain insignia is the only authorized branch insignia to be worn on the ACU . It is centered 1 / 8 inch above the right name tape . The insignia may be the metal pin - on variety or the black embroidered insignia on digitized fabric with hook and loop ( velcro ) fasteners . Current regulations require the jacket to not extend below the top of the cargo pocket and not be higher than the bottom of the side pocket . Sleeves are to be worn down at all times , in contrast with the earlier Army BDU policy which authorized sleeve - folding for the summer uniform . In the field , the jacket may be replaced by the flame resistant Army Combat Shirt when worn directly under the IOTV . Trouser . The ACU trouser ( or ACU pant ) is worn with a two - inch nylon web belt , and features Velcro pouches for knee pad inserts , two forward - tilted thigh storage pockets with elastic drawstring and Velcro for closure during movement , and two calf storage pockets one on each pant leg with a Velcro closure . In addition , the pants legs can be bloused and must not extend past the third eyelet of the boots as per AR 670 - 1 . Army Combat trousers with flame resistant materials are being issued for use in Iraq and Afghanistan . Headgear . Typically , the ACU is worn with the Advanced Combat Helmet , a patrol cap , or a boonie hat and / or fleece cap as appropriate in winter months . The patrol cap is a kepi - styled straight - sided , flat - topped soft cap , with a double thick bill and internal pocket . When in garrison , the maroon , tan , and green berets may be worn by paratrooper s , Army Rangers , and Army Special Forces respectively . The green micro fleece cap is authorized for field and garrison use outside of unit PT , per local command . The fleece cap may be folded with a 1 – 2 " fold though it may not ever be rolled . ( This is not included in the attached ALARACT . It refers to wear with the IPFU only . ) The name tape is worn on the back of the patrol cap . Sew - on rank is recommended but pin - on rank is authorized on the ACU Patrol Cap and ACU Boonie Hat . The MICH ( Modular Integrated Communications Helmet ) Camouflage cover rank must be sewn on if worn but is often not used as the night vision device mount would obstruct it . T - shirt . The ACU is worn with a moisture - wicking sand colored T - shirt . A foliage - green T - shirt , which is 100 % cotton , has been authorized for wear by soldiers and for some training environments or deployed soldiers ; authorized environments include Iraq , Afghanistan and Korea , by amendment of AR 670 - 1 , Nov 2011 . Authorization extends to those outside flight or fuel MOSs during tours in applicable regions . Black T - shirts are authorized for wear by certain instructors on Army posts ( Ranger School , Sapper , Airborne , Jumpmaster , Pathfinder , Sniper , and Special Forces ) . Footwear . The ACU is worn with tan Army Combat Boot s and olive drab cotton socks . Commercial versions of this boot are authorized without limitation , complying with the following regulations — be at least 8 inches in height , be made of tan rough side out cattle hide leather with a plain toe and tan rubber outsoles , and be without zippers , metal cleats , or side tabs . The Mountain Combat Boot is available for difficult terrain , Extreme Cold Vapor Barrier Boots for cold weather , and the Modular Boot System is being developed to replace the ACB . Uniform care . Although common practice ( though not required by regulation ) with the BDUs , ACUs are not to be starched . As per the ALARACT message in effect until a new revision of AR 670 - 1 is released , " Soldiers will not starch the Army Combat Uniform under any circumstances . The use of starch , sizing , and any process that involves dry - cleaning or steam press will adversely affect the treatments and durability of the uniform and is not authorized . " Starching the uniform has been shown to cause discoloration . It enhances the IR signature , making the uniform inappropriately bright under night vision viewing . Personnel have been instructed that the uniform must be washed with a mild detergent that does not contain " optical brightener s . " Detergents with optical brighteners may cause discoloration of the uniform , which would nullify the purpose of the very specific camouflage design and result in possible unwanted detection of personnel using the uniforms in combat . Some detergents have phosphorescent properties which enhance an enemy ' s ability to see the soldier when viewed with night vision device s . Soldiers have expressed concern about the velcro on the ACU . Dirt and mud can clog the hooks and loops or they can wear out with use , requiring the use of cleaning brushes for clearing the velcro as part of daily maintenance . Zippers have also been a topic of concern . Soldiers also express concern because the zippers ( as with any zipper ) can bind up , and render the uniform uncomfortable to wear , especially with body armor . According to the Program Executive Office Soldier " Commercial Velcro will be sold in clothing sales for the repair / replacement of Velcro . Additionally soldiers have been using the small weapons cleaning brush to clean out any sand and dirt from the pile and it has been working very well . " In 2010 , Velcro was phased out in favor of buttons , which are silent , work well in dust , mud and snow , support heavier use and hold more securely . Initial fielding . The process of replacing the U . S . Army ' s Woodland Pattern BDU ( in use since the early 1980s ) and Three Color Desert pattern DCU with the ACU was to begin in April 2005 . However , the fielding process began two months earlier through the Rapid Fielding Initiative . Soldiers from the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were the first U . S . Army unit , active or reserve , to receive the ACU , subsequently deploying the entire Brigade into OIF combat in May 2005 . Initial reception of the ACU was mixed , with complaints of insufficient durability and excessive maintenance . As of the early 2010s , the use of multiple camouflage patterns within a U . S . Army unit is now seldom seen , as the ACU in UCP is now standard issue .