PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-673
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 673
DECEMBER 2008
57
PS 673
DEC 08
How to Get the ACU
ACU—Real or Fake?
When you look over a uniform, here’s how to tell if it’s the real deal or a knock-off:
Look for two tags sewn into the uniform. One tag near the collar tells the size.
Another tag somewhere else on the uniform gives a government contract number,
NSN and care instructions. Valid contract numbers start either with the letters SPO or
with the letters and numbers W911QY.
•
The uniform may not meet appearance standards and specs set forth in
AR 670-1,
Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia.
•
It may not meet durability and wear specs. Seams might fail. Colors might
fade. Substandard fabric might tear or rip.
•
ACU knock-offs are not made under government contract. When they wear
out, the Army Military Clothing Sales Store (AMCSS) isn’t obliged to support or
exchange them.
•
You’ll be spending your own money on an unauthorized uniform. You’ll get the
real ACU issued to you at no cost if you deploy to Southwest Asia.
Army Combat Uniform…
Are You for Real?
it’s
buyer beware
when you’re
browsing around
an army surplus
clothing store.
you’ll see plenty
of uniforms that
look like the
new army combat
uniforms (acu).
at least
that’s what
they appear
to be.
but don’t
be fooled;
they’re
not
authentic.
“knock-off” acus are
showing up in army
surplus stores all
over the country.
they’re also appearing
on many websites.
they may
look
like the real
thing, but
they’re
fake.
because they
don’t
meet the army’s specs,
they’re considered
unauthorized uniforms.
so, before you
spend your hard-
earned dollars on
what
looks
like an
acu, consider this…
other than
through a
deployment,
how
do
you
get the acu?
the army began
putting acus in the
clothing bag in fy 06.
and in january 2006
amcss started
selling acus.
amcss are the
only
stores authorized
to sell authentic
acus, the ones that
comply with specs.
the only place online
for ordering authentic
acus is the
warfighter
website:
mil/newmenu/
I
ndex.jsp
the acu’s universal camouflage has
gradually replaced the woodland
and desert camo on clothing and
equipment.
the army
phased
in the
universal
camo
from
may 2005
through
may 2008.
during
this time,
soldiers
had
clothing
and gear
with a mix
of camo
patterns.
673.56-57.indd
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11/4/08
3:06:16 PM
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