The brown skivvy, open and zipped up, may be worn with dress order 4A DCPU barracks dress and 4B DPCU field dress. Examples of the new rank slides for the combat jacket. The use of the thumb holes in the cuffs of the sleeves is restricted to dress order 4B field dress and is not to occur in barracks The new combat jacket, with thumb holes in the sleeves and rank slide positioned on the chest

The full bottle on new kit
New items of uniforms are the latest project from the group who brings them into service. Maj Nick Stanton explains how the Army Clothing and Personal Equipment Committee works

EVER wondered who those nameless, faceless people bringing items of personal kit into service actually are? When faced with a personal item that you don't think does the job well enough or looks exactly right, do you speculate on the military backgrounds of these nameless few? Have they been there and done that? Does anybody listen?

Believe it or not, they do listen to you. CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy relies on the Army Combat, non-combat Clothing and Personal Equipment Committee (ACPEC) to ensure that any item of clothing or personal equipment introduced into service is safe, fit-for-purpose and environmentally compliant.

One of ACPEC's responsibilities is ensuring that any new item achieves a level of standardisation across Defence. After all, what is the point of deploying on operations dressed in a personalised uniform that is distinct from your mates and cannot be replaced if damaged?

What's more, it may actually increase the chances of you being injured.

Given the characteristic of the Aussie soldier for voicing their opinion loudly, frankly and frequently, one can appreciate that there needs to be some system to listen and fix things as required.

So how do you voice your opinion on clothing and personal kit?

The answer is relatively simple. If you believe there is a fault in the item you have been provided, which makes it unsuitable for the job, then submit a RODUM-on-line entry at http://vbmweb.sor.defence.gov.au/rodum/UserEntry.asp

ACPEC receives and considers all clothing and personal equipment-related RODUM reports in addition to your recommended solution.

If you have an idea on a new item you think would be of benefit to the Army and your fellow soldiers, then simply submit it through the chain of command to your respective ACPEC representative. Your representative will consider your idea in detail and decide on the way ahead, including consideration at ACPEC if appropriate.

So how do we bring new kit into service?

First, you as the user must detail the why and what-for in a detailed User Requirement statement.

As the Army will eventually have to bid for the money, if the requirement can be supported by RODUM data or proof of a measurable benefit to Defence, so much the better.

If the requirement is substantiated, then ACPEC (with advice from LHQ, DGLD and DMO) will task the Joint Materiel Agency (JMA), who will work with Australian industry, to develop a prototype which will be subjected to systematic evaluation in an appropriate User Unit.

Depending on your feedback, ACPEC provides a financial case to fund the new item and to produce the pre-production model which may need to be trialed again.

Once the user is happy with the pre-production item and following final approval from the CA, then production and initial issue occurs once the dollars are found to pay for its introduction into service.

At all stages the users, through your respective representatives on ACPEC, have invaluable input into the process and final product.

Just as your involvement in the procurement process is very important so is ACPEC's role and it is worth having a further look at it.

The role of ACPEC is to provide policy guidance, capability management and oversight of all clothing and personal equipment related matters to the Army. ACPEC forms the link between the user (Army), the capability requirements developed through the Director General Land Development (DGLD) and the daily managers of the asset (provided through DMO).

This link is critical to ensure that the valid concerns of the user meets the requirements of the service and is both achievable and sustainable.

You might be surprised to know that at one time or another, the members of ACPEC have all carried packs up yarmers in the pouring rain and stood on parade for long periods of time - some have even completed the odd 15 or 20 clicker. Included in the full membership of ACPEC is the Director of Logistics - Army, the Director of the Joint Materiel Agency, along with the RSM of the Army, RSM - Ceremonial and the RSMs of Land Command, Training Command and SOCOM.

There are also a number of staff officers from AHQ, DGLD, LHQ, Training Command and DMO who are all there to provide valuable input to ensure that we get the best available clothing and personal equipment for the Army.

That's terrific you might say, but what has ACPEC ever done for me?

ACPEC has only been in existence for a relatively short time, however, it has already accomplished a number of wins that have been of benefit to soldiers.

An enhanced version of the DPCU has been on trial in selected units with a decision on the final product due shortly. The trial uniform has attempted to incorporate all of the valuable enhancements suggested by you. (Army will bring you further information on this uniform later this year.)

Successful introduction of desert cams and chest webbing on recent operations, the combat pack for Special Forces units and the continued development (especially in the heel area) and production of the combat boot (modified version 3), are other recent ACPEC enhancements to our combat kit.

You will also shortly see the arrival of the pre-bashed KFF hat and a replacement for the poly raincoat.

The new rank slides are another item that will be issued this year. No longer will you have to squint in the field trying to see if you are talking to a lieutenant-colonel or a mature aged private because their webbing is covering the epaulettes.

Everyone will wear the new rank slides (including private rank) on the chest epaulette of the new DPCU and the combat jacket.

OR Rank slides will not be worn on the shoulder epaulettes of the current DPCU.

So what else is ACPEC doing for me?

Some of the new stuff you can expect to see this year includes the wet weather ensemble, combat jacket and skivvy/undershirts.

This equipment has been developed with significant input from the users and was widely tested in both Australian and overseas operational conditions.
The wet weather ensemble consists of a DPCU patterned jacket and trousers that must be sized correctly for the individual.

The gear is quite high tech and besides being waterproof (yes, we did check this feature most thoroughly), it also incorporates a breathable layer to allow moisture to escape. 58,000 sets are being purchased and are now in the process of being issued to units.

The new combat jacket similarly has this breathable layer feature but is primarily designed for warmth rather than waterproofing. 79,600 jackets are in manufacture and once the new rank slides have arrived, both jacket and rank slides will be issued.

It is expected that the issue will occur shortly. However, be warned, the combat jacket is, in fact, olive green and not DPCU patterned as you might expect.

The reasoning for this is that the thermal properties of the material do not hold a screen printed DPCU pattern. This is because soldiers would prefer to be warmer in the field now rather than await the development of new material which may take some time.

For those who are personally challenged by the colour coordination aspects of DPCU with a green jacket, you may take comfort in the fact that ACPEC are already working on the next version (DPCU) of the combat jacket.

You may be interested to know that the combat jacket is just one item in a layered system developed by ACPEC to ensure soldiers are protected in cold weather.

A skivvy/undershirt has been procured, which is worn under the DPCU shirt forming a thermal layer insulating the wearer (the jacket and the shirt form a second layer).

The skivvy/undershirt is also not DPCU-patterned based on the logic that it goes under the DPCU shirt and the perception that soldiers prefer a fabric that allows perspiration to pass through rather than be held against the body.

Because of the dye used in the patterning, the DPCU material prevents any moisture from evaporating away from the wearer.

The sportwool(r) fabric used in the skivvy/undershirt will allow this evaporation to occur. Comfort and utility were considered by ACPEC to be of greater importance than aesthetic appearance.

About 109,000 skivvies/undershirts are in the process of being procured and issued. The southern units will be issued first, primarily because it is colder in the south during winter than the tropics. It is anticipated that the initial issue (two per soldier) will be completed within 12 months.

If you require any further information on clothing and personal equipment, try the Clothing Hotline on (03) 9282 6602 - a one-stop shop managed by DMO for information on the policy, procedures and entitlements for tri-service clothing and personal equipment. You can also check out the ACPEC website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/Sites/dmpa/ click on activities, then click on operations. Here you will find the clothing and personal equipment issues are under consideration by ACPEC and decisions made for future procurements or modifications.

You can even assist and are encouraged to be part of the acquisition process by reporting any unsatisfactory items through the RODUM system or by sending in your good ideas.

If you require information on how and when to wear these new items along with the appropriate embellishments, look no further than the on-line version of the Army Standing Orders for Dress (ASODs), available at http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/home/documents/army/mmanuals.htm

Next issue - the wet weather ensemble uncovered

How ASODs will be amended

By WO1 Peter Zajac
RSM Ceremonial
ARMY Standing Orders for Dress (ASOD) has been amended to reflect the introduction of the new cold and wet weather ensemble of clothing.

Areas to be amended

• ASOD, Volume 2, Part 3 - insert new paragraph.

  1.63: The brown skivvy may be worn with dress order 4A DPCU barracks dress and 4B DPCU field dress.
  When worn with dress order 4A the following rules apply:

• If visible the skivvy must be fully zipped up and the neck rolled down.
• If worn unzipped the skivvy collar is to be folded back and worn beneath the DPCU or protective shirt collar.
• When worn unzipped the skivvy should not be visible from beneath the DPCU or protective shirt.

 

• ASOD, Volume 2, Part 3 - insert new paragraphs.

  1.83: The combat jacket replaces the sweater khaki field when issued. The jacket is manufactured from wool and has khaki cloth patches on the elbows. Thumb holes have been fitted in both cuffs of the sleeve as this prevents the sleeve from riding upward when worn in the field.
  

  Velcro patches have been placed on the top of each sleeve to enable brassards and badges to be fitted as required.
  

  The jacket is fitted with a central zip and a zip on each side pockets. A DPCU rank slide is worn by all ranks on the centre epaulette.
  

  The combat jacket is only to be worn with DPCU field dress, barracks dress or protective dress. A DPCU or protective dress shirt is to be worn under the jacket.
  

  1.84: When worn with barracks dress (dress order 4A) the combat jacket is to be zipped up to a line level with the top of the central epaulette (not rank slide) and the pocket zips are to be done up.
  

  The use of the thumb holes in the cuffs of the sleeves is restricted to dress order 4B field dress and is not to occur in barracks.
  

  1.85: The combat jacket is embellished only with black embroidered DPCU rank slide by all ranks. The rising sun badge and nametag are not to be worn on the jacket.
  

  + The wet weather jacket and trousers replace the current japara and can be worn with dress order 4A and 4B.
  

  The items are not to be worn with ceremonial or general duty forms of dress.
  

  The wet weather jacket and trousers have separate NSNs so each item will fit the wearer regardless of size.
  

  The new items of dress can be viewed on the ASOD website at http://defweb.cbr.defence.gov.au/home/documents/army/manuals.htm

Your ACPEC representatives

.