Air Force moves to single combat uniform, adopts Operational Camouflage Pattern
The Air Force will adopt the Operational Camouflage Pattern or OCP, that is already used by the Army and Airmen in combat zones.
According to the U.S. Air Force, the transition to a single combat uniform will begin October 1, 2018, and the service will fully transition to the OCP by April 1, 2021.
Airmen can purchase OCPs at Army and Air Force Exchange Services at the following locations: Aviano Air Base, Italy; Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina; Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina; and MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. The initial locations will allow uniform manufacturers to produce additional stocks for other locations, eventually outfitting the total force.
Air Force leaders decided to transition to the OCP after receiving feedback from Airmen that the OCP is the best, battle-tested utility uniform available. The transition will also eliminate the need to maintain two separate uniforms – one for in-garrison and one for deployments.
“We looked at all utility uniforms currently in our inventory to find the best-of-breed,” said Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein. “We spoke to and listened to Airmen on this, and the OCP was the clear choice.”
More than 100,000 Airmen have been issued or are already wearing OCPs or equivalent two-piece flight suits.
“This celebrates joint warfighting excellence as OCPs will become the joint combat uniform for Airmen and Soldiers while patches and nametapes will identify our respective services,” Goldfein said.
