The new Army Combat Uniform (ACU) will be issued to more than 4,000 Soldiers of the 48th Infantry Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, at Fort Stewart, Ga., in conjunction with the Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI), slated for Feb. 1-10 - with part of the troops' issuing taking place Feb. 8.

The Brigade recently was activated in January 2005 and will spend three months at Fort Stewart before departing for exercises at the Army's National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. The Brigade is slated to deploy to Iraq in early May.

The 48th previously served a tour in Bosnia in 2001. Soldiers who served during the unit's deployment to Bosnia and elsewhere will be on hand to discuss and compare the ACU to the uniform and gear they used in the past.

ACUs underwent rigorous field-testing and improvements both before and after the first and second Stryker Brigade Combat Teams took earlier uniform to Iraq.

The ACU uniform consists of a jacket, trousers, patrol cap, moisture wicking T-shirt and improved hot weather and temperate-weather desert boots, all of which are part of a new digital, universal camouflage pattern. The ACU is designed to enhance Soldiers' performance by providing the functionality; ergonomics and durability troops in the field need to be more effective in combat and to increase their survivability as they carry out their mission.

The ACU's improvements incorporated direct and continuous involvements suggested by Soldiers throughout the design and evaluation process. The result is a combat uniform with improved functionality and greater Soldier acceptance than the current Battledress Uniform. The ACU also decreases the "out of pocket" cost burden on younger Soldiers by replacing the 3 types of the BDU with a one-weight, wash-and-wear uniform with improved functionality and ergonomics.

Point of contact for the ACU and this event is Ms. Dawson, PEO Soldier Public Affairs (703) 704-2802.

Army Public Affairs point of contact is Mr. Grant Nulle (703) 693-4987.

Media should meet their public affairs escort at the Fort Stewart Main Gate no later than 6:45 a.m., Feb. 8. Please contact the Fort Stewart Media Center no later than close of business Feb. 4 to confirm attendance, (912) 767-6098/6397/8888. Directions to Fort Stewart are available at www.stewart.army.mil.