Military

Desert BDU

The desert battle dress uniform (DBDU) is authorized for year-round wear on duty by all personnel when issued as organizational clothing and prescribed by the commander. The color of desert terrain varies from pink to blue, depending on the minerals in the soil and the time of the day. No color or combination of colors matches all deserts. Patches of uniform color in the desert are usually 10 times larger than those in wooded areas. These conditions led to the development of a three color pattern DBDU, which replaced the six color DBDU used in Desert Storm. The six color "chocalate chip" pattern will be authorized for wear until current stock is depleted and the uniforms becomes unserviceable.

The coat is a "bush type" design with breast and lower pockets with flaps. The cold weather desert coat is lined, hip length with a bi-swing back, convertible stand-up collar with concealed hood, slide fastener front closure with two breast and two lower pockets. The desert camouflage hat has a stiff crown with a standard width quilted stitched brim, chin strap, and camouflage band. The desert camouflage night pattern parka has a hood, a button front closure, two slit type hand openings with flap, draw cords at neck, hood, waist, and hemline, and buttons on inside for attachment of liner. The desert camouflage daytime pattern trousers contain four standard type pockets, two leg bellows type pockets, and reinforcement patches added at the knees and buttocks. The desert camouflage night pattern trousers have a front opening, two-side slit type openings with flaps, and two hip patch pockets with flaps. The uniform is loose fitting, allowing body ventilation. The component materials of the DBDU are 50% cotton, 49% nylon, and 1% static dissipative fiber.

3-Color Desert

6-Color Desert

The Desert BDU has an accompanying hat that has a soft crown with a standard width quilted stitched brim, chinstrap and camouflage band; and the hat is worn in desert environments when the helmet is not needed.