This past week email has circulated concerning the new ABU and if the website below is a legitimate source for the new ABU.   Very simply, NO!


http://65.108.202.216/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=014-AFABU


 the question to AF/A1DO and the answer they provided is below.

Chief Brewer,
 

The answer is, they are absolutely illegitimate for official, military wear.
Most likely, they're seconds that DSCP turned down because they did not meet standards.

The ONLY authorized seller of ABUs, is AAFES. AAFES is the ONLY organization who receives QA tested ABUs from DSCP that meet ALL AF requirements and specs.
Base IEUs should only be receiving ABUs from DSCP, for the exact same reasons.

Items sold by online companies, such as the one you've noted, can never claim that their ABUs are 100% authentic, mil spec, NSN, equivalent ABUs..that's because DSCP never QA inspects them to ensure that they meet our specs/reqts.

Per AFI 36-2903, Table 1.2, the only time Officers and Enlisted Personnel may acquire Uniform Items from commercial vendors is when those items have a "USAF certification label."
We (AF) have NOT PROVIDED this label to any commercial vendors.

Follow up is, if it's not authorized, it's not authorized for wear.

Bottom line: Can folks buy "ABUs" from these places...sure, we can't stop them. However, they're not the official ABU Uniform Item, and they may not be purchased as such.

As usual there has been a change in the mid/late of 07 that was brought to our attention...

Your page on the ABU's needs to be update. 2 Weeks ago, the Uniform Board released 7 AF authorized/licensed companies from which to procure ABU's. AAFES can only but from US Manufactures based on federal law. Also there is an update on this at the uniform board's website out at the AF Portal  -- SMSgt Brewer
 

Administrator Comment:

We have stopped blocking ABU sales ads on the site.  The one thing to let you all know about is the two types of colors/patterns.  When you are looking at puchasing the NEW ABUs, look at them inside out.  One of the manufacture dies the pattern through the material while the other only has the pattern is on top of the material.  This will help eliminate the mixing of patterns/colors when you purchase them.