Afghanistan -New Cammo? - ACU or Coyote?

[Springbok]

This question is for those of my fellow US Army soldiers and forum members, especially those who have been to, or are in Afghanistan. I recently read an article in the Army Times, titled: "New Cammo for Afghanistan?"

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/08/army_camo_081709w/

Has anybody who has been, or is there, heard any such rumor? My big problem with this, is that as anybody who has been in the US military knows, change never comes fast! There has been rumors kicking about in the ranks for years now that ACU is only temporary, and that Multicam is going to replace ACU in the near future. The big problem for the US Army would of course be that it would have to resupply every soldier in Afghanistan with new TA-50! - Not cheap!! We all know that the Obama administration does not put too much effort or interest in military spending. The article of course mentions that Obama will be signing the bill. I am deploying to Afghanistan within the next 3 months. I am fortunate that I'm in a unit that allows us to modify and customize our gear. I have never been a big fan of the pouches and other gear issued to us. There are much better commercially available gear on the market! This leaves me with some big, pending questions: First, how serious does anyone who is in the US military take this article, or the possibility of this change ever happening? Second, would it be better for me to buy ACU pattern pouches and gear etc.? Or, since they are talking about a better pattern, such as Multicam or Desert Brush etc.., would it be better to buy Coyote Tan (since it goes with Multicam and other patterns)? If I continue buying ACU pattern gear and they issue us new gear in the Stan, then I'm screwed with right color, lowest bidder crap! Or of course by the time it happens, I will already be back from deployment! Those of you who are there or have been over there recently: what would you do and what do you think - any opinion would be much appreciated!
Thank you,
Pieter.

[Alpha-17]

I hate to be the one to say this, but do a search next time. There have been several threads on this topic already.

Now that that is out of the way, as a soldier, my advise is wait. The article you referenced said congress gave the Army a September 30th deadline to come up with a plan. That's barely more than a month away, and if you're deploying in three months, then you can afford to wait and see what develops. I personally hope there is a change, but I've come to expect nothing but stupidity from both Congress and the Army, so my hopes aren't particularly high right now.

As for A-stan experience, I can't speak from first hand knowledge (only Iraq on that one), but my battalion called everybody that had been to A-stan before (nearly all former 173rd members), and gave them a questionnaire. One of the questions concerned camouflage patterns. The near unanimous winner (according to the guy that was there): MultiCam. Take that report from the PNN for whatever it is worth.

[Springbok]

Thanks Alpha-17, for the info! Yes I know the article has been posted before. However the practicality and economic choice that an individual might have to make when it comes to the question of whether or not to purchase the right colored kit has not been answered. I am merely trying to put (or have the group of "you") together opinions on the question of self equiping/purchasing gear.
Thanks.

[Soldat_Américain]

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=159255&page=11

Post 158, also a thread we've been talking about, maybe a time for sticky.

[crazyman]

rule of thumb from a 2 time deployee: wait until you are in country, solidify your need vs want list, THEN worry about what you order online. The uniform thing will be a LONG time in coming. I first say ACUs in june of 05 in iraq, but I didn't wear them until almost a year later. Same thing goes with the IOTV. It could be your unit doesnt switch over for quite awhile, if ever. once you are in country for 30 days, relook what is/is not worth your hard earned money

[Alpha-17]

I first say ACUs in june of 05 in iraq, but I didn't wear them until almost a year later. Same thing goes with the IOTV. It could be your unit doesnt switch over for quite awhile, if ever.

Shoot, I'm still running around with an IBA. Most of the guys in my unit don't even have side plates either. And we're airborne fraking Infantry, the guys you'd think would get the latest in armor. Guess not.

Springbok: I guess what I was trying to say is this: if you want CB or MC pouches, go for it, regardless of whether or not the Army changes patterns. If you want to be sure to have the correct pattern/color for any possible uniform change, wait until after Sept. 30th to buy the pouches. As Crazyman said, it will probably be a while before units currently or soon-to-be in theater will have MC uniforms, armor, pouches, etc, so it probably won't matter anyway, as everybody will have a miss match of gear.

[AroundTheCorner]

Another thread? Seriously?