MultiCam on Army Combat Uniform

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MultiCam is a single camouflage pattern designed to help the wearer hide in varied environments, seasons, elevations, and light conditions. It is a 7-color,^[1] multi-environment camouflage pattern developed by Crye Associates in conjunction^{[citation needed]} with U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (also known as U.S Army Natick labs). The pattern was included in the race to replace the 3-Color Desert and Woodland patterns, but in 2004 lost to the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) that can be seen in the current Army Combat Uniform. However, it has been newly commissioned in 2010 and will be replacing the UCP over time for use by US Army Units serving in Afghanistan, under the Designation OCP or Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern.^[2][3] It is already used by some American Special Operations units and law enforcement agencies.

The US Army has recently approved the use of MultiCam for the 173rd Airborne Brigade deployed to Afghanistan.^[4]

The pattern is also available for commercial sale to civilians.^[5]

A development of MultiCam with the existing British DPM has been adopted with British Army as Multi-Terrain Pattern.

Appearance [link]

Soldiers wearing Multicam while demonstrating Future Force Warrior project in 2007. Ft. Bliss, Texas.

MultiCam has background colors of a brown to light-tan gradient and lime green blending in between, the main part consist of green to yellowish green gradient and finally dark brown and light pinkish blotches spread throughout the pattern. This allows for the overall appearance to change from greenish to brownish in different areas of the fabric, while having smaller blotches to break up the bigger background areas. MultiCam hides volume and form by tricking the human eye's perception of color. MultiCam allows the object it covers to blend into the background with the camo pattern.

There is also a non-licensed copy of the original pattern which is slightly darker or with pink or yellow tone and printed on different fabric with different characteristics.^[6]

Another non-licensed copy, called Suez pattern, very similar to original MultiCam, is used by Polish special forces GROM, BOA and BOR.^[7]

Adoption [link]

It has become quite popular among armed forces of many nationalities and, to an equal extent, civilians. It is one of few patterns that are not generally issued but are yet available from prominent makers of military uniforms and equipment.^{[citation needed]}

Chile [link]

The Chilean Marine Corps,Chilean Naval Special Warfare Division, and the Chilean Air Force Commandos adopted Multicam in 2009. Multicam is the standard issue uniform of the Chilean Marine Corps.

• 

  A Chilean Marine Corps unit wearing Multicam.

• 

  An Air Force Commando wearing Multicam.

• Marine Corps Special Forces.jpg

  A Special Warfare Division soldier.

• 

  A Sailor's Uniform.

United States [link]

MultiCam is currently in use by some units of the US military's Special Operations Command,^[8][9] and some private military contractors.^[10] Several members of the US Army's 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, Charlie Company were also seen wearing MultiCam when followed by ABC News.^[11] Some local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies also make use of the pattern, including the Drug Enforcement Agency DEA FAST teams operating Afghanistan as well as the Department of Homeland Security ICE SRT and the Spokane Police department. The United States Air Force just recently announced that they will be adopting use of MultiCam for some of their uniforms. Recently, US army soldiers with the grey Universal Camouflage Pattern,^[12] has been phased out and have now fully adopted the MultiCam as the official uniform of US army personnel fighting in Afghanistan.

• 

  DEA agents in Afghanistan, 2008.

• 

  Army Special Forces in Farah Province, 2009.

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  U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division in Logar Province, 2011.

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  U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division in Kunar Province, 2011.

United Kingdom [link]

The pattern is also in use with UKSF in Afghanistan. British forces deployed in Afghanistan have been using a MultiCam variant, Multi-Terrain Pattern, since March 2010. Crye's MultiCam technology was determined to be the best performing, across the widest range of environments (by a significant margin) and was subsequently selected as the basis for the new MTP camouflage, combined with the existing British Disruptive Pattern Material pattern.^[13][14]

Australia [link]

On the 19th of November 2010, after trials by Australian special operations forces, the Australian Defence Force announced that Multicam will be standard for all regular Australian Army personnel in Afghanistan. Multicam, it is said, provided "... troops with greater levels of concealment across the range of terrains in Afghanistan – urban, desert and green." Previously, depending upon the terrain, Australian troops had to transition between green and desert colored Australian Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniforms (DPCU or AUSCAM).^[15][16] On the 30th of May 2011 the Defence Material Organisation announced that they had obtained licence to produce Multicam in Australia for $4.7 million USD and Crye would also design a new uniquely Australian pattern for another $3.1 million USD.^[17]

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  Australian special forces in green and desert DPCU, December 2009.

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  Australian special forces in Multicam, June 2010.

Users [link]

Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) paramilitaries during a counter-terrorist operation in Makhachkala, Dagestan.

•  Australia: Special Operations Command and forces deployed to Afghanistan.^[15][16] Also used by Police Tactical Groups.^{[18][19][20][21]}
•  Bermuda: In Jan of 2012 Bermuda adopted MultiCam on an interim basis until testing of the British MTP (Multi-Terrain Pattern) is completed^[22]
•  Chile: Multicam is the standard issue uniform of the Marine Corps and the Navy Special Warfare Division. Also used by the Chilean Air Force Commandos.
•  Czech Republic: Used by special forces - 601st Special Forces Group & Special Operations Group (SOG) of The Czech Republic.
•  Denmark: Will be issued as standard uniform of the Danish military in 2013^[23].
•  Georgia: Standard uniform of the Georgian Armed Forces and of some police special forces
•  Hong Kong: Hong Kong Police Special Duties Unit Diver (nickname "Water Ghosts")
•  Iraq: Emergency Response Battalion (ERB) which newly formed by Iraq's Ministry of Interior.
•  Jordan: Jordanian Army Special Operations Force Snipers.
•  Maldives: Maldives National Defence Force Special Forces.
•  Mexico: 'Vanguardie' tactical unit from BCN State Attorney General's Office (PGJE).
•  Montenegro: Standard uniform of the Montenegro military^[24].
•  New Zealand: New Zealand Special Air Service^[25]
•  Panama: The standard uniform of Panama National Aero-Naval Services SENAN (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN www.aeronaval.gob.pa).
•  Poland: A pattern called "Suez" that was heavily inspired by MultiCam is issued to Poland elite units such as the Army GROM, 1st Special Commando Regiment Lubliniec (1 PSK) Government Protection Bureau (BOR), Poland Central Bureau of Investigation (CBS), and Poland Border Guard (SG - Special Unit "Feniks").
•  Russia: Russia's FSB and Alpha Group.
•  Slovenia: SLOCAM variant is on field testing for the Slovenian Armed Forces.
•  Taiwan: Army Special Force, Winter Training Center, Mt. Ho-Huan^[26]
•  Ukraine: Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and Alpha teams.
•  United States: U.S. Army, Navy E.O.D., U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Air Force Airmen 'outside the wire' in Afghanistan (e.g. JTACs)^[27]
•  Norway: The Norwegian Army Special Forces Command Have been seen using MultiCam camouflage in Afghanistan.

See also [link]

• Military camouflage
• List of camouflage patterns
• U.S. Army trial patterns
• Future Force Warrior
• Multi-Terrain Pattern

References [link]

External links [link]

• MultiCamPattern.com
• Crye Precision
• Military Morons review and history of MultiCam
• Multicam-Inside.fr, (French) Multicam enthusiasts community.
• "British Army to get new uniforms – turned down by the US and made in China," The Daily Telegraph, Dec. 20, 2009.
• "British Army to get new camouflage uniform," BBC News, Dec. 20, 2009.
• "Camo Delays and Assessment Team Gouge" DefenseTech 29 Dec 2009.
• English Translation of Hebrew article on MultiCam
• Multicam & Multi Terrain Pattern (MTP) compared

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