General Purpose Uniform

General Purpose Uniform was introduced in 2014 as the working dress of the day for the Royal Australian Air Force.

Royal Australian Air Force corporal wearing the General Purpose Uniform

The dark blue and metal grey uniform was officially launched by Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal (AIRMSHL) Geoff Brown, AO, to provide a unique and easily identifiable Air Force presence to the Australian Defence and civilian communities.

The General Purpose Uniform (GPU) is to replace the Disruptive Pattern Combat Uniform, also worn by the Australian Army, for general base duties and in non-warlike environments such as humanitarian tasks and Defence assistance to the civil community.

Existing Air Force DPCU production will be reduced and replaced by production of the GPU. It is planned that all Air Force personnel will be issued with a mix of camouflage uniforms and GPUs by the end of 2015.[1]

Pattern

The GPU is a Crye Precision Australian Multicam pattern utilising blue and grey colours selected to reflect Air Force colours. The colours can be found in the Royal Australian Air Force's Service Dress uniform, the RAAF Ensign, and from airframes and airfields. The uniform whilst consisting of a disruptive pattern, is not intended to be used as camouflage in warlike operations or environments.[2][3]

Criticism

The GPU is not intended to act as camouflage and as such has received wide criticism due to its lack of tactical use.

Further criticism was targeted at the Air Force's statement that the issuing of the new uniform will be cost neutral.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Air Force Launches General Purpose Uniform". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Q&A - Air Force General Purpose Uniform". Royal Australian Air Force. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "RAAF personnel to receive new-look uniforms". Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  4. ↑ "What’s The Latest On RAAF Camo?". http://soldiersystems.net. Retrieved 3 March 2014. External link in |publisher= (help)
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