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19 November:The Australian Government will extend the trial of a new 'Multicam' combat uniform following positive feedback from Special Forces soldiers wearing them in Afghanistan.


New combat uniform makes troops job easier
19 November 2010

All Australian troops operating 'outside the wire' in Afghanistan will don the new 'Multicam' combat uniform following positive feedback from a Special Forces trial.

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare announced the extension of the trial today during his address to the biannual Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane.

The Multicam combat uniform is a different camouflage pattern to the current Australian combat uniform and is also worn by US troops in Afghanistan.

Mr Clare said the feedback from Special Forces troops has been extremely positive.

"Special Forces soldiers have said this is the uniform they want to wear," Mr Clare said.

"The camouflage pattern provides troops with greater levels of concealment across the range of terrains in Afghanistan – urban, desert and green.

"It also makes it easier for our troops to do their job."

The Multicam shirt and trousers have elbow and knee pads built in to reduce soft tissue injuries; are cooler and designed to be worn under body armour; have a padded waist band to make it more comfortable under webbing or a field pack; and have more pockets and a stretch fabric at the joints.

Mr Clare said Defence has made an urgent order from the United States to get these uniforms to troops in Afghanistan as quickly as possible.

"I have also instructed the Defence Materiel Organisation to pursue the purchase of a licence to provide for the potential manufacture of this uniform in Australia if the extended trial is successful," Mr Clare said.


Click to view image: 'ADF SOTG'
A Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) soldier waits to board a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for a mission in northern Kandahar.

(Date taken: 19 October 2010)


Click to view image: 'ADF SOTG2'
Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) soldiers on patrol in Afghanistan.

(Date taken: 24 October 2010)


Click to view image: 'ADF SOTG3'
Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) soldiers wait for their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to arrive.

(Date taken: 19 October 2010)

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