US Army Trials Multicam FRACU Shirt

Description

This is a shirt that was part of the original trials/ testing phase for Multicam FRACU uniforms in Afghanistan around 2009-2010. With UCP proving ineffective in the mountains of Afghanistan, a comparatively small number of Multicam FRACU uniforms were used and tested in-country by 75th Ranger regiment, 173rd Airborne, and 4th Infantry Division. This top was used by a sergeant in the 4th ID. The shirt is functionally identical to a normal FRACU top, but does have a few differences. The loop panels on this shirt are a darker shade of tan than on the later FRACU's, and the NSN reflects it being a trials item. The contract number dates to 2009, as part of the urgent need contract for uniforms from American Apparel. BAE Systems, Crye Precision, Source One, and SEKRI also produced uniforms for the same urgent need contract. Overall, this top is a rare piece of GWOT history that started the army's transition to a camo pattern that actually works.

Features

• Exterior Hook and Loop Fields – There is hook and loop on the outside of the pouch for attaching ID and other patches.
• Multicam – Originally design in the early 2000’s as a competitor to UCP, Multicam was passed over after the selection of UCP. Even with UCP being adopted the camo would still see widespread use by special operations forces across the US Military in Iraq and Afghanistan. As UCP was found to not be suitable and replacements were searched for Multicam was selected as the interim camo for use by deploying US Army Soldiers. The camo would not be issued in full scale within the US Military. With its selection for use in Afghanistan it was known as OEF Pattern. Garrison uniforms in Multicam were never made, with all Multicam uniforms issued in the US Army being fire resistant. Multicam was replaced by OCP, when it became the standard camo pattern for the US Army in 2015. Due to the similarity of Multicam and OCP the gear and equipment in those patterns, not uniforms, are commonly intermixed until widespread issue of OCP was completed.
• This is Fancy – This item has been deemed Fancy by the Cataloging Team.
• Non Regular Item – This item is a ONE OFF or Non Regular Item. This means that we do not expect to receive more of this item. It was a special case for being available For Sale. Restock is VERY irregular or it is an item that may have changes in style or features upon restocking (custom non-standardized Raid Mod Tops for example).

Manufacturers

• Various Government Contractors – This item is manufactured for the US government by various contractors.

Country of Manufacture

USA – This product is manufactured in the #1 country, the USA.

Issue Type

USGI – These are genuine US government issued items made to military specification (mil-spec).