Those pixelated camouflage uniforms known as the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) worn by the U.S. Army are now a thing of the past. It’s a good thing, especially since this pattern made it easier for troops to be seen. Quite the opposite of what it should have done.

A little history…In 2004, the Army adopted the UCP as a new pattern that was supposed to improve invisibility for the troops; however, it actually enhanced visibility. Jumping 6 years to 2010, the Army launched a next generation of camouflage competition to find the best pattern possible. The competition never led to a winner, though, as the Army actually decided on a pattern that they designed in-house and under contract from a company that designed the stopgap camo pattern. This means that the Army had the in-house pattern since 2002 and really, everything that happened after 2002 related to camo and camo patterns never needed to occur.

The Army announced that the “new” uniforms of “Operational Camouflage Pattern” will be sold in military clothing stores across the U.S. on July 1^st, just in time for 4^th of July festivities!

(Image from www.army.mil.)