<P> Beginning in late 2010 U.S. Army soldiers deployed to Afghanistan (starting with the 173rd Airborne Brigade) were issued an Army - developed variant of the Crye Precision "MultiCam" pattern, which was seen as far more effective in Afghanistan's terrain . These flame - retardant uniforms are designed to prevent third - degree burns, along with up to thirty percent of second degree burns . Additionally, the uniforms are treated with the chemical permethrin to help protect soldiers from insect - borne diseases like malaria . Some U.S. Army soldiers during the latter stages of the Iraq War also wore the ACU in MultiCam; some were seen wearing them as late as December 2011, when the United States withdrew its military forces from the country at the end of the war . This particular version has been replaced by the newer ACU in the Operational Camouflage Pattern, as described below . </P> <P> In May 2014, the Army unofficially announced that the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) would replace UCP on the Army Combat Uniform . The original "Scorpion" pattern was developed at United States Army Soldier Systems Center by Crye Precision in 2002 for the Objective Force Warrior program . Crye later modified and trademarked their version of the pattern as MultiCam, which was selected for use by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan in 2010 . After talks to officially adopt MultiCam broke down over costs in late 2013, the Army began experimenting with the original Scorpion pattern, creating a variant code named "Scorpion W2", noting that while a pattern can be copyrighted, a color palette cannot and that beyond 50 meters the actual pattern is "not that relevant ." The pattern resembles MultiCam with muted greens, light beige, and dark brown colors, but uses fewer beige and brown patches and no vertical twig and branch elements . On 31 July 2014, the Army formally announced that the pattern would begin being issued in uniforms in summer 2015 . The official name is intended to emphasize its use beyond Afghanistan to all combatant commands, with a family of versions including a dark jungle - woodland variant and a lighter pattern for deserts to follow . The UCP pattern is planned to be fully replaced by the OCP on the ACU by 1 October 2019 . ACUs printed in OCP first became available for purchase on 1 July 2015, with deployed soldiers already being issued uniforms and equipment in the new pattern . </P> <P> The Army Combat Uniform features hook - and - loop fasteners, also known by the genericized trademark Velcro, on its sleeve pockets . </P> <P> The ACU jacket originally used hook - and - loop - backed attachments to secure items such as name tapes, rank insignia, and shoulder patches and tabs, as well as recognition devices such as the U.S. flag patch and the infrared (IR) tab . Originally only pin - on skill badges were authorized for wear on the ACU, with no more than 5 at any one time . </P>

Where does the us army patch go on the acu