A few words on the evils of USAF utility unitorms.
For a good period of time (~1988-2006) USAF issued the woodland camo pattern BDUs (as did the other services) and also issued the desert pattern (DCUs, first the chocolate chip pattern ~2000, then the three-color pattern some folks still wear.) The Corps broke from the BDU pattern first with their digital-pattern cammies, then the Army, then USAF and finally, USN as of this year.
USAF385, IMHO, has it right with the read on the ABUs... OK, but needs fixes. The lighter-weight ABUs will be available this summer, but who knows how long it'll take to get them. Thankfully, the map pocket ABUs have been out of production for about a year now...nobody I know misses them.
I have to agree with others that the service-specific utility uniforms are a poor choice. We've been down this road for a while now, and it ain't too hard to see what the best features of the various types are. Consolidate the best features, standardize, and stop spending $$ on multiple uniforms... God knows there's a better use for the money.
Now, as a cranky old Lt Col, I could go on about the boots. Suffice it to say that they share the virtues of the Army tan ones, and given a good layer of dust, will *kinda* blend into a desert environment. Unless we start fighting in spruce forests, the tan ones are just fine... don't need green boots. USAF is looking at allowing fightline personnel (maintainers) to wear the black boots, as the green ones are dirt magnets, not to mention lack durability.
Howver, I gotta give props to the Navy, if for no other reason that their new utilities make the ABU look... better. I pity the first sailor who falls overboard in them, 'cause there ain't no way you'll be able to see them in an ocean. (Granted, the woodland cammies weren't any easier to see in water, but dark blue cammies? For sailors? D'oh!)
