Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 1 648th Aeronautical Systems Squadron Jason P. Hale, Maj, USAF Program Manager, AF Uniforms Air Force Uniform Program Office AAFA Fall 07 GCC Meeting

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 2 Overview Background Uniform Program Office Charter Single Program Manager Programs ABU FIRESAFE PT Gear Heritage Coat

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 3 Background Recent challenges with ABU development, production, and distribution highlighted a need to re-look at the management approach to Air Force clothing and textile- based products –Military unique nature demands a “Total Life Cycle Management” approach AF leadership directed “management as a weapon system”, not a commodity. Goal: The right gear to every Airmen at the right time and at the right cost!

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 4 Program Office Charter AF’s System Program Office for Uniforms AF’s single-point interface for clothing and textiles Responsible for market research, technology development and integration, program planning, design, product development, testing, fielding, certification, sustainment, and assessing customer feedback for continuous product improvement cradle-to-grave!Manage programs cradle-to-grave! Interface with AF HQ, DLA, AAFES, other services, labs, and industry

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today AESS Org Structure 648 AESS/CC SPM Sustainment Acquisition Programs Technology & Integration Technical Support Program Control Contracting Textile Lab Product Improvements New Requirements AFCO positions integrated into the new org DLA Liaison positions integrated into the new org

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 6 Requirements Generation UNIVERSITIES AND LABS INDUSTRY SISTER SERVICES AF/A1 SPM Surveys and Technology Insertion Emerging Technologies Improved or New Items CSAF Inputs Industry Days Joint R&D Uniform Board 648 AESS Push/Pull System = Current Inputs = Additional To Be Inputs

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 7 SPM Manage Uniforms as a weapon system throughout the life cycle -- confidence/repeatability –Enterprise-wide, results-oriented, collaborative approach to problem solving Bottom Line for the Air Force: –Right uniforms (defined requirements and tech insertion) –Every airman (SME to represent user through entire process) –Right time (SPM to streamline communication & integration efforts) –Right price (Enterprise integration to allow management of life cycle costs) Single Program Manager for Uniforms Spiral Development

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 8 Full Rate Production of ABU underway by numerous suppliers Distribution Plan –Aug 07: MCSS to begin receiving ABU inventories for sale to all personnel –Sep-Dec 07: ABUs for all personnel deploying to Iraq, Afghanistan, or Kuwait Other deployers will receive DCUs to exhaust inventory –Oct 07: Incoming Basic Trainees receiving ABUs in Initial Issue Clothing Bags Spiral Development –Removing interior coat pockets FUTURE –FR ABU / Combat Ensemble –Improved Fabrics Airman Battle Uniform (ABU)

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 9 FIRESAFE) Fire Resistant Air Force Equipment (FIRESAFE) Background Deployed airmen have seen an increased need for flash fire protection. The goal of this program is to dramatically enhance Airmen’s protection from flash fire while maintaining the utility and comfort thereby improving overall performance and user acceptance. Status FR ACU/ABU –Army released joint Solicitation –Contract Award scheduled for Dec 07 Air Force Tiger Shirt –AF variant of Army Combat Shirt (ACS) –Wear Test AFSCs: Security Forces, Weapons Intelligence Teams, EOD, and Electrical CWU-27/P Flight Suit –Burn Test Contract Awarded 28 Jun 07 –Burn testing from Aug-Sept 07 Objectives –Document any deficiencies in the current flight suit fabric –Characterize possible replacement fabric

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 10 Description: To develop, procure, and distribute the Hap Arnold style service dress coat for the US Air Force, A multi-track development of the “Arnold” version Heritage Service Coat, with belt In 4 Tracks: –Track 1: Issue/optional coat –Track 2: Commercial/optional coat AAFES coordinated Custom Tailored Coat at members own expense –Track 3: Parade/Ceremonial –Track 4: USAF Honor Guard Track 1: Tentative Schedule Fit testJan-Mar 08 Wear testApr-Jun 08 Initial distribution of issue coat (through DSCP)Summer 09 Track 2: Status Track 2 patterns are complete and vendor is reviewing them with AAFES For custom tailored option: –Developing the fabric in AF 1620 blue color –Goal is to have initial garments available by 1 Nov 07 Heritage Coat

Dominant Air Power: Design For Tomorrow…Deliver Today 11 PT Optional Shorts with Pockets Lightweight Short Sleeve T-shirt (Redesign) Investigating lighter weight fabrics Running Suit (Redesign) Same appearance but with better fabric, lining and trim, less noise and weight Anticipate Fit / Wear Test Mar 08 Long Sleeve T-Shirt Running Short ½ split running short with ID and other pockets possible Evaluating fabric and current reflective decal configuration Sweatshirt A mid-weight ash gray sweatshirt with reflective decal Awaiting vendor submissions for AAFES certification AF Physical Training (PT) Gear