The New BDU Appears: The Air Force has rolled out its new battle dress uniform, saying it will be available in Fiscal 2007. This latest one survived the wear test that proved the undoing of an earlier blue, tiger stripe version. Officials say the new BDU incorporates things that airmen said they wanted, including pockets for small tools and pockets that are useable even when wearing body armor. They describe the color as “soft earth tones” of tan, grey, green, and blue. It’s also supposed to be easier to maintain—no ironing. And, the term of preference is ABU—for Airman Battle Uniform.
Air Force Gen. Jacqueline D. Van Ovost—a trailblazer and one of the first 10 women to reach a four-star rank across the U.S. military—retired and passed control of U.S. Transportation Command to Air Force Gen. Randall Reed on Oct. 4, finishing an eventful tenure at TRANSCOM.