Equipment
These uniforms are called battle dress uniforms, or BDU's, and are worn by Army and National Guard soldiers
in training, in the field, and in combat. They show the uniforms'
recent evolution and changes in pattern and function.
Source: All
objects were loaned by the Nebraska National Guard
- This Woodland pattern BDU (on the left) appeared in 1981. It is a four-color
mix and was available in lighter, hot-weather and heavier cold-weather,
versions. It was designed for use primarily in wooded regions.
- The center version is called the Desert
Camouflage Uniform (or DCU) and the pattern is similar to
Woodland, although the color scheme made it more useful in desert
environments. This version of the DCU emerged in the early 1990s
and replaced a similar pattern that also included small areas
of white and black.
- This version to the right is called the
Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and since 2005 it has been the
standard issue for all deployed troops, replacing the Woodland
pattern BDU and the DCU. Its pixelated pattern is called universal
because it is believed it will blend into desert, urban, and
woodland environments. The ACU also features more than two hundred
changes from previous BDUs to make it more functional. They include:
bottom jacket pockets removed and placed on shoulder sleeves
so they can be accessed while wearing body armor; buttons replaced
with zippers for comfort when wearing body armor; and patches,
tabs, and insignia held in place by velcro so they can easily
be removed before laundering or if a soldier is threatened with
capture.
The High
Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), better known
as a Humvee, is used by the Nebraska
National Guard both at home and during overseas deployments.
Although this Humvee is painted in Woodland camouflage colors,
Nebraska National Guard vehicles in Iraq are painted tan to blend
in with the desert environment. This style of Humvee is being
phased out in Iraq in favor of one with a v-shaped bottom that
helps deflect the blast from roadside improvised explosive devices
(IEDs).
This Light-Medium
Tactical Vehicle, better known as an LMTV, is used by the Nebraska National Guard at home
and overseas for cargo and troop transport. It operates in all
types of weather and can be used on trails and cross-country
terrain.
These two weapons, an M16A2 semi-automatic
rifle and an M249 squad automatic weapon, are common issue to
National Guard soldiers during deployment.
