One of the best military surplus is the uniform worn by soldiers in action. Uniforms go through a lot and yet withstand the harshest conditions in terms of weather and combat.

All branches of the military have recently changed their uniform or are in the process of doing so. Each branch has changed since the Battle Dress Uniform (BDU). The battle dress had been military surplus since it became a standard item in September 1981. It included a cap, shirt, pants, and the M65 field jacket.

The BDU was made of cotton or a combination of cotton and nylon or polyester. All BDU items are made using ripstop fabric to ensure durability. Two different versions of the jacket were made: one for warm weather and one for mild weather. The BDU originally came in Woodland Camouflage, but later became available in other patterns.

The BDU became an unauthorized military surplus item on April 30, 2008, but many military personnel continue to use it.

The first branch to institute new uniforms was the Marine Corps. The new uniform is called the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU) and uses the MARine PATtern (MARPAT) design. The pattern is a “digital” camouflage, made up of small “pixels” of colour, which is available in both woodland and desert colours. The change took place from 2001 to 2004.

Then it was the Army that switched from the BDU to its new Army Combat Uniform (ACU). The change took place from 2005 to 2007. Like the Marines, the Army used a “digital” camouflage pattern called the Universal Camouflage Pattern. This pattern works well in both forested and desert areas.

The other branches have followed the Marines and the Army, switching from the BDU (or other uniforms) to their own respective new military surplus uniforms. The Coast Guard has switched to the operational dress uniform, which is navy blue in color and is similar to the BDU. The Air Force now wears the Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) with its “digital” tiger stripe camouflage pattern. The Air Force has come a long way since the good old Air Force flight jacket. It will complete the change by 2011. And finally, the Navy has begun the change to the Navy Work Uniform (NWU), a change that will also be required by all Navy personnel by January 2011. The Navy has a new camouflage digitized. pattern, blue being the main color.