The US Army has developed a new combat uniform - the ARPAT. This is not unexpected given the development of the Marine Corps's effective MARPAT field uniform. . . but in a time of record Defense budgets and active warfare when our Army troops will be wearing these uniforms in engagements with "enemy forces". . .
While the new ARPAT comes in only one type, the Marines have three different types/color schemes of digital camouflage for obvious reasons. . . forests don't look like deserts don't look like urban areas. . . At the tactical level our troops and their officers are obviously not stupid, but no degree of competence can make up for strategic confusion/delusion. . . I mean if the Rummy/the Army are trying to cut corners here. . .
"Designed for multiple environments ARPAT was derived from the U.S. Marines digital MARPAT, however one main difference with ARPAT was the removal of black in the pattern leaving it with three colors and with only one color scheme for Woodland, Desert, and Urban we believe it is equally ineffective in each environment, we affectionately refer to ARPAT as the Alternate Reality Pattern as we cannot determine on what scientific basis it was developed. Dr. O'Neill has designed objective tests of ARPAT to compare the results in a number of environmental settings with Woodland MARAPT / Desert MARPAT and our new Advanced Generation II MARPAT: Woodland / Desert and Cold Weather (3 separate) color schemes. Actual testing is scheduled to take place within the next few months."
"Our concern with ARPAT is that concealment effectiveness has been compromised by the one (multi-environment) color scheme requirement, which seems to be based on budgetary restrictions rather than protection of the individual. Our past research shows a minimum of two different color schemes; woodland and high desert are required for sufficient concealment in global operations."
http://www.hyperstealth.com/digital-design/