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MultiCam is a single camouflage pattern designed to help the wearer hide in varied environments, seasons, elevations, and light conditions. It is a 7-color,[1] multi-environment camouflage pattern developed by Crye Associates in conjunction with U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center (also known as U.S Army Natick labs). The pattern was on the race to replace the 3-color desert and Woodland patterns, but originally lost to the Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP) in 2004, seen in the Army Combat Uniform. However, it has been newly commissioned in 2010 and will be replacing the UCP over time for use by US Army Units serving in Afghanistan, under the Designation OCP or Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern.[2][3] It is already used by some American Special Operations units and law enforcement agencies.
The US Army has recently approved the use of MultiCam for the 173rd Airborne Brigade deployed to Afghanistan.[4]
The pattern is also available for commercial sale to civilians.[5]
A development of MultiCam with the existing British DPM has been adopted with British Army as Multi-Terrain Pattern.
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MultiCam has background colors of a brown to light-tan gradient and lime green blending in between, the main part consist of green to yellowish green gradient and finally dark brown and light pinkish blotches spread throughout the pattern. This allows for the overall appearance to change from greenish to brownish in different areas of the fabric, while having smaller blotches to break up the bigger background areas. MultiCam hides volume and form by tricking the human eye's perception of color. MultiCam allows the object it covers to blend into the background with the camo pattern.
There is also a non-licensed copy of the original pattern which is slightly darker or with pink or yellow tone and printed on different fabric with different characteristics.[6]
Another non-licensed copy, called Suez pattern, very similar to original MultiCam, is used by Polish special forces GROM, BOA and BOR.[7]
It has become quite popular among armed forces of many nationalities and, to an equal extent, civilians. It is one of few patterns that are not generally issued but are yet available from prominent makers of military uniforms and equipment.
The Chilean Marine Corps,Chilean Naval Special Warefare Division, and the Air Force Comandos adopted Multicam in 2009. Multicam is the standard issue uniform of El Ejercito de Chile.
MultiCam is currently in use by some units of the US military's Special Operations Command,[8][9] and some private military contractors.[10] Several members of the US Army's 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, Charlie Company were also seen wearing MultiCam when followed by ABC News.[11] Some local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies also make use of the pattern, including the Drug Enforcement Agency DEA FAST teams operating Afghanistan as well as the Department of Homeland Security ICE SRT and the Spokane Police department. The United States Air Force just recently announced that they will be adopting use of MultiCam for some of their uniforms.
The pattern is also in use with UKSF in Afghanistan. British forces deployed in Afghanistan have been using a MultiCam variant, Multi-Terrain Pattern, since March 2010. Crye's MultiCam technology was determined to be the best performing, across the widest range of environments (by a significant margin) and was subsequently selected as the basis for the new MTP camouflage, combined with the existing British Disruptive Pattern Material pattern.[12][13]
On the 19th of November 2010, after trials by Australian special operations forces, the Australian Defence Force announced that Multicam will be standard for all regular Australian Army personnel in Afghanistan. Multicam, it is said, provided "... troops with greater levels of concealment across the range of terrains in Afghanistan – urban, desert and green." Previously, depending upon the terrain, Australian troops had to transition between green and desert colored Australian Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniforms (DPCU or AUSCAM).[14][15] On the 30th of May 2011 the Defence Material Organisation announced that they had obtained licence to produce Multicam in Australia for $4.7 million USD and Crye would also design a new uniquely Australian pattern for another $3.1 million USD.[16]
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