VALDOSTA — The United States Air Force is making changes. The new Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) has been finalized and is ready for production. The new uniform design is a pixilated tiger stripe with four soft earth tones consisting of tan, gray, green and blue. The ABU will have a permanent crease and will be offered in 50-50 nylon-cotton blend permanent press fabric, eliminating the need for winter and summer weight uniforms.

“The new Airman Battle Uniform was designed to be easier to maintain, and it reduces the amount of money our airmen have to pay to keep their uniforms looking sharp,” said Col. Kenneth Todorov, 23rd Wing commander. “This uniform was also made with many specific features that help us when we deploy and have to deal with additional equipment.”

The uniform is being given to airmen deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan and is now available in the local base exchange.

Many factors were considered in developing the final uniform selection, with the concern for airmen being at the top of the list, said Brig. Gen. Robert R. Allardice, according to the official Air Force Web site.

Also, airmen’s feedback throughout the process was beneficial in adding new pockets on the uniform.

“We listened to the airmen’s request where they wanted pockets to hold small tools and when they wear body armor the existing shirt pockets are not accessible or usable,” Allardice said. “It will have the four pockets on the front of the shirt, and also a small pencil pocket on the left forearm and two pockets on the lower legs. In addition, inside the side pockets and inside of the breast pockets there will be smaller sewn-in pockets to hold small tools, flashlights or cell phones.”

Some other ABU accessory items include the following:

— A tan T-shirt will be worn; airmen will be required to maintain one tan T-shirt with an Air Force logo on the front and Air Force written on the back.

— Suede cowhide boots in matching green-gray color; like the desert boot these will be polish-free and available in men’s and women’s sizes.

— The word color for the name, U.S. Air Force, and rank is midnight blue; nametapes and rank insignia background will be tan and will be sewn on using a matching tan color thread.

— The ABU adopts the battle dress uniform hat style for primary use and the floppy hat design will be used in some deployed areas.

“This is the uniform of the future,” Allardice said. “Eventually when enough of these uniforms are manufactured, we will phase out the BDU and desert combat uniforms.”

The current projected mandatory wear date for the new ABU is fiscal year 2011.