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Army Combat Uniform without Permethrin

Monday September 23, 2013

What is it?

The U.S. Army is allowing Soldiers, trying to become pregnant, pregnant, or post-partum and nursing, the option of temporarily wearing an untreated uniform where the probability of vector-borne disease transmission is remote.

What has the Army done

In order to protect Soldiers from the risk and annoyance of biting insects, the Army introduced the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) with Permethrin in October 2012. These uniforms are available at Army Military Clothing Sales (AMCS), Clothing Initial Issue Points, Kentucky Logistics Operation Center for Army National Guard (ARNG) and United States Army Reserve enlisted Soldiers’ and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. The ACU with permethrin are factory treated with the Environmental Protection Agency approved insect repellent permethrin.

The EPA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization advocate the use of permethrin-treated clothing to protect individuals, even pregnant women and children, who may be exposed to insect-borne diseases.

What efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

To exercise the option of wearing non-permethrin treated ACUs, Soldiers must meet with their health care provider to obtain a temporary eProfile - DA Form 3349, Physical Profile - authorizing the wear of non-treated ACUs. Proof of profile is required to order and purchase a non-treated ACU through AMCS.

The profile is issued/ monitored as any other temporary profile. The pregnancy (nine months) and post-partum (six weeks after delivery) profiles reflect the optional wear of the ACU without Permethrin with maximum duration of 90 days (subject to renewal) with no functional or Army Physical Fitness Test restrictions. The profile can be continued for 12 months, any extension requires approval by the medical treatment facility commander in cooperation with the Soldier’s commander.

Why is this important to the Army?

During the time a Soldier is trying to get pregnant, she may eliminate certain foods, modify behaviors, and may be unaware of the exact date of conception. Just like behavior modification, the Army is providing Soldiers the option to wear an untreated ACU while trying to become pregnant, pregnant, and nursing.

The ACU with Permethrin will be worn by Soldiers in possession of this temporary medical profile when commanders deem it necessary to reduce risk of vector-borne hazards while in deployed (non-combat) environments such as field training.

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