A s per result of surveys, the present Army Athletic Uniform Alpha (AAUA) shirt not only has a poor moisture management quality but also bears the reflective “ARMY” print that easily peels-off or fades after several washes and wear cycles. The Research and Development Center, Army Support Command, (RDC, ASCOM), then, conducted a study to improve the quality of AAUA.
This is to keep at par with current commercial athletic apparel like Nike and Under Armour. As such, various tests were conducted on different fabric samples to determine the most appropriate material for the AAUA. It was determined that in order to improve the durability of the “ARMY” print and the whole print design in general, sublimation printing technology is recommended because it transfers the design within the fabric itself and not just on its surface. The design of the short pants was also modified by replacing the brief liner with a built-in inner compression shorts (similar to cycling pants).
ASCOM has already recommended to the Higher Headquarters the development of 200 sets of AAUA as prototypes prior to finalizing its technical specification.