The A-TACS camo pattern has been in development for a some time, but they
are just now starting to gain the momentum and popularity that they deserve.
They were testing the A-TACS about the same time as the multicam, and as we all
know multicam was chosen. They did this because the multicam will work in a
larger array of environments as opposed to the sand washed looking A-TACS. If
they are utilized in the right environment, however, the sand pattern can make
its wearer almost invisible.
When it was first developed, the A-TACS came in one color
pattern, desert. While it worked great in desert environments, if the wearer
patrolled into an area with any vegetation, they would be obvious for everyone
to see. The solution was to incorporate some green into the pattern. This produced
the Foliage Green A-TACS. This pattern is the exact opposite of the Desert
A-TACS because it will work wonders in an environment with vegetation, but not
in the desert.
Finding a camo pattern that will work in every environment
equally is next to impossible. The A-TACS’s most prevalent weakness is that
they are terrain specific. Don’t let this discredit what the A-TACS have to
offer. If you are working on a border between a desert and a jungle, wear
multicam. If you know the type of terrain you will be dealing with and have no expectations
of leaving that environment anytime soon, choose the appropriate A-TACS camo.
As much of a fan as I am of A-TACS, I’ll admit that there is
still some development that needs to be done before this type of camo can reach
its true potential. It is certainly a step in the right direction and it is
exciting to see the avenues that we are beginning to explore in our choice of
camouflage.
