News>Luke Airmen to test new stain resistant footwear
Photos
The new airman battle uniform boot sits on display while Airmen are fitted as part of the test group June 10 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tracie Forte)
About 200 Airmen were fitted to wear test a prototype stain resistant boot June 10 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The current boot, seen at right, stains when exposed to industrial environments. The prototype selected will be low-maintenance and resistant to staining from harsh chemicals, oils, and fuels. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Staff Sgt. William Robins gets an idea of what he will be wearing for a 45-day test as he examines the prototype stain-resistant boot June 10 at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Two hundred Airmen will wear test the boot. The prototype selected will be low-maintenance and resistant to staining from harsh chemicals, oils, and fuels. Sergeant Robins is with the 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo)
8/11/2009 - WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) -- Stain resistant, low maintenance boot prototypes will soon be tested by Airmen at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.
"This boot is expected to be a solution for low-maintenance footwear that upholds a professional military image no matter the environment," said 1st Lt. Ashley Hawkes, the airman battle uniform program manager at the Air Force Uniform Office here.
"The current boot turns black when exposed to chemicals, such as those associated with flightline operations," the lieutenant said.
The prototype selected will be low-maintenance and resistant to staining from harsh chemicals, oils, and fuels. Maintenance is expected to be limited to wiping with a damp cloth.
Previous wear tests were conducted on the suede leather boot currently issued, but the results were unacceptable.
"The boots we've tested up until now have fallen short in maintaining a clean appearance," said Master Sgt. James Lynn, an Air Force Uniform Office subject matter expert. "We are confident this current test will provide the right answer."
Four prototypes, from different manufacturers, were selected for testing. Each boot is made of low-maintenance material designed to withstand exposure to chemicals in industrial areas.
Two hundred Airmen will participate in the testing. The Airmen had size measurements taken June 10 and the testing of the prototypes is scheduled to begin in August and last 45 days.
The main focus of this testing is to evaluate stain resistance characteristics of each prototype while worn in industrial environments. The prototypes will be exposed to situations that result in black stains on the current issue boot.
Airmen will complete an end-user survey at the end of the evaluation period, and a sample of the boots will be returned to the Air Force Uniform Office for analysis.
"Extensive research has gone into developing a boot to meet operational requirements, while being low-maintenance and maintaining a professional appearance for our Airmen," Lieutenant Hawkes said. "The results of this test will pave the way ahead."
Comments
8/17/2009 7:14:17 AM ET This is an example of having 'money to burn'. The 'blue suede shoe' boots were criticized from they moment they walked in and the 'aqua man' version is just as bad. The outcome makes it look like no one is willing or able to do the right thing regarding the ABU footwear. Isn't anybody willing to tell at least one apparently color blind senior leader that this is really not that hard
Jack, San Antonio TX
8/14/2009 4:47:51 AM ET The AF wants our boots to be green but they turn black so why don't they just make a pair that are a jungle boot style with black leather and a sage green fabric.... problem solved everyones happy.
Justin, Langley AFB
8/12/2009 3:56:58 PM ET This boot looks to be a cross between a rubber boot moon walkeranti-gravity device and a Haz-Mat Level A boot. Great breathability out of that sucker...
Ken, SANGB
8/12/2009 7:50:16 AM ET Makes me wonder with the suede boots and tan shirts we've been complaining about since they were announced if these guys on the board have stake in bellevue boots and duke t-shirts. I know in a year I'm on my second pair of 110 boots and 7th package of shirts. Get a clue people.
Jeremy, NE
8/11/2009 8:09:58 PM ET Tan works fine. Why re-invent the wheel?
Andy, MA
8/11/2009 6:22:13 PM ET When asked way back when this was being put out in testing, we TOLD them that the color material of these boots would NOT work for aircraft and maintenance in general. No one listened. Finally they are hearing it. Makes you wonder if input is really taken into consideration.
M.A. Contreras, Nellis AFB
8/11/2009 3:31:31 PM ET Why don't we use the black boots we've had for years i'm sure we have tons in the supply system. All we need is a little common sense and we could save the tax payer lots of money.
Pedro, Schertz
8/11/2009 2:46:03 PM ET Here is an idea - if the boot will eventually turn black start with a black boot We should also hope that the new boot is breathable since lots of maintenance folks and others need to allow their feet to sweat safely.
Charles Phillips LtCol USAF Ret, Houston Texas
8/11/2009 2:38:05 PM ET Since when did the BDUABU become a suit We've wasted too much time effort and resources into something so trivial as the color and dirtyness of our boots. Stick with the tan boots which I'm sure we have plenty thereof and stop worrying about whether or not our boots look pretty. The uniform board needs to get away from WPAFB get out to the operational AF and actually see what is going on instead of taking their baseline inputs from high ranking office workers.
Curt, WPAFB
8/11/2009 1:19:50 PM ET I really hope they change the color.
Jason, Hurby
8/11/2009 12:39:13 PM ET Why not just stick with black boots that have worked fine for decades If the AF wants a no-shine option then issue boots made out of black suede
Casey Whitman, Redstone Arsenal AL
8/11/2009 12:02:25 PM ET Well its about time welcome to being at or above the power curve AF
Ryan, AZANG
8/11/2009 10:24:53 AM ET This is an excellent example of where the USAF uniform board process has consistently used flawed logic in their testing processes. The maintenance career fields make up the largest segment of the enlisted force of the USAF. Concentrating more of the utilitarian and functionality aspects of proposed uniform changes in the maintenance enlisted functional groups would not only make more sense it would prevent having to revisit major mistakes in uniform changes and thus save huge amounts of precious funds. Face it most of the uniform testing has focused on the administrative enlited functional groups so widely and redily available in the National Capital Region instead fo the worldwide flightlines.
