Improved physical fitness uniform coming to a store near you

  • Published
  • By Brad Jessmer
  • Air Force Uniform Office
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  After much planning, anticipation and constructive feedback, the Army Air Force Exchange Service and the Air Force Uniform Office officials have partnered to bring an improved physical training uniform to select military clothing sales stores in July.

The IPTU, which consists of a running jacket, pants, trunks and a T-shirt, is an optional uniform authorized for wear.

IPTU availability is based on several factors, such as duty location. Deployed locations will take priority shipments followed by Pacific and European theaters. Worldwide rollout of the IPTU trunks and running suit started in July, but the IPTU T-shirt release date remains undetermined. 

Sylvia Kuniyoshi, Kadena's AAFES retail store manager, said the military clothing sales store at Kadena currently carries the new trunks, but the initial shipment of the running suit isn't expected to arrive until around September or October.

"We had a higher priority on the trunks because we're overseas and the hot climate here," she said.

The IPTU will be in short supply starting out, AAFES officials say. Once all military clothing stores have received shipment, the IPTU will be available via Internet purchase worldwide around October.

Even though the IPTU is made to be identical to the current PTU, components of the running suits are not to be mixed, according to a policy letter issued Oct. 28, 2009, by Headquarters Air Force Manpower and Personnel officials.

"The new IPTU was made to look like the original PTU," said Master Sgt. James Lynn, an AFUO subject matter expert. "However, wear policy has been established and published that prohibits wearing the new jacket with the pants from the current version or the current jacket with the new running pants."

The IPTU running suit consists of a different material with enough of a color shade difference to be identifiable from the current suit, Sergeant Lynn said.

However, the current PTU and IPTU shorts and shirts may be mixed and also worn with the IPTU running suit.

By utilizing the latest advances in textile technology, the IPTU offers significant improvements in both comfort and functionality over the current PTU, said Capt. Nick Ferry, an IPTU program manager. Improvements include the elimination of the "swish-swish" in-motion noise, better reflectivity, lighter weight and state-of-the-art moisture wicking material with a quick-drying, anti-microbial liner.

"Much time and effort from a lot of folks has gone into the research, development and testing of the IPTU," Captain Ferry said. "The end result is a greatly improved uniform that will eliminate many concerns and frustrations our Airmen have had."

-- Staff Sgt. Jason Lake, 18th Wing public affairs office, contributed to this story