Disruptive Patterned Navy Uniform Distinctive During TS09

5 August 2009

The new Royal Australian Navy two-piece Disruptive Patterned Navy Uniform (DPNU) stood out during Exercise Talisman Saber 2009 (TS09).

As the fleet receives its rollout of the DPNUs, HMAS Kanimbla’s ships company was in the spotlight during TS09 as the only major fleet unit with the new uniform issue.

On land the new uniform attracted attention from the public and members of he United States armed forces.

LEUT Kelli Lunt, from HQJOC, found herself at the center of attention at an ADF open day in downtown Rockhampton.

"People were coming up all day asking me where my uniform was from," LEUT Lunt said. "But the comments about the DPNUs were positive."

The uniform also stood out at Camp Rocky, the staging area in Rockhampton where personnel stopped on their way to the TS09 exercise area.

United States Navy Aviation Ordnance 2nd Class, Calvin Henry, picked up on the change soon after his arrival. This was of particular interest to him considering that the United States Navy had recently issued their own new digital Navy camouflage uniform. The American uniforms are intended as a fresh new look, allowing sailors to step ashore in their new digi cams two-piece uniform.

"Our new digi cams are a lot more comfortable and less maintance then our previous Coveralls with a belt," he commented.

With all Australian and American services wearing disruptive pattern uniforms, RAN personnel noted that the news uniform fitted in well with other ADF services.

"These new uniforms makes me feel apart of the ADF team," AB Stores Naval Julie Kidston from HMAS Cairns said at Camp Rocky.