HOW NOT TO CONVERT YOUR AIRMAN BATTLE UNIFORMS INTO GLOW-IN-THE-DARK WIDOW-MAKERS

  • Published
  • By Air Force Uniform and Programs Web page
Air Force Portal --  Some Airmen may be unwittingly turning their new Airmen Battle Uniforms into glow-in-the dark widow-makers.

Laundry instructions for the ABUs, which became available earlier this year, specify not using any laundry detergents that contain "optical brighteners." Optical brightener additives make the uniform more detectable by night vision equipment, according to a talking paper posted on the Air Force Uniform and Recognition Programs page on the Air Force Portal. They also make it more visible in a low-light environment of any kind, by reflecting more of any available light, officials said.

Optical brighteners are chemicals that absorb the ultraviolet and violet region of colors in a fabric. They "trick" the eye into seeing a brighter shade and reflect more light. As a result, near infrared capability of the ABU is degraded when washed with optical brighteners, officials explained.

The problem is most commercial detergents contain optical brighteners. Adding to the difficulty, there is generally no way to tell whether a laundry product has optical brighteners by the labeling alone. (View the accompanying list of laundry detergents that do not contain optical brightener additives below,    and clip and save for future use).

The impact of optical brighteners is permanent; it cannot be "washed out," officials said.

In a letter to senior enlisted leaders, Senior Master Sgt. Gerardo Tapia, special assistant to the chief master sergeant of the Air Force at the Pentagon, wrote, "As Airman Battle Uniforms become more and more prevalent in our Air Force, proper care of the garment is critical, especially if you will be deploying in it. The wrong use of cleaning detergent on this garment has some very undesirable side effects."