Chocolate Chip Camouflage: A Modern Tribute to a Classic Era

At Blue Force Gear, our commitment to those who serve runs deep. It's the bedrock of everything we do, from the gear we design to the materials we choose. That's why we're proud to unveil our latest tribute to American service: the limited-edition Vickers Sling in the iconic Chocolate Chip camouflage pattern. 

A Brief History 

Early desert patterns were often just lighter versions of temperate or jungle patterns, rather than specifically designed for desert use. As teams became more dialed in and missions got more advanced, the need for distinct desert camouflage patterns arose. The "chocolate chip" camouflage pattern, officially known as the “Six-Color Desert pattern” or “Desert Battle Dress Uniform (DBDU) pattern,” was developed by the United States military in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was designed specifically for desert environments.  

Its distinctive design is a base pattern of light tan overlaid with broad swathes of pale green and wide two-tone bands of brown. It has clusters of black and white spots scattered across the tan base to mimic the appearance of pebbles and their shadows. These black-and-white spots resembled chocolate chips on a cookie and therefore it became known colloquially as Chocolate Chip camouflage. 

The pattern was officially adopted in 1981 and its first major use was Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990 – 1991 in Iraq and Kuwait. However, when they developed the pattern, they used the southwest American desert which looks strikingly different than the middle east. When they arrived in theatre wearing the full uniform, they realized that it was darker than they had anticipated.  

It stayed in use by the United States Armed Forces from the early 1980s to the mid 1990s, most notably during the Persian Gulf War. Even though the Chocolate Chip camouflage pattern was eventually replaced by the Three-Color Desert pattern in the 1990s, it remains a nostalgic and iconic symbol of a significant era in military history.  

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Buy Now from Primary Arms: No Waiting Necessary!

The limited run of Chocolate Chip Camo slings was a collaborative effort with Primary Arms. If you're eager to get your hands on the limited-edition Chocolate Chip Vickers Sling, you don't have to wait! A select quantity of these exclusive slings is NOW AVAILABLE at one of our trusted online dealers, Primary Arms. Renowned for their excellent customer service and wide selection of high-quality gear, Primary Arms is the perfect place to purchase your sling.  

They have slings with sewn in push buttons available as well as the version without hardware so you can select your attachments. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to own a piece of history—visit Primary Arms today.