U.S. Marines in the Middle East, 1991
painted by Col D.J. Neary, USMCR
This watercolor was one of several done for the Marine Corps during the Gulf War to document uniforms worn at the time of this conflict. Actual Marines were used as models for each figure. The painting was reproduced as a print for distribution throughout the Marine Corps. The original is part of the Marine Corps Art Collection.

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1 DESERT CAMOUFLAGE UTILITIES	2 NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, & CHEMICAL WARFARE (NBC) DEFENSE ENSEMBLE	3 FLYING ENSEMBLE (F/A18 PILOT)	4 DESERT CAMOUFLAGE UTILITIES WITH WEAPON	5 NIGHTTIME DESERT CAMOUFLAGE UTILIITIES	6 DESERT CAMOUFLAGE UTILITIES WITH FIELD EQUIPMENT

SHOWN IN THIS PLATE ARE THE various uniforms worn by Marines participating in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. These uniforms are current as of 16 January 1991, D-Day for Desert Storm. It should be noted, however, that uniform regulations are never static, but reflect changing situations and requirements.

IN THE PAST THE MARINE CORPS has had little need for uniforms specifically designed for the desert environment. Historically, the closest predecessor to a desert uniform was a camouflage uniform, printed with a green pattern on one side and brown on the other, issued to Marine raiders, parachutists, and scout-snipers during World War II. The modern-day desert camouflage utility uniforms are part of the "Battle Dress Uniform" system adopted by the Army in 1979 to provide suitable field and combat uniforms for varying environments. Marines are issued these uniforms as special-purpose clothing when needeed. Although the desert uniform has been worn for desert training and field exercises since its adoption, it was not actually worn in a hostile environment until the deployment of Marines to the Middle East during Operation Desert Shield, which began in August 1990 as a prelude to Opertaion Desert Storm.

Text from accompanying fact sheet by the History and Museums Division and the
Permanent Marine Corps Uniform Board.

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