WASHINGTON ( CNN ) -- U.S. Army ground commanders in Afghanistan say they need help , fast . That 's not a request for more troops , but a request from commanders who say the current camouflage uniform is not blending well in the diverse countryside . U.S. Army commanders in Afghanistan say the current uniform does not blend well in the countryside . In response , the Army later this month will field-test two new camouflage color schemes and patterns on about 1,000 soldiers in Afghanistan , where the terrain is extremely varied . Commanders have had problems there because of the numerous changes in environments a soldier can move in and out of in a short period of time -- from woodland to desert to alpine , and to rocky and snowy mountain tops . The current uniform , known as the Army Combat Uniform or ACU , has lighter shades of green and tan , which some commanders have complained does not blend well if soldiers need to stay motionless on a mission , as snipers or reconnaissance troops must . The effort by the Army was recently accelerated , according to Army officials , after U.S. Rep. John Murtha , D-Pennsylvania , told the Army he had a number of complaints from soldiers in Afghanistan who said the current camouflage pattern was not effective in the mountainous regions . Two yet-to-be-identified battalions -- a battalion has about 500 troops -- will test the two patterns , with initial results being turned into Army researchers by the end of October . While deployed , all 1,000 soldiers will have their regularly issued ACUs . In addition , one battalion will also get one of the new camouflage uniforms with a test pattern known as `` MultiCam . '' The pattern is made up of numerous blobs of white , brown , tan , black and greens for a more woodland look , and is already being worn by snipers and special operations forces . The other brigade will test a similar pattern to the ACU , called the Universal Cammo Pattern-Delta or `` UCP-Delta . '' While the pattern is the same , a series of `` digitized '' blocks of green and tan , the test uniform adds what he Army calls `` coyote brown '' and a slight color darkening all around to the greens and tans . The look is also designed to blend in the woods . Both battalions will be based in eastern Afghanistan where the terrain is the most rugged and diverse , Army officials said . The Army hopes to have the field input and a decision on what pattern is best by the end of January 2010 and the fielding of the new uniform as early as June 2010 . Troops will still keep the existing ACU , and commanders will be able to decide mission by mission what the soldiers should wear , according to Army officials . The testing is part of the Army 's long-term development of a permanent alternative to the current ACU , according to Army officials .
Commanders say current uniform does n't blend well in Afghanistan 's countryside . Comment: Army hopes to have decision on new pattern by the end of January 2010 .