As you stroll through any military base today, the ubiquitous "Coyote Brown" catches the eye. This muted yellow-brown hue adorns the uniforms of sailors, airmen, soldiers, and Marines alike. Notably, articles such as beanies, boots, and fleece jackets proudly display the complete Coyote Brown palette. Given its prevalence in the military, a natural question arises: What is the origin of this distinctive color? To unravel this tale, we must rewind to the turn of the millennium and delve into the world of Ralph Lauren.
In February 2000, the entire U.S. military donned Battle Dress Uniforms (BDUs). Marine Sgt. Ken Henley, a seasoned sniper, found himself transitioning from Scout Sniper Platoon 2/2 at Camp Lejeune to the role of a TBS combat instructor at Quantico. Beyond his sniper expertise, Henley was a decorated Marine, having earned a Purple Heart during an embassy reinforcement mission in Monrovia, Liberia, in May 1996.
Henley's journey into the realm of color and camouflage began when captains from Marine Corps Systems Command (MarCorSysCom) sought his insights for a lecture on camouflage at the University of Virginia. Impressed with his expertise, they continued to enlist Henley's assistance for various projects, including the design of a camo helmet cover and a new lightweight helmet.
The pivotal moment arrived when General James Logan Jones, Jr., the Commandant of the Marine Corps, issued a directive for MarCorSysCom to craft an improved Marine Corps uniform. Henley, a natural choice, embarked on this mission, initially underestimating its complexity. His collaboration with civilian textile engineers at the Navy Clothing Textile Research Facility in Natick, Massachusetts, involved sifting through 150 camouflage patterns. Ultimately, they converged on a modified version of the Rhodesian Disruptive Pattern Material (DPM).
However, Henley's realization that this uniform would define the Marines' presence in the 21st century spurred him to seek uniqueness. Teaming up with another sniper, Gunny H, they engaged in a collaborative brainstorming session involving engineers, sniper school staff, and current sniper school students. The quest for uniqueness led them to a serendipitous discovery at a local Home Depot—a color swatch named Coyote from the Ralph Lauren Santa Fe paint collection.
Although discontinued, the Coyote color was integrated into the pattern using advanced scanning technology. Collaborating with the Natick engineers, Henley and Gunny H refined their pattern, drawing inspiration from the Canadian CADPAT. Overcoming challenges, they introduced what would become the iconic MARPAT pattern.
After extensive testing at Quantico, MARPAT officially debuted on the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform on January 17, 2002. The accompanying Coyote Brown gear gained recognition, spreading beyond the Marine Corps. Today, Coyote Brown plays a vital role in the Operational Camouflage Pattern of the Army Combat Uniform, highlighting its cross-service influence. So, the next time your uniform draws a jest, you can assert your sartorial superiority, proudly noting that you're wearing a Ralph Lauren color.
