R.I.C. (Rest in Command), Gunny. Setting: near-future North America. Scenario: disillusionment with the federal bureaucracy and its underhanded methods of staying in power reach a tipping point when Texas is compelled to place a secession referendum on the ballot which passes with a significant majority. Few other states have nationalist movements of their own but when Texas independence yields opportunity to break out from under Washington's thumb a domino effect occurs throughout the Midwest and Deep South, birthing a new American republic [that will spend a while debating what to call itself].
Overwhelmed by the weight of this change and with now most of its remaining population content to let what they see as their less-than-agreeable countrymen go their own way, the Washington government is in no position to allay the transition. Faced with little choice but to focus outward against foreign threats who might exploit the situation, Washington can only express grudging political resistance against the secession which is able to proceed with minimal bloodshed. Thus unlike the previous 2 efforts in history a new nation is able to peaceably form on the American mainland, and the international community has no grounds to withhold recognition as it is only the latest in a long line of countries birthed via the self-determination of its own people.
Pre-existing infrastructure and commonality of socioeconomic values enables the political transition to proceed smoothly. One concern is the commissioning of a new military in what amounts to a blank slate thanks to being freed from the hold of Washington bureaucracy and its arbitrary standards. A fraction of American military technology changed hands but not enough to grant the new republic superiority over even its continental neighbors, leaving the only logical choice a full reimplementation of the nationwide citizen reserve (militia) system.
Limited deterrence was already available through the now former US military personnel who sided with their home states, the various state National Guard units, a smattering of State Guard volunteers, and a mind-blowing conglomeration of citizen militias; the final category had played no small part in ensuring the birth of their new country was peaceful, but they had far too little commonality of standards to easily meld into a cohesive force even at state level. Liberty-minded as the people of this new nation proved it quickly became clear a universal conscription system like that practiced in Israel would be infeasible, and sociopolitical leaders were aware that the American system broke down because too many of its people took freedom for granted. With these considerations there was implemented a Heinlein system.
What this meant is no one would automatically be granted citizenship anymore but everyone could earn it through national service. This was not required and all people still had fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution (practicing faith, speaking freely, bearing arms for defense, fair and equal justice) but only citizens could vote, have any binding say in the country's direction, or be employed in positions of public trust. Because it was the most expedient way to citizenship most would opt for military service, a successful incentive that solved both the national defense and freedom value issues while having the added benefit of training a strong and economically-proficient citizenry (who could have their healthcare covered for life under the national insurance system since service earned them that as well).
Back to Reality a Moment
That background has been set for the purpose of today's topic: my own take of what would constitute one possible system of camouflage standards among the various services of an America-like country just starting off (thus not beholden to any precedent). Of course this will be highly opinionated but the point can still be a fanciful discussion for the merits of recent camouflage developments, particularly those not adopted by any military yet but selling good on the commercial market. That private citizens are using a portion of these patterns in sporting and/or militia roles means real-world testing already exists and this adds objectivity to the evaluation not necessarily found among the developers of these patterns due to their interest in making sales.
I choose Tru-Spec as my point of reference for availability in this time period because traditionally they have wide breadth of options which helps to consider trends. Their lineup in the 2020s is greater than it has ever been but other changes prompted reevaluation: for instance, they seem to no longer produce 3-color desert (DCU) so I had to nix that from the manifest despite my affinity for classic US patterns [and personal ownership of multiple samples]. I search their online catalog not just for commonality of fabrics and cuts but whether there is matching headgear in both categories to make a complete field uniform.
Recruits & Home Guard (Militia)
The more complex a uniform, whether in color or fabric properties, the greater the cost. Spending like money grows on trees is a bad enough matter for our present real-life national defense, and it would be that much worse for a smaller nation screening its entirety of citizen candidates for the infantry; because of service term considerations and the need to build troops into self-sufficient citizens as well as fighting team members, all recruits regardless of future branch or specialty would receive the full dose of infantry training. Recruit trainee issue utilities would be up to 3 sets each (supplies permitting) of simple cotton ripstop BDUs in plain olive drab, much like the good old days.
Olive Drab by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peBq7snxWFY
This is not intended as a field uniform though if there was a sudden attack it could at least be pressed as one with considerable effectiveness in woods or grass, albeit in daytime only as cost minimalizing means no near-infrared (NIR, or IRR for the British) blend for this one. Trainees who pass initial training and can proceed to the combat field exercise phases will have their issue expanded with a set or two of BDUs in classic M81 Woodland [again in simple cotton ripstop]. As was traditional among late 20th century US training forces (and remains so in the One Shepherd Leadership Institute which offers infantry training to the general public) one side of a field exercise wears camouflage and the other olive drab, so neither is denied daytime camouflage effectiveness but both are also identifiable from a distance.
M81 Woodland (Fertile) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNHKcMyzxXE
The complete regimen of basic military training should be enough to tax the initial issue to limits; cotton ripstop is known to not hold up as well as its blend fabric peers. The olive drab BDUs are not expected to survive in serviceable condition thus recruits, graduated or otherwise, are free to take theirs home to treat as they please. Woodland BDUs get kept too, however as they are more likely still serviceable they remain acceptable as a basic camouflage to fall back on in emergencies during service or Home Guard training sessions attended after one's chosen regular service term.
M81 Woodland (Semi-Arid) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViONcCx8fsc
Upon meeting stipulations for citizenship no doubt most will choose to proceed with their civilian lives at this new level, but among their discharge terms would be obligation to continue part-time service in the local Home Guard unit at least until maximum time is fulfilled to qualify for lifetime benefits. Militia will be expected to augment the Army in time of war so among their other gear members are to maintain at least two sets of ACUs (Tru-Spec refers to their take on this cut as TRU) in M81 Woodland that are issued upon their service transitions being processed. Unlike training issue BDUs the ACUs are NIR treated and nylon-cotton blend, suitable for actual service in the field so long as they are maintained properly.
Army: MultiCam Family (https://multicampattern.com/)
Tradition does hold strong and today's US Army [and Air Force] issue OCP, being a MultiCam derivative, has its merits for general use even if it is a jack-of-all-trades. Significant effectiveness in a large variety of terrains and conditions (including night for uniforms NIR-treated) is an ideal baseline even if less suitable for some situations. Greater mass production also lowers costs, so as the Army is the largest branch of service recruits who graduate as soldiers can look forward to receiving new sets of nylon-cotton blends in standard "intermediate" MultiCam upon arriving for their specialty training.
MultiCam (Fertile) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckLNN_3eOBY
In regular ground combat services all camouflage field uniforms are suitable for combat service: no more compromises in quality once basic training is passed. The BDU cut is the simpler lower-cost option, and would suffice in regular Army use for staff officers and non-infantry specialties. As for those hulking body armor and hundreds of rounds on foot, the ACU cut is more utilitarian and equips the bulk of infantry.
MultiCam (Semi-Arid) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JguoUr2LpMY
The bulk of special forces in this republic military would also be in the Army, and like all such troops they would have choice of their own special gear. Their missions would typically be offensive in nature which, among other factors, prompts a narrower camouflage focus. It is these operators who get access to the range of specialized patterns in the family but still be the Army's own as each are still MultiCam variants: Arid, Tropic, Alpine, and Black.
MultiCam Tropic by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhEJTALli1c
Air Force: Tiger Stripe Family (https://www.tigerstripeproducts.com/)
The relationship of Tiger Stripe Products to the US military long predates their development of a grayish "Digital" variant for the so-called Airman Battle Uniform, but the special Air Force focus is an undeniable factor (including an alternate reality episode of Stargate SG-1). Special operators from several countries love the pattern because it works well, but the US Air Force consideration was whether airmen needed a camouflage for outside the wire at all (a question that should have been assumed "yes" but this was the prime day of US Army UCP so there were a lot of illogical decisions being made). There was one pattern offered [but rejected] that would fulfill the dual objective of general effectiveness and service distinction.
All Terrain Tiger (Fertile) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46Qq1iGOLS0
All Terrain Tiger (Semi-Arid) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLkZ2r8JQ8M
It is a matter of minor detail: All Terrain Tiger colors are a close match to regular MultiCam which makes the effectiveness equivalent. The Air Force is a technical branch (meaning its warriors operate machines as opposed to soldier against soldier engagements) but its personnel still work in varied environments and will be vulnerable to enemy targeting so camouflage is an asset. Finally, lest it be forgotten, the Air Force does have infantry of its own (air commandos and installation security) who ought to be privileged with camouflage choice should the prevailing terrain call for such.
Original Vietnam Tiger Stripe by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i85taLntMTc
Desert Tiger Stripe by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZlaNnCRSHw
Naval Infantry: Digital Class (https://www.a-tacs.com/our-patterns/)
Whether to have a distinct Marine Corps (plus a distinct Coast Guard for that matter) at all or keep those roles all in the official Navy is a debate that would be inherited from the mother country. Not all nations do, and the question would in-part be contingent on what waterways the new country encompasses. If waterborne special forces are accommodated the staggering expanse of their operating environments and specialized equipment means anything would go, not necessarily camouflage at all but if so today's class of pixelated patterns could be favored for their short-range effectiveness.
MARPAT Woodland (Fertile) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJFj7SvXRQc
MARPAT Woodland (Semi-Arid) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0dpMXkKVnw
MARPAT Desert by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKERQRbIiCg
Modified UCP by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WckhOUMfHk
CADPAT by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GghbJWInYZY
Regardless of how they get classed naval infantry and marines are one-and-the-same. As with Air Force base infantry Marines should have a camouflage privilege which is only logical for the role, and total size of this force would be among the factors deciding if a singular universal pattern is best or the expense of fielding multiple patterns for this smaller number of troops is viable. A-TACS is a new (non-pixelated) take on digital camouflage, not cheap but every single pattern achieves remarkable balance between specialization for a particular terrain type while keeping superb effectiveness in others.
Arid Urban by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Huy2DToE9L0
Foliage Green (Fertile) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs_VmekCEKA
Foliage Green (Semi-Arid) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d9A8JUnkqk
Intermediate Xtreme (Semi-Arid) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy6HhdDTW2E
Intermediate Xtreme (Fertile) by Brent0331: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QD5eJKFyYFw
Final Thoughts
This is meant totally to be fun speculation, not authoritative ruling (or predictions of future events). I do not expect this perspective to be shared by many but much of what I write on this blog is proffered as food for thought anyway: if it helps then wonderful, but if not then no harm done. Military equipment is a subject I have not covered as much as others so far, but I look forward to focusing more on that in the near future. Big thanks to Brent0331 for running all the cited tests of these patterns; I have yet to meet him in-person but hope to someday: he's a great guy, honorable Marine, and fellow North Texan.