With thousands of troops stretched across the four corners of the world, the development of specialized camouflage is a project the United States military has battled for decades.

Long gone are the days of the olive drab, single color uniforms of the Marines and soldiers in Korea and Vietnam, and as we entered the 21st century, gone are the days of the woodland pattern uniforms of Panama and the tan, woodland patterns of Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Just a few years ago, the Marines and Army adapted a new camouflage pattern – digital camouflage – that many said would provide better protection and versatility in the changing combat theaters across the world.

Now, things might be changing again.

The Army could select an alternative camouflage pattern for troops in Afghanistan by the end of this month, according to an Armytimes.com article on Jan. 4.

“Equipment officials have been working on the effort since Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., directed the Army in mid-June to look at new patterns after some sergeants told him the Army Combat Uniform’s pattern is ineffective,” the report said.

The new “MultiCam” pattern is similar to the camouflage already being worn by British soldiers, according to a report by Stars and Stripes.

After hundreds of photos of different camouflage patterns through Afghanistan’s terrain and tests by hundreds of soldiers through the month of December, it appears senior leaders are set to make a decision on a new pattern for those battling insurgents and terrorists in Afghanistan.