I’m building the M113A2 Desert version, the instructions call for me to paint the crew figures either Desert 3 color or woodland cammo, but the uniforms they are molded with have upper arm pockets like the later ACUs. Did Tamiya make a mistake here in the painting guide, or is there some uniform other then BDU/DCUs they might be wearing that would have the pockets but still be that cammo?
The CVC (Combat Vehicle Crewman) uniform (tanker’s overalls) have the upper arm pockets as well. They were in either overall sand or OD green. The IBAS vests should be either woodland or 3-color desert camo. Most were woodland though.
hmm, ok, I forgot about those. CVCs are basically the same as flight suits, right?
Similar but a more green color than the flight suit sage green. There was one pocket on the left shoulder, about the size for a pack of cigarettes, a butt flap for taking care of business and some extraction straps built into the shoulder blade area to haul a man out of a tank hatch.
You know you probably signed up for the wrong job when the suit comes with straps to pull you out of the tank! 
Would you rather your buddies left you in a burning tank because you couldn’t climb out yourself?
Actually, while it was a good guess, I’m not sure the CVC is the right uniform either, on closer inspection, it looks like they’re wearing a jacket and pants, not a single piece jumpsuit.
here’s the same crew painting guide from the M1A2, the 113 uses the same graphic, it’s figures have different poses, but they’re in the same uniform.
The Gortex jacket also has an arm pocket. When I was in Group and in LRS it was common to get BDU shirts modified to have sleeve pockets in both units for use in the field. It wasn’t authorized, but it was not frowned upon either.
Did the camo MOPP suits have sleeve pockets? I know that they had a slightly different design than the OD ones, but I am not too familiar with the later style. I spent a LOT more time in the green ones.
The JSLIST MOPP suite had sleeve pockets as well. The Gortex and JSLIST should have a hood sticking out the back though. I think Tamiya just messed them up and the pockets need to be shaved off to make BDUs or DCUs.
I figured as much, thanks