The United States military and police agencies apply camouflage for separate purposes tied to their missions. Soldiers conceal uniforms, vehicles, and other equipment against observation by aircraft, drones, and optics so they stay hard to spot in combat.

Officers typically wear high-visibility colors with badges but switch to camouflage when pursuing suspects in wooded or desert terrain or when special teams need rugged clothing compatible with protective vests. Federal surplus programs supply those uniforms cheaply, and the garments resist fire, avoid melting, stay dark under night-vision devices, dry quickly, and wash easily.