I think camo was chosen because it would be attractive to enlistees. I served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era and the utility uniform was boring green the same as the army. For the last 12 years before retirement I worked next to an Army base. It was weird seeing people shopping in I guess desert camo. I don't think the camo would be effective even in the produce section of a grocery store. Camo is one of the required uniforms in The US and around the world. Even with Iraq and Afghanistan, most military don't have a need for camo, but it looks cool.