{"id":53091,"date":"2026-06-03T17:01:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T17:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2026\/06\/03\/army-seeks-us-manufacturer-to-supply-boots\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T04:26:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T04:26:30","slug":"army-seeks-us-manufacturer-to-supply-boots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2026\/06\/03\/army-seeks-us-manufacturer-to-supply-boots\/","title":{"rendered":"Army seeks US manufacturer to supply boots"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The U.S. Army is exploring how to get better boots that are made in America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal is twofold: improve the quality of military footwear and revitalize American footwear manufacturing that has largely been outsourced overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe intent for this project and funding is to support re-shoring of the domestic footwear industry, improve capabilities for the domestic military footwear industrial base, and ultimately provide the best performing footwear technology to the warfighter,\u201d explained a new Request for Information<\/a> from the Army.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding American-made footwear can present a challenge. In 2020, imported footwear accounted for 99%<\/a> of the U.S. market, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RFI wants companies to describe their ideas in four areas, with one being how to \u201cincrease domestic production capacity and adopt advanced manufacturing technologies to enhance productivity.\u201d Another is how to reshore manufacturing from overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army also wants to know how companies can implement \u201cflexible, automated, or digital manufacturing approaches adaptable to multiple footwear types.\u201d And, lastly, how American manufacturers can \u201cimprove the cost-effectiveness, quality, or performance of military footwear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Respondents must have U.S.-based manufacturing facilities. They also must meet the Berry Amendment<\/a>, which restricts the Defense Department from using funds for the procurement of food, clothing, fabrics, fibers, yarns and other textiles that are not reprocessed, reused or produced in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Companies responding to the RIF are asked to include data on how they will increase annual production, reduce defects, shorten production time, reduce manufacturing costs and improve footwear performance, such as water resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProjects that include footwear prototypes demonstrating the manufacturing improvement are preferred,\u201d the Army said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army\u2019s RFI is part of the Supporting Warfighters through Innovative Footwear Technologies, or SWIFT<\/a>, program funded by Congress in 2024. SWIFT aims to foster cooperation between manufacturers, suppliers and universities to improve the quality of military footwear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Army\u2019s push for domestically produced footwear also parallels an effort by Congress. In 2025, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill, sponsored the Better Outfitting Our Troops<\/a>, or BOOTS, Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\t