Desert Ochre vs Military Yellow

How close are they?

ΔE 11.7, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Military Yellow is a little darker, more muted than Desert Ochre.

Can I use Military Yellow instead of Desert Ochre?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Military Yellow is a little darker, more muted than Desert Ochre.

Can I use Desert Ochre instead of Military Yellow?

The same difference applies the other way round: Desert Ochre is a little lighter, more saturated.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.