The easy part is done. A camouflage pattern has been selected for use in Afghanistan in accordance with the wishes of Congress. The hard part has now begun. Specifications have to be prepared, contracts let, and new equipment fielded. All in rapid fashion if the Army is going to meet its own deadline this summer. Fielding of a new pattern won’t come cheap. According to COL William Cole, the Program Manager for Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment at PEO-Soldier, thus far everything has been paid for with offsets meaning the money used to purchase FR ACUs in UCP will be used instead to procure MultiCam FR ACUs. Unfortunately, this won’t make up for everything. TA-50 such as MOLLE lasts a lot longer than uniform items. With over one million sets of MOLLE already fielded, equipment in MultiCam will have to be purchased.
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Albert L. Kelley, 300th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
An additional issue, particularly for industry are ancillary items such as gloves, hats, and even the webbing tape on load bearing and armor systems. What color will it be? With the switch to UCP came Foliage Green. What color will the Army specify for use with MultiCam? PEO-Soldier officials have stated that they are still considering the issue but with the new Army Combat Shirt in MultiCam sporting a Coyote Brown torso, chances are good that will be the accessory color. Additionally, industry is already producing a wide variety of raw materials and finished goods in Coyote for the Marine Corps, SOCOM, as well as the secondary market.
So where will the money to pay for all of this come from? The Army hasn’t prepared any reprogramming actions moving funds from one account to another to pay for this. And if it is forced to, where will those funds come from? PEO-Soldier’s portfolio? Will the Army be forced to rob Peter to pay Paul? If this ends up being the case, the Soldier loses either way. As I see it, it is Congress’s bill to pay. Congress asked for it, the Army complied, and they have the facts to back up their decision. The Army’s leadership should approach Congress with a funding request to field adequate amounts of clothing and individual equipment in MultiCam. Congress should happily appropriate these monies. In fact, if anything, it will leave a lasting legacy in honor of the man who got this ball rolling in the first place, the late John Murtha.
When MMI asked troops what load carrying products they really need, a resounding answer was a means to carry a handy can of snuff. Working with Granite Tactical, MMI came up with this solution. Manufactured from lightweight 500D Cordura, it features a secure half zip opening. While still only a prototype it will be available soon from www.mmi-fed.com.
The major weak point with the current ammo pack for the M240 is that it you can’t add ammo to the belt while it is attached to the weapon. An enterprising Army NCO suggested that the Army’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) develop something that allowed access to the ammo while the bag is fitted to the weapon. Teaming with Savit Corporation, evaluations of both 50 and 100 round variants were accomplished. Users from the Infantry and Special Forces community recommended the 50 round Combat Ammo Pack which is now available. The new design replaced the one-piece steel collar with a split design incorporating spring-loaded latches to facilitate quick access to the ammunition within. The pouch assembly was designed with a combination of snaps and hook and loop fasteners on one side. These fasteners serve to close the pouch assembly but allow quick access to the end of the ammo belt when needed. The new Combat Ammo Pack is available from Rally Point Tactical.
The US Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment has updated their Ranger, Athlete, Warrior website with a great deal of new resources for their human performance initiative which goes far beyond a typical unit PT program. According to information provided by the website, they are on version 3.0 of the program and constantly monitor it to ensure they are getting the most for their troops.
Literally…last year they began fielding the new Lightweight Performance Hood, which replaced the hot and bulky Flash Hood, long issued to armor crewman. This new Hood is a no-melt, no-drip performance piece very similar to what NASCAR drivers and pit crew wear. This is critical to ensuring that Soldiers will actually wear the garment.
“We understand that Soldiers are less likely to wear the hood if it is hot or irritating,” said LTC Michael Sloane, PM SCIE. “The LPH has a ventilated mesh dome to minimize heat stress in hot or dry climates, while providing limited heat retention in cool climates. It is moisture-wicking, anti-microbial and anti-odor,” LTC Sloane added.
Mr Jeff Myhre Assitant Program Manager at PEO-Soldier added, “We are always on the lookout for new fabrics and technologies to prevent Soldiers from having to suffer second- and third-degree burns, we want Soldiers to have FR protection wherever and whenever they need it.” To this end, the LPH is small enough to fit in a grenade pouch.
Each deploying Soldier receives two LPH which is Foliage Green but may soon be offered in a new shade more compatible with MultiCam for troops serving in Afghanistan.
Bulldog Equipment is poised to launch a sister company; Venom Industries, LLC. Their first group of products will be called the Cobra series and they recently gave Soldier Systems Daily a sneak peek. Their debut is the Cobra Concealment Pouch which will soon be joined by a Bag as well as a Pack. The Cobra Concealment Pouch is ambidextrous and will conceal a full sized pistol or other items attached to the interior of the front flap on a Velcro grid. Additionally, there is a GP pocket behind the main flap. The pouch is designed to connect to a PALS grid via MALICE clips or similar attachment media. Available soon.
I am very excited about this for a couple of reasons. For one thing, they will be introducing several new products into the market but they also are going to use Venom as a vehicle to offer Bulldog Equipment to civilians. As always their web address remains www.bulldogequipment.us. Look for a new web site soon for Venom Industries.
Not really, but Tier 1 Group has recreated a 30 acre Afghani village at their facility near Memphis, Tenn. The training site is extensive yet has few of the restrictions found on government facilities. Can you imagine no night restrictions? Training scenarios can include Tagging Tracking & Locating as well as Sensitive Site Exploitation with OPFOR, or civilian role players. Additionally, the outer compound walls, doors and gates can all be explosively breached. Obviously, great pains have been taken to prepare an accurate setting. Make sure to take a look at the extensive photos on the web site.
Mustang Survival, manufacturer of survival and dry suits has introduced the ECV-100, a new evaporative cooling vest. Currently under evaluation by US Navy’s NAVAIR for use by maintenance crews, the vest was on display at the NAVEXFOR expo in Virgina Beach held earlier this month. The vest is manufactured from a WL Gore fabric that allows water contained in a continuous tube formed in the fabric to slowly evaporate through the material. It attaches to a standard hydration bladder for a water supply. It really works, as soon as I felt the vest my hand immediately cooled. In a hot dry environment it would feel great. Additionally, it was very lightweight weighing a scant 25 ounces when full.
The display sample was a combination of orange and black but the government test article is all black. However, any color(s) can be produced and it can be worn under or over outer clothing so it could very well serve as a safety item or tactical equipment. Mustang Survival
EOTAC has introduced numerous enhancements to the site but probably the biggest is under the “collections” tab. Other than displays at SHOT Show this is the first time they are fully unveiling the new Direct Action line. Consisting of the Recce Smock, Shirt, and Pant, the new line will incorporate pockets designed to complement the wearer’s load as well as durability enhancements. Additionally, the Direct Action clothing will be offered in Sand as well as A-TACS Camo in a full range of sizes. Visit www.eotac.com for more details.
The ingenious ExiTool from CRKT includes a seat belt cutter, a tungsten carbide window breaker, and a bright L.E.D. flashlight in a package that attaches directly to a vehicle’s seat belt. Designed by knifemaker Russ Kommer, the blade is inset so that you won’t be accidentally cut.
