In response to the deadly IED problem and the blast/heat effects of the makeshift bombs, the Army is developing a flame resistant coverall patterned in its ACU camouflage for vehicle crewmen.
The Armys top gear buying and development command, the Fort Belvoir, Va.-based PEO Soldier, has a thorough write-up on its effort. Late last year, Marines from I Marine Expeditionary Force began wearing Nomex flight suits during vehicle operations on their own accord. When II MEF took command of the battlespace in al Anbar, the nomex suits became standard and the Corps launched its own effort to develop fire retardant uniforms and other clothing called “FROG” gear.
The Army has followed suit (excuse the pun) and seems to be homing in on a good solution for its soldiers. One of our contributors wrote an outstanding story on the ACU and suggested the fire-retardant evolution, so its good to see the Army moving forward on this initiative.
From PEO Soldier:
The Army has developed an improved one-piece uniform for mounted soldiers with enhanced fire resistance and durability, as well as providing better fit and function, all of which will aid against the effects of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).
The improved Combat Vehicle Coverall (iCVC) is being evaluated by approximately 2,000 Soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division, the 3rd Infantry Division, and the 16th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Knox, KY. Widespread fielding is expected later this year.
Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Va, is directing the user evaluations. PEO Soldier designs, develops, procures, and fields virtually everything todays Soldiers wear or carry. PEO Soldier is committed to increasing combat effectiveness, saving Soldiers lives and improving Soldiers quality of life.
MAJ Clay Williamson, PEO Soldier’s Assistant Product Manager for Clothing and Individual Equipment, said that PEO Soldier requires rigorous testing before any article of clothing or piece of equipment is approved for use. Everything is tested to make sure it is safe and highly effective before we field it, Williamson said.
However, fielding a new version of the coverall does not mean the work is finished, Williamson explained. Research is ongoing so continual improvements can be made.
All our fire-resistant uniforms are spiral-development efforts because of the urgency and nature of the threat that our Soldiers are facing. We field the best equipment that is available, and then use Soldier feedback to continue to make it even better, he said.
The new coverall has an elastic back waist and adjustment tabs to customize fit, decrease bulk, and increase maneuverability for armor vehicle crews, thus improving mission effectiveness. The seat patch has been widened and lengthened to provide more coverage and to improve the uniforms durability, and the uniform is made in the universal camouflage pattern.
The new coverall and other state-of-the-art equipment and clothing will be on display at PEO Soldiers exhibit space, Booth 512 at the Armor Warfighting Symposium, April 30-May 3, 2007 at Fort Knox.
The Armys fire-resistant clothing goes through laboratory flame testing and state-of-the-art mannequin flame testing, the latter at an independent facility at North Carolina State University. User evaluations are an important part of testing as well. We are constantly seeking Soldier feedback to make further improvements, Williamson said.
As part of the ongoing tests on the iCVC, an alternate Nomex-based fabric called Abrams material is being considered as a possible replacement for the current MILSPEC Nomex fabric. The new fabric, which is slightly heavier than Nomex, would double the durability of the uniform, hold up better to abrasion and offer better resistance to fading from sunlight.
Soldiers evaluations will continue through June, at which time their recommendations for improvement will be considered.
The Army is working on other fire-resistant clothing as well. The Flame Resistant Environmental Ensemble (FREE) will provide armored and aviation crew members with a multi-layered system that offers fire protection and comfort in a wide range of climate conditions. FREE consists of a base layer, midweight under layer, lightweight outer layer, intermediate weather outer layer, extreme cold-weather outer layer as well as hot– and cold-weather balaclavas, cold-weather gloves, wool socks, and a rigger belt. The outer layers protect from cold, wind and rain as well as fire.
With the FREE, which is undergoing user evaluations in Korea, Soldiers who have specialized jobs that expose them to fire hazards, will have the same type of extreme cold-weather gear the rest of the Army is receiving with the Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS).
A fire-resistant Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is also being fielded. Advanced fabrics enhance fire protection without sacrificing mobility and comfort. Fielding is about to begin on a fire-resistant Army Combat Shirt (ACS), which can be worn directly under Interceptor Body Armor (IBA), reducing the need for additional layers, thereby reducing heat stress while adding comfort and protection.
The long-sleeved ACS comes with a balaclava, which adds fire resistance to the head, face, and neck areas that previously were unprotected. When Soldiers add fire-resistant eyewear and pants, they have full-body protection from burns.
All of the fire-resistant clothing is washable and maintains protective properties for the life of the garments.
This is all part of PEO Soldiers mission to make sure that our Soldiers have the best equipment available when and where they need it.
Its our job to give them the best equipment that our money and technology can produce, said BG R. Mark Brown, Program Executive Officer Soldier.
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Fireproof would mean just Nomex right? If so, I thought tanker crews already had Nomex, just make the Nomex in a camo pattern and add some stuff on top of a proven design rather than start from scratch.
But Nomex can melt and it’ll stick to the person when it does, causing terrible, terrible burns…
I work for a racing safety company in Southern California (Deist Safety Equipment)and it is my understanding and experience that Nomex does not ignite or melt. When it is burnt it protects for a length of time and then turns to ash.
David is correct. cotton ignites, nylon melts, nomex protects up to it’s SFI rating and then just kinda disintegrates.
there are a number of fire-resistant products on the market that would be applicable to crew uniforms, mostly developed for autosports
So, nomex will protect you for a while on some fires, but is there any way to protect yourself from an incediary grenade? I mean, Nomex is cool stuff, but can it stop white phosphorus from burnin you at 2700(?) degrees?
I stand corrected, I must’ve been thinking of Nylon then.
Usually fires won’t be much of a problem except when you start running up against being trapped in a burning vehicle, whereby any body armor you wear will probably ignite and begin to work against you to start with. Nomex uniforms begins to resemble a Band-Aid if that was their intention.
The Army and Marine corps have been using Nomex CVC (Combat Vehicle Crewman) Coveralls for about 20 years, if not more. WP grenade is a pretty extreme case, and the military is starting to not use WP as much anyway. Also, the CVCs are ‘designed’ to be used in artillery and tanker units. Which there is alot of powder and alot of stuff that can go wrong. Since howitzers and tanks are like a tin can and hard to get out of, if something were to happen, these iCVC’s will give you time to haul out and hopefully put the fire out. They have been proven to work since the 80s, if not earlier, so this is nothing new, just an advancement in material as well as matching to the specific branch uniform.
While the marine bdu was always similar to everyone else, it was always different. They were the first to use the digital uniform and the army followed suit. They are still similar, just different color schemes.
I am a US Army Firefighter, I have worn nomex flight suits and nomex ABDU’s(Avation BDU’s) The army has a nomex uniform… I just dont see why they dont print the acu patteren on it!?!@ And for those worring about the melting or the burning, they are just trying to add a little more protection to the soilder. We could go out and be all running around the those big gumby bomb suits…. They are trying people… slowly but there getting there.
I stand corrected, I must’ve been thinking of Nylon then.
Usually fires won’t be much of a problem except when you start running up against being trapped in a burning vehicle, whereby any body armor you wear will probably ignite and begin to work against you to start with. Nomex uniforms begins to resemble a Band-Aid if that was their intention.
It is amazing what can be done now with technology
For those who are curious, here is a great video of a Nomex flight suit test:
http://members.patriotsurplus.com/steve/blog/media/video/index.one?a=view_video&vid_id=192263
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