Imagine a NICE frame and an ILBE had a baby. Well they did and it is called the Working External Load Bearing Equipment or WELBE. Unveiled last week at Marine South, the WELBE is the brain child of Mystery ranch founder Dana Gleason. It takes advantage of the NICE frame’s external design and Bolstered Ventilation System (BVS) technology to keep the load stable even wearing armor with a rear plate.
Game changing? Quite possibly. The Marine Corps continues to browse for a new pack and the industry is abuzz with speculation over what direction they will go. While the Marines like the ILBE, it was designed before armor with an integrated rear plate was standard issue. The interface between armor and pack bag needs some improvement and the WELBE may be just the solution. Not only would it allow the modification of the thousands and thousands of packs already in service, specialized pack bags could be also fitted to the WELBE. Additionally, odd shaped loads can be carried when the WELBE is used as a stand alone mode in a manner like the NICE frame. The ILBE pack is an Arc’teryx design manufactured by Propper. A move to modify in service packs would be good for both companies as the ILBE would remain in service longer and the Marines would be more likely to purchase more of the packs in the future.
An added bonus for the market is that the WELBE is also compatible with the Canadian issue pack which suffers from the same issue as the USMC’s ILBE.
The new Inclement Weather Combat Shirt (IWCS) is a FR shirt designed to be worn in place of the FROG blouse during cold weather. Think of it as replacing the Desert Combat Jacket with increased capability. The Marines will purchase 180,000 IWCS from Short Bark Industries who are well known in the automotive world for their seat covers. Short Bark’s design incorporates several products from the TenCate Defenderâ„¢ M family. Most notably this is the first military adoption of a TenCate Defenderâ„¢ M laminate. The IWCS also includes a new stretch woven technology as well as two variations of knit fabrics. Nick Pence, Military Market Manager for TenCate Defense & Tactical explains: “The flame resistant IWCS was designed to provide increased protection from wind and rain while offering breathable water repellency for cold weather climatesâ€.
I recently spoke with the team at TenCate about the challenge of color matching different printed fabrics on a single garment that the DCJ had to deal with and they told me that they are out in front of this issue and we shouldn’t see any of those types of shading issues.
It appears that both the Marine Corps as well as Army both have similar systems referred to as Tactical Assault Platforms but at the recent Modern Day Marine expo, personnel from PM-ICE were quick to point out that the Marine version is decidedly different from the Army variant.
This is a photo of the Army’s current TAP. PEO-Soldier is currently wrapping up an in-theater evaluation of the system developed at the experimental load carrying facility at Natick. As you can see it is intended to integrate with the IOTV and in particular the cut away feature. Additionally, it carries six 30 round M16 magazines internally as well as featuring two side pockets that will accommodate an M14 mag, MBITR radio, or DAGR. The internal pockets go flat so the TAP will accept SAW drum pouches. Versions are being provided to the two battalions conducting the Afghanistan camo trials.
On the other hand, the Marine version displayed at Modern Day Marine incorporated simple removable shoulder straps. Obviously, this further enhances the versatility of the TAP as it will work with the IMTV, PC, and as a stand-alone. There are a couple of other alterations from the Army’s baseline as well. For example, based on feedback from early testing all of the buckles are now self-tensioning like the buckles found on the Mystery Ranch 3-day assault pack. Interestingly, back when the ILBE program was still just a wee solicitation, the Marine Corps envisioned a two component system consisting of a pack and an assault load carrier to replace the MOLLE FLC. Many expected this to be a chest rig. Ultimately, the Marines decided not to field an assault load carrier in conjunction with the pack but the requirement remains on the books.
During last week’s Modern Day Marine trade show at Quantico, I was perusing the items on display at the PM-ICE Marine Enhancement Program table. The program is great. Get new, innovative tools into the hands of Marines quickly without all of the red tape involved in a formal program. There has to be a valid need and the item has to be Government/Commercial Off-The-Shelf. Lastly, it needs to actually work.
Sitting on the table was a PMAG and someone asked the contractor behind the desk of these had been adopted for use by the Corps. “No” came the reply, “They wouldn’t fit in the issue magazine pouches”. Instead, according to the former Marine manning the booth, the Magpul magazine follower (enhanced self-leveling follower) was chosen as a suitable solution for 30 round magazine woes.
Oddly enough, rumor has it that the PMAG was recently granted an NSN and is being local purchased by the bushel by deploying Army units. The PMAG was also fielded as part of the lightweight equipment demonstration currently wrapping up in Afghanistan. Apparently they fit in Army magazine pouches. Who knew? Maybe the Marines could get in on that mag pouch action. No wait, they did, but then they…oh never mind.
The Marine Corps has awarded ATK’s Eagle Industries business unit a $20 million contract for further deliveries of the Scalable Plate Carrier. Reports of the order do not specify the number of SPCs but they are to be delivered by January 2010. This order combined with the recent sub-contract for deliveries of the IOTV to the Army make the still unresolved Army Releasable Plate Carrier award even more interesting. Already competitors KDH and Eagle had their hands full with the smaller IOTV order and now Eagle has a further order for the Marine SPC. According to early announcements, the Releasable Plate Carrier was supposed to have begun fielding this month. This leaves both Tactical Assault Gear and MSA/Paraclete with ample production capacity. In particular MSA/Paraclete may be feeling the crunch as they did not receive a piece of either of the IOTV contracts.
In February PEO-Soldier officials down selected four companies from a field of sixteen to provide candidates for a releasable plate carrier demonstration. At the time Army officials made it clear that there was no formal program to procure Releasable Plate Carriers. However, over the last two months, it looks like things have changed.
From the four companies (Eagle Industries, KDH Defense Systems Inc, MSA Paraclete, and Tactical Assault Gear), the Army is currently evaluating five carriers at Yuma Proving Ground. Eagle has two carriers under evaluation; the Scalable Plate Carrier, currently issued to select USMC units as well as a variant issued to USSOCOM.
Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade will wear each of the company’s plate carrier designs while road marching, running through obstacle courses and shooting on live-fire ranges. Army test and evaluation personnel will compare the candidates’ performance against the IOTV without neck and groin protection.
Earlier this month the Army approved a plan to conduct a combat evaluation in Afghanistan of a kit of candidate lightweight combat equipment developed by the Asymmetric Warfare Group in conjunction with industry utilizing a combination of Commercial and Government Off The Shelf products. The approval came weeks after the demonstration was put on hold over questions surrounding safety releases for the Eagle Releasable Carrier and associated armor systems currently used by USSOCOM. Reports indicate that the matter received SECDEF attention. This may explain why Army PM Soldier Survivability is now characterizing the current “Soldier Protection Demonstration” as a more formal procurement activity.
Last Summer, the Marine Corps fielded limited numbers of a Scalable Plate Carrier manufactured by Eagle Industries. Currently, they are testing an “Improved Scalable Plate Carrier”. Based on lessons learned from the initial fielding, the Marine Corps is working to improve the range of motion and mobility in the shoulder area, donning and doffing, and enhanced integration with the cummerbund and side plates.
It had looked like the supply of Combat Desert Jackets had dried up but US Elite Gear, purveyors of the hard to find have laid their hands on a limited supply. Once again these are factory seconds with slightly discolored sleeves.
USMC Combat Desert Jacket
Available in Small, Medium, and Large from US Elite Gear.
