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More on OCP Fielding

Friday, October 15th, 2010

SSD was fortunate enough to participate in a media roundtable earlier today. We picked up a few tidbits to keep our readers up to date. While the Army began fielding OEF Camouflage Pattern (OCP is the Army’s designation for Crye Precision’s MultiCam pattern) clothing and equipment to CONUS-based Afghanistan bound troops in September, equipping troops who are already in theater has kicked off. According the COL William Cole, Program Manager for Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment they recently began issuing OCP kit to in-theater troops. Additionally, he brought us up to speed on a few items being fielded. First, he clarified the Gen III ECWCS issue. Only layers three through six are being issued in OCP. The puffy layer and under layers are already in solid colors that are either worn under other clothing or a suitable shade.

Next he explained that troops are now receiving the Gen II IOTV which is more comfortable most notably due to the new cummerbund which makes it more easy to mount the side plates. COL Cole related that during his most recent trip into theater, he fitted the new style cummerbund to his IOTV. Additionally, the Army has let contracts for conversion kits to upgrade currently fielded armor to the Gen II standard and OCP camo coloring. This is quite cost effective for the Army as the retrofit kits cost less than one-third the cost of a new vest.

A decision still has not been made on the Mountain Combat Boot, but data collected during a wear test this summer in Afghanistan is being crunched.

Finally, while the Air Force is still staffing their OCP fielding strategy, BG Peter Fuller, PEO-Soldier explained the Army’s commitment to field full OCP kits to sister troops working with Army units. Way to go Army! Hopefully, we will see OCP versions of the USAF’s ABS-G soon.

Posted in Armor, Boots, Camo, Clothing, Multicam, PEO-Soldier | Comments Off on More on OCP Fielding

Breaking News – Army Deploying XM25 To Afghanistan

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

According to COL Tamilio, Program Manager for Soldier Weapons, last Friday the Army received an Operational Need Statement from the 101st Airborne Division currently serving in Afghanistan for a Battalion’s worth of XM25s (36). In November, the Army will initially field five developmental versions of the XM25 to be accompanied by a New Equipment Training Team as well as ample ammunition. The Army is ordering an additional 36 weapons from the manufacturer. When they are delivered they will replace the initial 5 systems with the 36 new XM25s at a date to be determined.

Updated: This limited fielding is not intended to replace the M4 or any other organic Infantry weapons for that matter, used in Afghanistan. In fact, so long as the technology works as advertised, this is a great opportunity for the Army to consider how to best integrate this revolutionary weapon into the force.

The XM25 is an airburst grenade launcher that fires 25mm grenades that are set to explode in the air or near the target. The grenadier can manually adjust the detonation of the grenade by up to 3 meters shorter or longer, which is automatically transmitted to the grenade in the firing chamber. The systems is under development by Heckler & Koch and Alliant Techsystems, and the target acquisition/fire control is developed by L-3 IOS Brashier.

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Gen II IOTV in OCP

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

PEO-Soldier announced earlier this week that it had begun fielding the Gen II Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) in the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (OCP). The pictures associated with the article are awesome and give you a great look at the new pattern. The photo below also shows a mounted TAP.

There are 17 improvements in the Gen II IOTV. Ultimately, the biggest improvement is probably the new sideplate pocket that is adjustable to the wearer. Many Soldiers found wearing sideplates almost unbearable. While the Army’s copy makes it sound like this is a whole new vest that is modular and scalable, ultimately, nothing is really that new. This is the same IOTV they have been issuing since earlier this year but what is important is that Soldiers deploying to OEF will be getting the latest in everything.

Having said that, it’s still an IOTV. Is it effective? Yes. Does it hinder mobility? Sometimes, like say if you are walking or climbing. Is it scalable? Sort of. If the IOTV were truly “all that”, the Army wouldn’t have fielded the Soldier Plate Carrier System and there would be no reason to undertake Soldier Protection Demonstration (SPD) 8 which is currently assessing Scalable, Modular armor vests from four different vendors including BAE, Point Blank, Armor Works, and PPI. These vests allow a Soldier to go from a concealable set up all the way out to full IOTV protection with all of the add-ons. The catch is that it has to be accomplished with one set up and must shave at least 10% off the weight of a fully jocked up IOTV.

Unfortunately, PEO-Soldier is staying mum on the subject of SPD 8 so we will wait to reveal more until they are ready.

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Army Mountain Combat Boot Chosen? Not Yet

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

As reported last month by Kit Up!, the Army is close to making a call on mountain boots. After years of relying on a variety of commercial mountain boots, none were designed specifically for use in combat operations. On Monday, Natick’s contracting team awarded $8.6 Million for a GSA purchase to Danner for Mountain Combat Boots. Does this mean that the Army has made a decision in their quest for a Mountain Combat Boot?

Filling a niche below full leather or plastic shelled mountaineering boots but beefier than standard combat boots, they are intended for troops who find themselves scrambling in rocky terrain. Troops in Afghanistan have been trialling candidate boots from Danner, Belleville, and Wellco and the PEO-Soldier stated that they were close to making a decision.

Another clue pointing to the Danner selection may have also emerged. Although you can’t completely rely on this, photos released Monday of a Soldier clad in OCP (MultiCam) and the latest version of the IOTV also featured the Danner boot.

Photo PEO-Soldier

UPDATE: ~~Although we queried PEO-Soldier on the subject they haven’t commented yet. Hopefully, we will see something on this soon.~~ PEO-Soldier let us know that this purchase was solely to support Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI) requirements. They went on to inform us that they are still testing and evaluating the candidates. So, as we see it, the war continues to go on and troops still need boots. It’s just that RFI has chosen that those boots come from Danner and not the other candidate vendors. Interesting…

Tags: Belleville, Danner, Wellco
Posted in Boots, PEO-Soldier | 1 Comment »

Lube It Up Soldier

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

That’s the word from the Army’s PEO-Soldier who published an article earlier today instructing Soldiers to use generous lube on their weapons when operating in a desert environment. According to PEO-Sodlier, “Generously lubricated is defined as applying MIL SPEC CLP heavy enough so that it can be spread with a finger.”

It’s about time official word gets out on this. Unfortunately, garrison arms room inspection standards have too long been applied to weapons used in combat. Cars don’t run without oil and either do carbines. It’s too bad that so far the official word on lubrication only applies to desert environments.

Read the entire article here.

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M150 Rifle Combat Optic

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Much ado has been made about the lack of lethality of the M16 and M4 at the increased ranges encountered in Afghanistan but you can’t hit what you can’t see. One of the Army’s answers to this quandary is the M150 Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) which is is designed to increase the probability of a first-round hit at distances up to 600 meters.

Adopted in 2007 for use on the M4, M16A2, M16A4, and M249 weapons in addition to increased range, it also allows the use of reflexive fire techniques. When a target is acquired, the ranging reticle can be used to get an accurate range to the target. Then, the range aiming point on the bullet drop compensator can be used to engage the target.

Manufactured by Trijicon, the RCO features a 4 x optic illuminated by fiber optics and tritium. The reticle is of a chevron pattern and is red in color both day and night. Naturally, the issue item also incorporates a laser and anti-reflection filters as well as an integral Mil Spec 1913 attachment.

www.trijicon.com

Tags: Trijicon
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OCP Update

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Yesterday, SSD participated in a teleconference with PEO Soldier’s LTC Mike Sloane and CSM Bernard McPherson. Also on hand was SMA Kenneth Preston along with several Subject Matter Experts from PEO Soldier. The press event was in conjunction with the Army’s initial fielding to a Brigade of 19 items in the new OEF Camouflage Pattern (OCP) at Camp Shelby, MS. Up to 3600 Soldiers will be equipped with the new gear over the remainder of the week before shipping off to Afghanistan. From here out, all OEF bound forces Brigades will be fielded Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment in OCP before deploying from CONUS. Beginning in November, units with more than 120 days left in theater will also receive the kit. PEO Soldier is poised to conduct limited early fielding for deployed Battalion and smaller units who require the enhanced camouflage based on their mission. They are also developing plans to ensure that Individual Augmentees are taken care of. Additionally, Army SOF will be issued gear in the new pattern.

The ambitious fielding schedule would not have been possible without the dedicated work of two communities; the contracting office at Natick and industry. LTC Sloane commented, “The American Industrial Base is leaning forward, flying items in and driving them here.” The other side of this coin is the Army’s contracting strategy. In three months, the contracting office at Natick issued 11 contracts with another six to eight pending. Very impressive.

This fielding marks the implementation of phase III of the Army’s Congressionally directed search for enhanced camouflage for troops in Operation Enduring Freedom. Within less than a year, the Army conducted an extensive down select of 57 to five patterns that included an in-theater data collection effort and a comprehensive photo simulation study and wear test. This culminated in the selection of the Crye Precision developed MultiCam pattern as the new OCP.

When asked if he felt that, based on his experience if Soldiers were better protected with the new OCP, SMA Preston commented, “Based on testing…Yes, I believe they are safer.”

So what’s next for OCP? In February 2011, Tier II items including the Aircrew Advanced Combat Uniform, Improved Combat Vehicle Crewman Coverall, Aviation Life Support Equipment, and Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble items will be introduced in the MultiCam pattern.

Finally, LTC Sloane announced that the Army’s Phase IV of the Global Camouflage effort will not be as short term as initially described. Instead, the TRADOC-led project will not be ready for the Army leadership to make a decision until the end of FY13. This three year effort sounds now to be more of a science project than focused on presenting a near-term warfighting enhancement. On the plus side, the Air Force is participating, and both the Navy and Marine Corps are monitoring the program so there is a slight possibility that the project may deliver a true joint solution. The down side is that for at least the next three years Soldiers must continue to rely on the limited capability of the so-called Universal Camouflage Pattern that caused this whole program in the first place. Perhaps commanders in other theaters will begin to insist that their troops also require enhanced camouflage and we will see increased fielding of MultiCam.

Posted in Camo, Clothing, Multicam, PEO-Soldier | Comments Off on OCP Update

MultiCam Soldier Plate Carrier System

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

PEO-Soldier recently released a photo of the Soldier Plate Carrier System in MultiCam. Interestingly, the PALS webbing is MultiCam. Initially, we had been informed by Army sources that all accessory tape would be in Tan 499 due to the increased cost of printed webbing. The Army will begin issuing equipment in MultiCam to Afghanistan-bound troops next week.

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