Testing of the Army’s potential cold weather solutions is joint. Last month, Alaska’s 354th SFS partnered with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Developmental Command to try out some of the new cold weather gear also being evaluated at Fort drum in New York. 
Photos by Senior Airman Beaux Hebert
Not to be outdone by the Army, the US Marine Corps is evaluating upgrades to their Mountain Cold Weather Clothing & Equipment Program in Norway this Winter.
The MCWCP is a family of cold weather clothing items designed to support Marines operating in wet/cold and dry/cold or mountainous environments with a threshold temperature range from 4.4 to -31.6 °C (40 to -25 °F) when used as a system. The objective temperature range extends down to -37.2°C
Specifically, they are looking at product improvements to Level 1 and 3. They are also exploring mesh underwear for level 1. For Level 3 they want to enhance wicking/moisture transport and drying time and to decide whether it should be wool or synthetic.
There’s a Softshell uniform solution for insulation being evaluated as well. It is quick drying and more breathable than APECS meaning less sweat buildup and condensation inside the garment.
The Marines are also looking at a new balaclava and Extreme Cold Weather Cap as well as handwear systems.
Their handwear evaluation includes a Contact Glove, Intermediate Cold Weather Glove, Extreme Cold Weather Mitten, and Inserts.
Additionally, the Marines are apparently evaluating the Norwegian cold weather “system” which is actually a collection of cobbled together items. Considering the Norwegians are currently in source selection along with Denmark, Finland, and Sweden for the Nordic Combat Uniform, the Marines’ efforts seem to be a waste of time. Even the Norwegians know their clothing needs to replaced so you wonder if it’s not a throwaway, in order to validate current Marine systems as superior.
At any rate, data collected across all efforts will help shape the future of MCWCEP.
The Air Force has updated AFI 36-2903, dated 7 Feb 2020. The biggest change is dealing with beards. Don’t get too excited. They are still only authorized for medical or religious accommodation. It’s just that now, there is guidance on how they should look.
A major oversight is that the new AFSC Special Reconnaissance has been left out of the AFI. Technically, they are no longer authorized a beret. Weather Parachutists however, are still authorized to wear the Grey beret.
This article from the 10th Mountain Division discusses the testing of new Army cold weather clothing systems. It’s important to note that CTAPS is a material and not a design program. Natick has been evaluating different materials from industry but has specified the cut of the clothing components. In the lab, the Army’s effort is called Regionally Aligned Combat Ensemble – Arctic or RACE-A. After the article we’ve included Army Future Command slides depicting cold weather clothing evaluated over the past few years along with what’s next.
A select number of 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers received new, prototype cold-weather gear at Fort Drum, N.Y. Jan. 23, 2020. Soldiers testing the gear will provide feedback on the durability, dexterity, tactility, ability to stay dry, and drying time so that any necessary improvements can be made.
Among the gear issued were six different variants of Cold Weather Glove Systems, new cold weather boots, three variants of cold-weather over boots, a cold weather sock system, as well as a canteen and canteen cup with two different designs for a canteen holder.
The different glove systems were briefly tested when issued to see if Soldiers could properly load and fire a simulated round and apply a tourniquet to a simulated casualty in a timely fashion. Soldiers were instructed to wear the gloves outdoors as much as possible for the evaluation team to get an accurate program of record for the Cold Weather Glove Systems.
A few Soldiers also received the prototype Cold Temperature and Arctic Protection System, or CTAPS for short. CTAPS is an innovative multi-layer system that aims to keep Soldiers warmer in cold weather environments, spanning from 45 degrees Fahrenheit to -65 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Overall, everybody has liked what they’ve seen so far,” said Kate Young, a textile technologist with the Soldier and Clothing Configuration Management Team.
The next step is for the Soldiers to test CTAPS during training to get feedback from them after they’ve used the gear for a while, Young said.
CTAPS is designed to be lighter weight, more durable, and more comfortable for Soldiers. The system features a longer jacket and more high-waisted trousers to keep Soldiers warmer while moving and to aid in the ease of their movement. They also have no-melt no-drip next-to-skin layers to prevent skin injury in the event of a fire, and moisture management throughout all layers. CTAPS is intended to be more functional and an improvement over the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS).
“I feel that it’s sensible,” said Staff Sgt. John Philadelphia, one of the Soldiers who received CTAPS. “I feel comfortable, and I feel confident in it.”
By PFC Anastasia Rakowsky
Slides:
Information on new Cold Weather Canteen
Although the services are working to update cold weather clothing, the Defense Logistics Agency has let a Blanket Purchase Agreement for Commercial Off The Shelf Cold Weather Clothing as a stop-gap measure. Currently, Army and Marine Corps units can order up to $250k from each group of items per quarter.
Current BPA holders are ADS, Darley, Unifire, and Danner. The equipment is delivered direct to the customer and is not stocked by DLA. Current agreements will last until 4/17/2021, but Bi-lateral Agreement could extend them up to an additional 36 months.
The program includes seven categories: Balaclavas, Boots (Full Regular & Wide sizes), Gaiters, Gloves, Mittens, Trigger Finger Mittens, and Socks. The image above is from a DLA briefing slide so the individual commodities are a bit compressed.
Brands include Outdoor Research, Belleville, Danner, Rocky, and Darn Tough. They plan to add Wild Things in both FR and NON-FR for Special Operations Customers Only as well as Half Sizes for Boots and possibly Mountaineering Gear.
All commercial items are assigned an NSN by size. Vendors may introduce alternates but they must be approved and no requisition will be delayed in order to approve an item. Any alternate will be added to the NSN as an acceptable part number.
Units CAN NOT specifically order one brand. Unit must accept any “or equivalent item” approved under the BPA.
The program is already a success. FY19 (May 2019 – September 2019) obligations were $10M.
• Socks – 150,000 PR
• Balaclavas – 34,000 EA
• Gaiters – 27,000 PR
• Boots – 6,600 PR
• Gloves – 3,500 PR
• TF Mittens – 3,000 PR
The Cipher is Carbon Tactics’ 17th Kickstarter project.
Carbon Tactics says the belt practically patches itself, thanks to the two neodymium magnets and their patent pending design.
The tail or “flap” of the belt tucks underneath. When you’re ready to remove your belt, just push and twist to unlatch. Yet, the connection remains secure under load.
The buckle is made from anodized Aircraft Grade Aluminum. Choose from Black, Dark Earth, and Silver.
The belt is available in a single or double-layer Biothane or single or double-layer nylon. Or, a hybrid option with Biothane and nylon.
Between buckles and belt, you’ve got a wide variety of combinations.
Here’s the size chart.
Remember, it’s a Kickstarter campaign, so if funded, it will be awhile before you receive your belt. Having said that, Carbon Tactics has a great reputation for successful campaigns and fulfillment.
www.kickstarter.com/projects/cipherbelt/cipher-the-belt-you-never-have-to-re-adjust
Designed to work with sort action caliber brass, the new MPA Brass Catcher will save you time, energy, and money on the range.
Watch the MPA Brass Catcher in action above.
Comer, Ga. (January 2020) – MasterPiece Arms (MPA), manufacturers of the MPA BA Rifles and Chassis Systems, is proud to introduce the MPA Brass Catcher, purpose-designed for the bolt action rifle. Debuted at the 2020 SHOT Show, the MPA Brass Catcher can hold up to 15 pieces of full-size short action caliber brass (308, 6.5, 6mm Creedmoor, etc.) or more of smaller brass cases, such as 6BR, 6BRA, Dasher, etc. Stop losing brass and save time and energy at PRS, NRL, and Club/Regional Series events with the MPA Brass Catcher.
The MPA Brass Catcher attaches via the scope base Picatinny rail on a bolt action rifle. The wireframe that holds the pouch is adjustable front to back, as well as up and down. Subtle adjustments can also be made to the wireframe to get the exact fit the shooter wants.
The hinge will position the Brass Catcher closed (up against the ejection port) or open (90 degrees to the ejection port) for easy removal of the brass after each stage. The MPA Brass Catcher is only compatible with short action cartridges. MSRP $149.99.
For more information on MasterPiece Arms and their product line of rifles, chassis systems, and accessories, visit www.masterpiecearms.com.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to carrying a snorkel when you dive in the civilian world, and I guess in the military world also. It is to carry or not carry a snorkel. You are taught to have one to save air when you are close to the surface for whatever reason so you can use it and not the air in your tank. When I first started diving in the teams, you had to have a snorkel on us. We would get issues a cheap old school “J” type one with the big orange stickers on it you had to peel off and then you would have to cut a couple of inches off of it and keep with you in case you had to work around piers or whatever so you could save O2. Well, I never used it and stopped carrying it as soon as I could. But that doesn’t mean I would have never used it or could have; I choose not to have it.
Like everything else in the world, technology is growing and growing. Once a problem is fixed, companies move onto the next one. So, the issues associated with the old “J” snorkel have been fixed; that is not to say that companies still do not make them have them; they are still around. But now there are all kinds of snorkels out there. There are several different types of snorkels Classic (J type), Simi-dry, Dry, and Flexible, to name a few.
So why carry a snorkel? A snorkel helps on the surface when you are in rough water. You can keep your head in the water and not drink as much seawater when you are just floating waiting to be extracted. It is also useful when you are working in the water waiting for a helo pick up, and you are under its rotor wash, or when you are doing a K duck or a swamp duck. It is also helpful to have when you jumped into the water, and you have to undo some of your parachute lines that might be tanged in your fins or whatever. It makes it easier to breathe on the surface without lifting your head out of the water if you have to swim to a boat or shore for some reason.
Diving in the military is different than as a civilian as you would never leave your snorkel hanging on your mask during a dive. This is why we would cut it down a little so that we could tuck it away or you would hang it off the bottom of your LAR V with heavy rubber bands. But with today’s technology, most companies have one that you can roll-up. For SCUBAPRO, it is the Apnea Snorkel, it was launched in 2015 for Apnea divers and won the SCUBALAB’s 2015 best buy.
The SCUBAPRO Apnea Snorkel is a foldable freediving snorkel design. Made from a soft and flexible non-toxic silicone, SCUBAPRO Apnea Snorkel easily attaches to your mask strap when being used. When not needed, it can be rolled up and stowed away in a pocket. When it’s time to do some more stuff on the surface, it pops right back into shape. The Apnea’s upper barrel can be removed if you prefer to use a shorter pipe. Without question, this is an easy-to-use and very versatile surface breather. Functional yet straightforward traditional “J” Snorkel design. No valves that can leak. Snorkel is specifically for spearfishing and free diving. The contoured shape of the silicone mouthpiece and the air tube has been ergonomically designed to follow the profile of the spear fisherman’s face to reduce its visibility significantly during the dive. This flexibility is also advantageous when around piers or rocks.
