The National Defense Education Program’s “Lab TV” has a great video on the Army’s Modular boot program. They interviewed Natick Soldier Center’s Mike Holthe who is a footwear engineer and he discusses some of the factors that go into developing effective combat footwear.
Check out the website. In addition to the footwear episode, there is information on a wide variety of programs ongoing at our military labs.
UPDATE: According to solicitation ARMYCAMOUFLAGEINDUSTRYDAY posted yesterday on Fedbizopps, the U. S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center (NSRDEC) and the Product Manager Soldier Clothing and Individual Equipment is sponsoring an industry dayrom 0900-1100 hrs on 28 October at NSRDEC in Natick, MA in the Carney Hall (Bldg#1), Hunter Auditorium. As you may have heard, the Army is assessing different camouflage patterns for use in Afghanistan (as well as other locales) and is seeking the expertise of the textile printing industry to determine the feasibility to consistently produce these colors and patterns in multiple substrates. All textile industry attendees (sorry looky lou’s) must have a US citizenship and register by email with Alison.spurr@us.army.mil by close of business on 26 October 2009. Contracting Office Address: RDECOM Acquisition Center – Natick, ATTN: AMSRD-ACC-N, Natick Contracting Division (R and BaseOPS), Building 1, Kansas Street, Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact(s): Stacey Smith, 508-233-5118
We updated Alison Spurr’s email address. We apologize for any confusion.
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.
Much has been made of the Photosimulation test. It is important to note that this test was not perfect and ultimately serves a data point, and not the data point. Overall, the testers did a good job but if the test was conducted again, some patterns would most likely see different results. This is due to a variety of factors which include the actual test subjects. For example, the Bulldog Mirage pattern did not have as many test samples due to a lack of Woodland environmental imagery early in the test. Instead, the test authors accepted the statistical sample as indicative of a full test and extrapolated the results.
Another issue which may have resulted the “Syrian” pattern performing better is scale. The test photo indicated that the wearer of the Syrian camo is female and this may mean that the test article was smaller than others. It may not have been detected at as great a distance as other patterns worn by larger individuals. Additionally, all of the test subjects were wearing green Advanced Combat Helmets which in some cases may have led to premature detection of the test subject rather than the actual camouflage pattern.
Another issue that probably skewed the results was that the urban environment was based on Tan colored buildings. This resulted in desert patterns performing better than they probably would have in a grey-centric environment. Conversely, patterns such as UCP and Bulldog which should have shined in an urban setting didn’t do so well.
Lessons have been learned from this round of testing and will be applied during a new round of photosimulation testing to coincide with the upcoming Afghanistan wear tests. Be sure to visit us again on Monday for an exclusive interview with COL Cole, Program Manager Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment on this testing and the development of UCP Delta.
*UPDATED* Natick has been busy developing several new variants of UCP which retain the base pattern but replace individual colors. Word has it that some of them are down right ugly. It has recently been revealed by Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller, PEO-Soldier that the new “UCP-Delta” which integrates Coyote Brown into the pattern along with Multicam will be evaluated in Afghanistan beginning in October. In response to the Congressional directive to field a new camo pattern for operations in Afghanistan two Battalions worth of uniforms will be tested.
Below are two photos of UCP-Delta. One with an IOTV and one without.
Photos courtesy of PEO-Soldier
According to sources at Natick, 30% of the pattern of the UCP-Pattern is Coyote Brown. One advantage exhibited in the photos is that UCP Delta offers the perception that current UCP field equipment will not need to be replaced.
“Own the Fight” – This is the aim of the Army’s latest Soldier modernization S&T program. Despite the reference to 2030 in the program name, many of the program’s components are slated for the 2015 to 2020 time frame (2014 POM cycle). It’s the usual cast of characters; smaller, faster, leaner, meaner. Other than a move to monochromes, it pretty much looks like a repackaging of FFW.
The programs vision:
Every Future Soldier will be equipped physically, cognitively, socially and with the appropriate materiel to conduct Full Spectrum Operations.
This will require agility, adaptability, mobility and the ability to act efficiently and effectively to simultaneously perform operations in many traditional and non-traditional roles including but not limited to Warfighting in complex, rapidly changing environments around the world.
Natick has established a website which includes documents.
