Overview of U.S. Special Operations Command Clothing

1
Overview ofU.S. Special Operations
CommandClothing Textile Program

• Fred Chan
• Program Manager SOF Warrior Protection
• Natick Soldier Center

2
Background

• SOF Special Projects Team
• Individual Protection Directorate
• U. S. Army Natick Soldier Center
• Reporting to PEO-SOF Warrior,
• U. S. Special Operations Command, Tampa, FL
• Responsibility Development and fielding of
  clothing and individual equipment for SOF
  operators (SPEAR program).

3
SPEAR Program Growth

• 10X funding increase to 48M in FY06
• 296M total funding in POM 06-11
• 193M PROC funds in POM 06-11
• 86M in OM funds in POM 06-11

4
Current SPEAR Program

• Lightweight Environmental Protection
• Body Armor/ Load Carriage System
• Modular Integrated Communications Helmet
• Lightweight NBC Protection
• Signature Reduction
• Ballistic/Laser Eyewear
• Modular Target Identification Acquisition
• Team/Platoon C4I
• Physiological Management
• Maritime Equipment
• Survival Equipment

5
Lightweight Environmental Protection (LEP)

• Environmental Protective Clothing
• Cold Weather Clothing (LEP PCU)
• Wet Weather Clothing (PCU)
• Hot Weather Clothing
• Extremity Protection System
• Handwear (MGS), Headwear and Socks
• Tactical Boot Suite
• Winter Mountaineering Boot
• Hot Dry Boot
• Assault Boot
• Fielded

6
Body Armor Load Carrying System

• Body Armor Systems
• Releasable Body Armor Vest (RBAV)
• Modular Body Armor Vest (MBAV)
• Low Visibility Body Armor Vest (LVBAV)
• Load Carriage Systems
• Enhanced Load Carrying System (ELCS)
• SOF Load Carriage System (SOF LCS)
• SOF Backpack system
• BALCS Backpack
• SOF Backpack System
• Fielded

7
Lightweight NBC Protection

• Garments
• All Purpose Personal Protective Ensemble (AP-PPE)
• Seven Day NBC protective garment
• Slag Protective Suit
• JSLIST Block 1 Glove Upgrade (JB1GU)
• Fielded

8
Maritime Equipment

• Garment
• Maritime Assault Suit (MAS)
• Combatant Crewman suit (rainsuit)
• Dry Bags
• Fielded

9
Survival Equipment

• Tents
• Sleeping Bags

10
Product Transitions

• Fielded by Army Rapid Fielding Initiative
• Lightweight Environmental Protection
• Modular Integrated Communications Helmet
• Modular Glove System
• BALCS body armor plate

11
USSOCOM NISH

• The product development relationship between
• USSOCOM and the NISH needed improvements
• Detailed specification vs. performance specs.
• Need access to rapid innovation and improvements.
• Overall product quality requires improvement.
• Enhance user acceptance of products.

12
Competitive Development Model (CDM)

• Establish a JWOD compliant process for
  partnering the National Industries for the
  Severely Handicapped (NISH) non-profit agencies
  (NPAs) with commercial garment vendors to produce
  higher quality, Berry-compliant products that
  improve user acceptance in military applications.

13
CDM Objectives

• Improve garment performance by leveraging
  commercial capabilities in design and innovation.
• Improve product quality through application of
  best commercial practices.
• Establish a mechanism for technology insertion
  and continuous product improvement.
• Improve user acceptance through branding.

14
CDM Parameters

• Selection process of partners is transparent.
• A contract defines relationship between partners.
• Partnerships should be mutually beneficial.
• Partnerships are for a specified timeframe.
• Partnerships are renewable.
• Partnerships can be terminated.

15
CDM Process

• USSOCOM defines product requirement.
• NISH identifies potential partners through
  sources sought (i.e. using FEDBIZOPS).
• USSOCOM and NISH evaluate technical proposals
  from potential sources.
• NISH selects partner and negotiates legal terms.
• USSOCOM, NISH and partner initiate product
  development.

16
Benefits to Industry

• Diversification of marketplace.
• Increase total market size.
• Eliminates need for domestic production.
• Involvement in design of garments for extreme
  applications.

17
Benefits to NISH

• Continuous organizational learning of new
  production techniques and quality assurance.
• Improved product performance and quality.
• Potential access to larger military or government
  market.

18
Benefits to USSOCOM

• Improved access to commercial innovation.
• Improved product performance.
• Improved product quality.
• Improved user acceptance through branding.

19
Contact Information

• Fred Chan
• Program Manager SOF Warrior Protection
• 508-233-4212
• fred.chan_at_us.army.mil