MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- As the heat from the Iraqi sun beats down on a platoon of Marines wearing Mission Oriented Protective Posture equipment, fatigue begins to set in. While carrying out their mission, the bulkiness of their gear and the heat is a liability, preventing mission accomplishment.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 373, Marine Wing Support Group 37, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, is participating in testing new prototype MOPP gear for the Marine Corps. The Marine Corps wants equipment that will better accommodate the troops and eliminate those common deficiencies.
"The Marine Corps is looking for something lighter, more durable and with better protection," said Steve G. Gearin, test director, Sverdrup Technologies Inc. "We're testing suits from private industries who are competing on making the new suits."
Durability is part of the required criteria for the new equipment. The testing of the suits is focused on the endurance of the suit and its performance under pressure.
"The durability of the suits is tested in a working environment," said Gearin.
Marines who are participating in the testing have to wear the suit many hours during their normal workdays. This is to test whether the suit can withstand numerous hours of wear and tear under normal working conditions.
"Marines wear the equipment for 480 hours in their normal working environment to test the durability of the suit," said Gearin.
After the suit's durability is tested, the equipment must go through chemical tests at Dougway Military Proving Grounds, Utah. The chemical test assesses how protective the suits are after they have been worn out from Marines working in them.
"A major contributing factor for deciding which equipment works is how well it protects during a chemical test," said Gearin.
After testing is finished, the Marines who wore the equipment will submit feedback.
"At the end of our testing, every Marine who wore the suit will answer a questionnaire based on comfort, durability and user friendliness," said Gearin. "This feedback will give us information on what equipment doesn't work and how we can improve it."
All the data compiled from the tests will be compared with the old suits to determine what areas failed.
Most Marines who wore the suit agree the equipment is more comfortable than the older suit.
"It's beneficial to the individual wearing the suit," said Cpl. Genadiy K. Khadzhi, military policeman, MWSS-373. "It's not as hot, because there's more air flowing through it and it's easier to get into and out of."
Although most Marines can agree with the comfort, there have been some deficiencies with the new prototype. The new suits are equipped with a liner that has an elastic band on the sleeves that some Marines think is not needed.
"The elastic bands trap the sweat inside," said Lance Cpl. Curtis Baccus, utilities electrician, MWSS-373. "After wearing it for so long, the suit begins to stink."
The overall reason for the testing is to make sure the Marines have the best equipment available to them.
"Our Marines fight in rugged terrain, so we want to make sure these garments can maintain enough durability to protect them during a chemical attack," concluded Gearin.