Who Decides What We Wear to War?
War clothing is extremely important when it comes to combat situations, as it can mean the difference between life and death. As with many things in the military, who chooses and decides what equipment, armor, and clothes our servicemen and women wear to war is an interesting process.
Info gathered by Defense Department
Gathering information is where it all starts. The United States Department of Defense collects data from many different sources including the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard. They take into account many factors such as durability, protection, comfort, cost, availability, and regulations.
Product Development
Once the information is collected, product development of war clothing begins. The Pentagon has a variety of committees, each one responsible for a certain area of product development. At the beginning of product development, the team of experts must decide the desired features and specs for the finished product.
Testing and Modification
The next step is testing and modification. Testing the gear helps the team refine the product and make any necessary modifications. Tests include environmental/hazard testing, wear testing, water testing, and safety/ ballistic tests. After testing and modification is complete, the gear is ready to be approved and released to the troops.
Public Private Partnership (PPP)
In some cases, the U.S. Department of Defense will partner with private companies to help produce war clothing. The Public Private Partnership (PPP) allows private companies to bring innovation and expertise to the table when producing military-grade wear.
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, it’s the Department of Defense who has the ultimate say in what our warfighters and women wear to battle. With the help of technology and expertise from the private sector, these brave individuals can be assured that their gear is of the highest quality and will keep them safe out in the field.
Conclusion
It takes a significant amount of hard work and dedication from all those involved to make sure our servicemen and women are safe and comfortable. From the gathering of information to product development to testing and modification, war clothing is put through an extensive process in order to make sure it meets the necessary requirements and regulations.