Soldiers, at home and overseas, are exposed to various weather and temperature conditions. This ranges from extreme heat to extreme cold – even in the same area. In fact, soldiers in Afghanistan requested warmer clothing in 2002, which resulted in the development of the Protective Combat Uniform. Presently, the PCU and also the GEN III ECWCS systems are used by the military for cold weather clothing. Both are based on a system of seven levels of base, insulation, and shell garments, but how does protection vary for each?
The GEN III is considered the next generation in ECWCS clothing and a significant improvement over GEN II, which was simply a cold weather clothing system. Although ECWCS clothing has been issued since the mid-1980s to soldiers in colder areas, GEN III addresses all climates a soldier may encounter. Moisture management principles are incorporated into each garment to wick away perspiration, and the seven layers create several options for insulation. The base layers, Levels 1 and 2, wick away any moisture, while the insulation layers, Levels 3 and 4, trap warm air against the body. The three shell layers protect against the wind and moisture. Two of the shell layers can be worn together if additional protection is needed.
Development for GEN III began in 2003, and the system was tested in 2004 with the 10th Mountain Division and 82nd Airborne Division. The clothing system received proper issue in 2008.
PCU cold weather clothing, on the surface, may appear interchangeable with GEN III, but this assumption isn't accurate. The similarities end at seven-layer garments and use in colder temperatures. But, while GEN III is best for temperatures ranging from -40°F to 60°F, PCU uses a different temperature range – -50°F to 45°F – and addresses wet climate conditions.
After soldiers in Afghanistan requested warmer clothing in 2003, the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center began to develop a cold weather clothing system for this use. Introduced for testing a year later, PCU was first evaluated by Army Rangers, Marine Force Reconnaissance, Special Forces, and Navy SEALs. The system then became official in 2006.
PCU uses similar principles for moisture management and insulation through Polartec fabrics and silicone-encapsulated fibers for water and wind resistance. Recent improvements to this cold weather clothing system have included antimicrobial fibers and a stretch shell. Base layers Levels 1 and 2 reduce sweat with breathable material, and insulation layers Levels 4 and 5 are lightweight but with a higher warmth-to-weight ratio and moisture management properties. Shell layers, such as Level 5, offer abrasion resistance and a lightweight design. Level 7, with X-Static lining, uses thermal efficiency to keep the wearer warm and has a waterproof surface.
