FREE – Keeping You Warm In Spite of the Heat

FREE – Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble

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The Army’s Fire Resistant Environmental Ensemble is a Fire Resistant, layered clothing system, designed to protect the Soldier from the effects of flame threats while serving in adverse weather conditions down to -40˚ F.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature isn’t the only threat. Flame threats like IEDs aren’t going away. What’s more, the environmental conditions in Afghanistan are inhospitable at best. It seems as if FREE was designed specifically for Afghanistan’s climate. If you can build a system that will stand up to the terrain and protect Soldiers from the effects of weather there, it will work anywhere. In fact, such a capability has been on the Army’s wish list for years. Thankfully, technology has recently caught up with the Army’s requirement.

In creating the FREE System, the Army published a requirement to field an environmental clothing system for its combat vehicle crewmen and aviation troops, based on the success of limited fielding of FR performance garments and Gen III ECWCS. The Army was very excited about the performance enhancements offered by the successful Gen III ECWCS and Aircrewmen had also seen limited fielding of Massif’s FR Army Elements fleece. The goal for FREE was to combine the two concepts into a full FR environmental clothing program.

The FREE solicitation was initially released on 27 February 2007 and closed two months later on 25 April 2007. Unlike previous clothing solicitations that relied on Government specified fabrics, FREE was based on performance metrics. This meant that the Government evaluation of the submissions would consist of three phases beginning with lab testing.

• PHASE I (May 2007) – During the Lab Testing phase, the Army awarded IDIQ contracts for the top performing products sufficient to offer three distinct systems based on lab performance of the base materials.
• PHASE II (September 2007) – This phase consisted of Human Factors, equipment compatibility, as well as system-level burn testing. The three candidate systems were in turn down selected to two systems.
• PHASE III (November 2007-January 2008) – In the final phase, a user evaluation was conducted in Korea during the winter with the two down selected systems.

At the conclusion of the evaluation, ADS had offered the best-performing system and was awarded the contract.

Since then, ADS has been able to leverage their experience as the systems integrator for Gen III ECWCS to manage the even more complex FREE program. There are more individual components in the FREE system and consequently, more partners involved. Working with industry leaders such as DuPont, Darn Tough Vermont, London Bridge, Massif, Milliken, Polartec, Springfield, and WL Gore, ADS developed a 17-garment system configured into seven levels and designed to be worn in various combinations in response to the environment and the desired comfort level of the Soldier.

When FREE was initially fielded, BG Peter N. Fuller, Program Executive Officer Soldier had this to say about the program, “FREE represents the next level of excellence in flame-resistant clothing where it is needed the most.” To further sum the system up he gave these remarks, “FREE provides Soldiers with an effective, ergonomically efficient, breathable, head-to-toe clothing system that is adaptable to the mission and the climate. It’s not just for cold weather; it’s also for wet weather.”

The Army purchased FREE in an entirely new way. It was the first time that the Army had purchased a clothing system in a truly open and competitive manner. In the past, companies bid on manufacturing Government owned designs. However, with FREE, competing industry teams were allowed to bid solutions based on performance metrics. For once, industry was allowed to bring the best that it had to bear against the requirement. ADS partnered with a variety of industry leaders and did something unprecedented. They offered a variety of solutions to the Government. In each category of garment, the ADS team offered options. The Army was then able to weigh these options and truly craft a clothing system. Not only were the designs in performance FR fabrics, but they were all from well established companies known for innovation.

In addition to performance, FREE also offers FR protection. No matter which layers you are using in conjunction with one another, you do not sacrifice FR protection. With 17 components in FREE, you can thrive in virtually any weather conditions imaginable. Designed for wear in – 40˚ F to 60˚ F, FREE also integrates with current Army issue FR duty uniforms such as the Advanced Aircrewman Combat Uniform (A2CU) as well as the improved Combat Vehicle Crewman (iCVC) uniform. When these are worn with FREE’s performance base layers, they can take the Soldier into much warmer climates. Due to its properties, the FR ACU could also be used in conjunction with FREE’s layers to enhance the range of conditions in which a Soldier can operate.

However, while FREE was inspired by Gen III ECWCS and enjoys several similarities, FREE does not incorporate the level 7 Parka and Trouser outer layer found in Gen III since wearers will be operating from vehicles or aircraft.

PEO Soldiers outfitted with FREE

The garments are organized to be used with different conditions: Light Weather, Intermediate Weather, and Extreme Weather.

Additionally, taking a cue from the popular pre-FREE Army Elements fleece, different garments incorporate FR fleece in order to provide additional insulation without the fear of burn injuries. Outer garments are available in OCP and UCP and under garments in Foliage Green or Desert Tan. Sizing is standard military (XS – XXL in short, regular, and long lengths) with garments designed to be layered and worn in conjunction with another so that you don’t have to go up in size for outer layers.

FREE has also gone one step beyond in another area. The system has introduced an FR Rigger’s Belt as well as Glove Liners and Socks so that Soldiers enjoy full head-to-toe protection.

While how the Army operates has changed in just the few years since FREE was first adopted, the program has taken those changes in stride and adapted right alongside. By now, more FREE gear has been produced in the Army’s Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (OCP) based on the popular MultiCam pattern than the original, baseline Universal Camouflage Pattern. Additionally, the Army continues to assess which Soldiers should receive FREE. Currently, only aircrewmen and armored vehicle crewmen are issued FREE however, based on operational need, Soldiers in other career fields are finding themselves at similar risk.

Thus far, FREE has been restricted to use by Aviators and Mounted Crewmen.

FREE offers many advantages:

• Completely FR: Every component is fire resistant for warfighters at greater risk of being exposed to fire
• Integrated: Available in OCP and UCP, FREE is designed to integrate with current Army issue FR duty service uniforms such as FR ACU, iCVC, and A2CU
• Versatile: FREE can be configured and worn to address the individual’s personal climate tolerances without sacrificing FR protection
• Extreme Climate Protection: Enhanced comfort & protection across a broad climate range from – 40˚ F to 60˚ F
• Improved Design: Athletic fit for enhanced layering and freedom of movement with reduced bulk
• Breathable: Lightweight and breathable with high moisture movement to keep body dry and comfortable

FREE is a highly successful program that has greatly increased the combat capability of armored crew and aviation Soldiers. Every attention has been given to protecting them from flame threats. Literally, from the top of a Soldier’s head, to the bottom of his feet, FREE offers protective garments. Furthermore, the Army is weighing its options in expanding the use of FR inclement weather systems for to additional troops. For example, the latest deliveries of the ECWCS Gen III Level 5 softshell are made from an FR fabric. One thing is certain, as FR technology improves, America’s Soldiers will be better protected and able to more effectively operate on the battlefield.

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Eric Graves is the Editor of Soldier Systems Daily, a web-based publication of the tactical industry. He is a retired Air Force officer who also saw service as a non-commissioned officer in the US Army. Following his military service he worked for a period in the defense technology arena and started Soldier Systems Daily in 2008.