Pulling the Thread on UIPE FoS Air 2PUG

The clothes we wear serve many purposes: self-expression, functionality, and protection, among others. Innovation allows for the merging of these elements, resulting in functional yet fashionable athletic attire, comfortable yet protective outdoor gear, durable yet practical work wear, and more. Gone are the days of sacrificing one feature for another. The same can be said for the garments our warfighters don in battle, when the coalescence of functionality, comfort, and protection has a direct impact on the mission.

Enter the Uniform Integrated Protection Ensemble Family of Systems (UIPE FoS) Air. The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense’s (JPEO-CBRND) Joint Project Manager for CBRN Protection (JPM CBRN Protection) is currently fielding this two-piece undergarment (2PUG) to some branches of the joint force to ensure survival and operational sustainment. Fielding the 2PUG advances the JPM CBRN Protection mission to develop, field, and sustain CBRN protection and mitigation capabilities for the warfighter and the Nation by developing next-generation physical protection capabilities, like masks and suits, that reduce physiological burden and enhance protection against CBRN threats.

The 2PUG will integrate into aircrew flight ensembles and provide protection from CBRN threats. It is intended to reduce physiological burden and weight and will replace the CWU-66/P aviation legacy suit and the Joint Protective Aircrew Ensemble (JPACE).

A hallmark of the 2PUG is that it puts significantly less burden on the warfighter wearing it. Making protective suits less cumbersome is more than just “lightening the load” to reduce fatigue. It also improves maneuverability and situational awareness, reduces injury rates and mental stress, and enhances endurance. The 2PUG’s thin, lightweight, and breathable material reduces the thermal burden on the warfighter while still meeting the required level of protection from CBRN threats. It is comfort without compromise—especially when worn in non-climate-controlled aircraft or desert environments.

During developmental testing, operational testing, and fielding, users have reacted positively to the 2PUG, highlighting the importance and utility of conducting warfighter touchpoints to gather their direct feedback on function, performance, and overall satisfaction. Up to this point, CBRN protective garments have been designed as one-piece jumpsuits that go over the flight suit whereas the 2PUG is designed as a two-piece undergarment—an undershirt and trousers. Users appreciate having their day-to-day flight suit as the top layer because they are familiar with its pocket and pin/patch placements, optimizing maneuverability and situational awareness. The undergarments also come in multiple sizes for optimal fit.

The 2PUG has gone through the airworthiness certification process to verify that its use in conjunction with other flight equipment will not compromise an aircraft’s ability to safely attain, sustain, and complete flight. First Lieutenant Michael Rossi, the U.S. Air Force engineer evaluating the 2PUG’s airworthiness said, “Since the 2PUG will be fielded to a wide variety of platforms, many in the USAF thought that airworthiness would be a huge bureaucratic challenge. However, the 2PUG’s design minimizes possible airworthiness risks and is adaptable to a wide variety of aircrew flight equipment configurations, limiting roadblocks and leading to a relatively smooth process.”

Partnerships also played an integral role in the 2PUG’s development. While the U.S. government owns the design of the undergarment, ReadyOne Industries manufactures the 2PUG out of raw material and distributes it directly to joint force units. Scott Buckheit, the UIPE FoS AIR 2PUG program manager, works directly with ReadyOne Industries based out of El Paso, Texas.

“ReadyOne has been a valuable partner. We work with and communicate with them weekly to ensure production of the 2PUG is up to date,” said Buckheit. “...We are happy to work with a manufacturer that uplifts disabled U.S. citizens, including veterans.” Buckheit is referring to ReadyOne’s partnership with the AbilityOne Program, an independent federal program that creates private sector jobs in every state for 39,000 Americans with disabilities and brings 2,500 veterans and wounded warriors into the U.S. labor force.

Service partners from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have also been key stakeholders in the 2PUG’s development. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Adams, the materiel leader for Air Force CBRN Defense Systems Branch said, “Our main focus is that the warfighter’s needs are met, and working together ensures we are able to accomplish that mission.”

Part of that mission has been to develop a protective garment built for the long-term. “The 2PUG has a good shelf life. It’s not something produced and thrown away after a short period of time—it is built to last,” said Buckheit.

While civilians put on raincoats to protect themselves from the elements and baseball caps to shield their faces from the sun or cheer on their favorite sports team, warfighters have more at stake when it comes to wearing protective garments. The development of the 2PUG intends to give the Nation’s warfighters the best possible protection so they can fight and win in CBRN contested environments.