Extended Cold Weather Clothing System Views
The Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS; pronounced /ˈɛkwæks/ EK-waks) is a protective clothing system developed in the 1980s by the United States Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Massachusetts. The first generation ECWCS consisted of parka and trousers plus 20 other individual clothing, handwear, headwear and footwear items which are used in various combinations to meet the cold weather environmental requirements of the US military (and others). The Gen III ECWCS is designed to maintain adequate environmental protection in temperatures ranging between +40 and −60 degrees Fahrenheit (about +4 and −51 degrees Celsius)
The third generation 3G or GEN III Extended Climate Warfighter Clothing System is a radical re-design of the system. It features seven new layers of insulation including three Polartec fabrics: two layers of Polartec Power Dry and a layer of Polartec Thermal Pro High Loft. The 12 components of the GEN III ECWCS include a lightweight undershirt and drawers, midweight shirt and drawers, fleece cold weather jacket, wind cold weather jacket, soft shell jacket and trousers, extreme cold/wet weather jacket and trousers, extreme cold weather parka and trousers. Initial fielding of the system began in August 2007 to the 73rd Cavalry Regiment in Afghanistan.[1]
The GEN III ECWCS is a clothing system designed to enhance a soldier’s survival through various climate ranges. GEN III ECWCS incorporates seven layers for protection. The lowest, GEN III Level I, is lightweight underwear and drawers and the next, Level II, is mid-weight shirts and drawers, while the highest, Level VII, is an extreme cold weather parka and trousers. All ECWCS clothing is designed to cover the spectrum of -40°F to over 60°F for soldiers.
Based on layering systems currently utilized by mountaineering professionals, the Generation III ECWCS system incorporates 7 layers of clothing, including light-weight and mid-weight Polartec Powerdry moisture wicking shirt and briefs, a Polartec Thermal Pro fleece jacket, a nylon/ spandex wind jacket, a soft shell jacket and trousers using Nextec fabric, a Gore-Tex wet weather jacket and trousers, and a Primaloft insulated loft parka and trousers for extreme cold weather conditions. Wool socks and a fleece cap are also included. Each piece fits and functions either alone or together as a system to provide the most options for the Soldier.
Extended Cold Weather Clothing System Images
