Mountain/Cold Weather Clothing System
The Marine Corps requires a Mountain/Cold Weather Clothing System with improvements that provide:
- Better moisture management,
- More flexibility in layering to better adapt to changing environment and level of protection needed (-40°F to 70°F temperature, wet/dry, wind, camouflage, activity level),
- Faster drying time,
- Lighter weights,
- Lower pack volume,
- Improved Marine performance/effectiveness in harsh climates.
Components
- Underwear
- Silkweight Underwear (later replaced by FR version)
- Underwear/Light insulation
- Grid Fleece Underwear (later replaced by FR version)
- Soft Shell/Insulation
- Wind Pro Fleece Jacket
- Hard Shell
- Lightweight Exposure Suit (lightweight hard-shell rain suit)
- Extreme Cold Weather
- Happy Suit (extreme cold weather jacket, trousers, booties)
- Camouflage
- Snow Camouflage Overwhite (jacket, trouser, pack cover)
- Handwear
- ECW Mitten System (shell and removable liner) and the light duty glove inserts (FR)
- Headwear
- Hardface Micro Fleece Cap
Instruction
Acquisition
Similar System
Improvement
- FY20 winter evaluations[1]
- Product improvements to Level 1 and 3 to improve wicking/moisture transport and drying time
- Soft shell uniform solution for insulation and quick drying
- from sweat and precipitation
- in a wet-cold environment.
- More breathable than APECS
- Reduces sweat build up and condensation inside the garment
References
- https://sam.gov/opp/5e2076c7ac7b57565cf47c3155a1727d/view
- MCWCS APBI [2007][2007][2008][2009][2010]
- http://www.polartec.com/markets/military/usmc-cold-weather-layering-system.aspx
- http://www.polartec.com/uploads/pdfs/POL_Mil_USMC_CWLS.pdf
