January 2010

AN ADMISSION OF FAILURE

    As we all know when the U.S. government initiates a program it never functions as planned. Once the problems begin to show themselves modification are conjured up. The problem as I see it is those who started the program leave their position for one reason or another and they leave the person taking their place with the responsibility of finding a cure. To the best of my knowledge the cure is never found but the program continues. In many instances or possibly all the next person in line at the position gets an idea as to how to “correct” the problems and of course they never work. But nobody along the line of those put in charge ever says why we don’t just see if there is something that is working and change. Ain’t gonna happen!

     On December 23, 2009 a solicitation was published as a “source sought notice” from the U.S. Army Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center for a “sleeping bag liner.”  According to the solicitation; “The USMC (United States Marine Corps) is interested in investigating a sleeping bag liner as a modular component for use with all their sleep systems; currently fielded modular sleep system, and the MSS future replacement by the Three Season Sleep System, and developmental extreme cold sleep system over the next 3 to 5 years. The sleeping bag liner would allow the Marine to tailor layers to optimize comfort from -25F to 100F based upon the item he is willing to carry for the environmental conditions they expect to face. The USMCs concept of use includes using the liner alone with the bivi cover (bag) for upper temperatures when a sleeping bag is too warm, and used in conjunction with any of the sleeping bags to increase warmth at lower temperatures depending on the Marines sensitivity to the cold and his preference for warming layers inside the sleeping bag. To be suitable for military use, the sleeping liner must be: very light, highly compressible and add 5 to 10 degrees protection when used.”
“Target performance characteristics for the sleeping bag liner follow. Finished weight of 1.3 lbs maximum with 1.0 lbs desired. The compressed volume of the liner shall not exceed 140 cu in the sleep system compression sack where less volume at 100 cu in is desired. The insulation value of the liner shall add 0.6 clo in thermal manikin testing with 1.0 clo desired. The liner end item shall be compatible with a center zip sleeping bag, tapered shape, and smooth surface to slip over fleece type clothing layers without generating static electricity and shall have an easy to use closure to keep the liner in position around the users’ body. The material shall wick moisture away from sweaty kin, dry fat, provide high moisture vapor transmission, and be strong to resist tearing or bursting from boot shod feet and rapid stuffing action. A durable antimicrobial treatment is desired to reduce bacteria growth between launderings.”   

     As I have previously reported the original two bag sleeping system was created by me Wiggy for the USMC in 1993 and shortly there after it was adopted by the US NAVY SEALS. The system includes an outer bag rated for +35F and an inner bag rated for 0 F. When these bags are used in concert the temperature rating is -40F. However, each bag used independently has demonstrated over the years a capacity to perform as much as 10 degrees lower than the published rating. But, the real performance capability is when the two bags are combined and they have performed as reported to me as much as 27 degrees lower than the rating. But back in 1994 to 1996 the same organization noted above chose to bastardize what I created. They worked in league with a company that contract manufactures sleeping bags. Otherwise they are not a sleeping bag manufacturer; if this company does not have a contract specifically from the government to make sleeping bags that do not make them. To the best of my knowledge they have had contracts from the government probably as far back as the 1970s. So, these two entities put their heads together and made a two bag system. The first time it was put into field use it did not perform. That was I believe 1996. Big deal it was approved in 1997. Since then the bag system has been reengineered all to no avail. You see, the people working at this organization have changed. The new people do not have any more knowledge of what it takes to make a sleeping bag than those they have replaced so the say let add this or that to correct the problem. Only what ever it is they want to do will not work, but do they care certainly not because they know at some point they will be replaced and they will leave it for the replacement to correct the problem. So the cycle starts over again and nothing gets done. That unfortunately is how government works.

     It is now 2010 and we are fighting a war in a very cold location and those to whom I have referred are getting probably getting feed back from the men (Marines, Soldiers, etc.) in the field stating unequivocally that they are cold in their sleeping bags; to include the currently fielded modular sleep system and the MSS future replacement by the Three Season Sleep System. Are you surprised to know this, I am not. The initial MSS was supposed to perform at -30 F and it didn’t so they increased the size and reduced the weight and lowered the temperature capability from -30F to -40F, amazing how they did that. Unfortunately for them what they asked for from industry as they like to say did not work then and as we can see it is not working now. If it were working now why the need for a third layer i.e. a sleeping bag liner? As I said it is not working, and the addition of the sleeping bag liner will not add enough to matter, but it will otherwise be a detriment to their comfort. Reducing the space inside the bag will cramp the individual, and they will depress the thickness of the insulation surrounding there body to the extent that the additional layer of the liner is worthless.

     They are leaving it up to the individual Marine to “tailor” the bag or bags too his willingness to take a bag into the field. Depending upon his “sensitivity” to the cold as if each and every Marine was so different, what a joke and a bad one at that.

     I could go on and on trashing this solicitation but I’ll stop here. The reason I am stopping is because all these people have to do is open their eyes and take note that the Wiggy’s SUPER LIGHT FTRSS (generally referred to as the “fortress”) because as I have stated in previous articles since its inception it has NEVER FAILED to perform!!!The SUPER LIGHT FTRSS is a tried and proven product that has worked in every environment on planet Earth.

     Will someone at the above referenced organization put a stop to the on going desire for failure or just not rock the boat and ultimately pass it on the next replacement? Probably so. These people will not have any problem getting a product made because they probably have already seen prototypes. They will be attending the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show in January in Salt Lake City. They have invited any company exhibiting at the show to show them a product of this type. The product must be made in the USA using USA made materials. Since ALL of those exhibiting sleeping bags get them made in China what are the chances of some company having a potential sample; nil.

     So while they by their actions admit what they are issuing to Marines and soldiers isn’t working they steadfastly refuse to look at what actually works.

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