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NMCB 40 Participants Help Test JSLIST Chemical Garments

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050901-19
Release Date: 9/1/2005 4:58:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW) Barbara Silkwood, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 Public Affairs

PORT HUENEME, Calif. (NNS) -- A group of 65 Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 are assisting the Department of the Army in a 720-hour test evaluation of the JSLIST (Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology) chemical protective garment.

Currently JSLIST material is provided by a single supply source, so the primary objective of the tests is to identify additional sources that meet or exceed protection qualification standards of the current JSLIST, which in turn will alleviate the risk of a supply shortage or disruption.

“The actual study will determine the physical durability and compatibility of those suits, as well as provide a collection of worn garments for further chemical, biological protection testing,” explained Developmental Test Director Charles Tregeser, who works for the Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland.

There are three items being tested: JSLIST Approved Material (JAM) - the baseline suits currently worn in theater; a universal camo pattern suit; and a suit made with domestic carbon beads.

The testing for this set of suits originally began in April with NMCB 3 and continued with a reserve battalion, NMCB 4, the 31st Seabee Readiness Group, and now 65 participants from NMCB 40 will help conclude the 720 hours of wear.

“When the command asked for volunteers nobody really knew what JSLIST was, but because of my experience with the Army I was pretty certain it was some kind of chemical suit,” said Yeoman 3rd Class John Maldonado.

“I decided to do it since it would be beneficial to the ongoing research of the joint services,” he said.

Tregeser said some of the suits have already completed the required hours, but some suits have fallen behind by as many as 300 hours. He encouraged the participants to wear the suits as much as possible.

“The evaluators are looking to us to finish up the remaining hours. The suit I am wearing has close to 270 hours left, so I take it home on the weekends to wear it as much as possible. I try to sleep in it some nights, but I usually end up taking it off about three in the morning because it’s so hot,” Maldonado said.

Each participant turns in a data card on a daily basis to report any discrepancies or problems, and the suits are turned in every Friday for visual inspections, unless the participant chose to wear the suit for extended hours.

“We just appreciate any help the Seabees can give us in completing the hours in a timely manner,” Tregeser said.

After this phase of the JSLIST Additional Source Qualification (JASQ) is completed, the suits will be sent to special labs to be tested chemically, and another phase of the research involving 150 suits will be conducted in October in Gulfport.