I have heard rumblings about this issue so I thought you might be interested.....
Here is an article from the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard from his website.
The future of Integrated Personal Protective Equipment
There is a work group that is examining the integration of Personal Protective Equipment. I'm not sure what the exact answer will be but BM2 Shear (below) suggests one option. Comments?MCPOCG Bowen
The vest in the attached picture also has a lifting strap on the top to assist in the removal of a person in the water, and is high impact rated.
My name is BM2 Jared Shear currently at Station San Francisco. I was tasked by MCPO-CG Bowen to e-mail you regarding a question that was proposed to him during his recent visit to the station.
The question asked to MCPO-CG Bowen was regarding the new Operation Dress Uniform and the wearing of gun belts. Currently Station San Francisco is operating under a waiver from HQ to wear drop leg holsters. The question I asked MCPO-CG Bowen was "If a BTM/BO wearing drop leg holsters and LE suspenders would that satisfy COMDT policy avoiding the tucking in of the new uniforms and the use of keepers on the gun belt?"
MCPO-CG Bowen seemed very interested in the topic. He agreed with the opinion that an operational uniform should accommodate operational units. For the past couple of years Station San Francisco has been testing new PPE for the WMD program. As a result of this program a Type III PFD has been developed that has the ability to be a PFD, SAR vest, and tactical vest all in one. The PFD also has keepers attached to the bottom of the vest which could be used to secure the gun belt to the BO/BTM. I have attached some pictures of the vest to the e-mail.
Thank you for time and attention in this matter and I hope this information can help the Coast Guard in its efforts to modernize its fleet.
