BIO

Hello, my name is Andre van Grieken, I was born and raised in Miami, Florida. I am currently a prelaw student here at FSU. My major is political science, and my minor is business, I believe this will provide me with a well-rounded education and a strong foundation for my future career. My career goal is to become a corporate attorney, and I am working hard to achieve that objective, I believe that a career in corporate law will allow me to help businesses thrive while also making a positive impact on society. In addition to my coursework, I am also involved in research. My current research project focuses on the evaluation of warfighter personal protective equipment (PPE) in subarctic conditions. This project is important to me because it highlights the significance of protecting our military personnel while they serve our country. Overall, I am excited about my future and the opportunities that await me. I am grateful for the education and experiences that I have had so far, and I am eager to see where my passion will take me.

Evaluation of Warfighter PPE in Subarctic Conditions

Abstract

Temperatures in the arctic can dip below -35 °C (-31 °F) and wind speeds can reach up to 40 mph, creating a wind chill below -100 °Celsius (-148 °F) (Antarctica Conditions Fact Sheet,1997). Helicopter pilots are protected from with these subarctic temperatures by wearing restrictive, insulated, multi-layered clothing to keep warm. Not only is this uncomfortable for the pilot, but it also exacerbates the difficulty of flying the helicopter. In this study, a proprietary heated garment system with heating mechanisms running throughout the inside of the clothing is being assessed for its ability to heat soldiers and thereby reduce the need for such bulky, prohibitive clothing insulation.. This is especially important in the extremities such as the hands where finger dexterity is crucial to operating the helicopter. Therefore, the purpose of this testing was to measure the thermal and evaporative resistance of three cold-weather warfighter ensembles and a single heated base layer ensemble, without powered heat, to establish baseline resistance measures for each ensemble.

Keywords: Subarctic Warfare Testing