thedrifter
10-25-06, 03:32 PM
No more polyesters, nylons for U.S. Marines in Iraq
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
BAGHDAD — The U.S. Marines have banned soldiers from wearing synthetic materials during operations in Iraq.
Officials said the Marine Corps has ordered soldiers to wear clothing with natural materials when leaving bases and camps in Iraq. The ban includes wearing synthetic athletic clothing that contain polyester and nylon.
"Burns can kill you and they're horribly disfiguring," said Navy Capt. Lynn Welling, the 1st Marine Logistics Group head surgeon. "If you're throwing [a melted synthetic material] on top of a burn, basically you have a bad burn with a bunch of plastic melting into your skin, and that's not how you want to go home to your family."
Clothing that contain synthetic material have been available at military stores. Some manufacturers tout such clothing as enabling soldiers to withstand the brutal Iraqi summers.
The order was issued in 2006 after a Marine was injured in an IED attack near Ramadi. The soldier, who was riding in an an armored vehicle, had been wearing a polyester shirt that melted to his skin.
The Marines have joined other soldiers banned from wearing polyester. They include pilots and explosive ordnance disposal personnel. Instead, the military has recommended wearing cotton fabrics.
"My goal is not to make it more uncomfortable or harder on the servicemembers," Ms. Welling said. "My job is to make sure that when they hit an IED and are engulfed in flames, they have the best protection possible and the least risk of something [going wrong] that could have been prevented."
Ellie
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
BAGHDAD — The U.S. Marines have banned soldiers from wearing synthetic materials during operations in Iraq.
Officials said the Marine Corps has ordered soldiers to wear clothing with natural materials when leaving bases and camps in Iraq. The ban includes wearing synthetic athletic clothing that contain polyester and nylon.
"Burns can kill you and they're horribly disfiguring," said Navy Capt. Lynn Welling, the 1st Marine Logistics Group head surgeon. "If you're throwing [a melted synthetic material] on top of a burn, basically you have a bad burn with a bunch of plastic melting into your skin, and that's not how you want to go home to your family."
Clothing that contain synthetic material have been available at military stores. Some manufacturers tout such clothing as enabling soldiers to withstand the brutal Iraqi summers.
The order was issued in 2006 after a Marine was injured in an IED attack near Ramadi. The soldier, who was riding in an an armored vehicle, had been wearing a polyester shirt that melted to his skin.
The Marines have joined other soldiers banned from wearing polyester. They include pilots and explosive ordnance disposal personnel. Instead, the military has recommended wearing cotton fabrics.
"My goal is not to make it more uncomfortable or harder on the servicemembers," Ms. Welling said. "My job is to make sure that when they hit an IED and are engulfed in flames, they have the best protection possible and the least risk of something [going wrong] that could have been prevented."
Ellie