Wolf Pack tests newly modified JFIRE suit during week-long exercise

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Thirty-three Wolf Pack Airmen participated in a field test of the new modified Joint Firefighter Integrated Response Ensemble July 25 to 29, providing critical data and feedback for researchers from the Air Force Research Lab.

Kunsan firefighters donned the JFIRE suit for a week-long base exercise, responding to a multitude of scenarios involving both conventional and chemical attacks. Bioenvironmental engineers, emergency management and explosive ordnance disposal personnel also tested the suit during the trial.

The JFIRE consists of an outer shell to provide liquid protection and a carbon-bead filter material on the inside for vapor protection. One of the biggest differences is the one-piece design, as opposed to the current Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology in use. The JFIRE is also lighter and less bulky than the current JSLIST.

"The ensemble specifically allows military firefighters to operate in a chemically contaminated environment," according to Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Rivera, a Fire Emergency Services Program manager at the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. "It allows us to survive if the environment is contaminated with chemical or biological agents, and should we need to respond and operate in a fire or other oxygen deficient atmosphere, we can [also] do that."

Because firefighters wear their protective chemical suits underneath their traditional firefighting gear, the reduction in weight allows them to better perform their mission. The new JFIRE also includes upgraded helmets, gloves and boots.

"You're basically wearing two firefighter ensembles, so it's extremely hot, extremely taxing on the firefighter," the chief said. "We're really trying to improve the suit by reducing the thermal burden, weight, and improve flexibility to make the job easier for the firefighter."

Also on hand for the testing was Jennifer Schroeder, a contractor for Fire Research Group at Tyndall's Air Force Research Lab. Initially, the program started three years ago with a "call to industry" looking for new material and potential suit designs, she said. Several vendors made submissions and the researchers were able to narrow those submissions down to three candidates for further testing.

"Things are totally different in the field than they can be in a laboratory environment," Schroeder said. "We don't want to provide them with something we think is better; we actually want the feedback from the firefighters."

Firefighters with Kunsan's 8th Civil Engineer Squadron put the new JFIRE through its paces and provided their feedback. Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Kronenberger, 8th CES firefighter, said he likes the suit overall and enjoyed the opportunity to provide his feedback on the new suit.

"The most beneficial thing about the one-piece suit, versus the two-piece suit, is the lack of a drawstring," he said. "It also keeps the pants from sagging down and stuffing into my fire boots."

Despite the lighter weight of the new JFIRE, Kronenberger said he hasn't really noticed a big difference in the temperature when wearing his full array of gear because of the current 90 percent humidity and temperatures approaching 100 degrees. However, he is impressed overall with the new system being tested.

"The boots are a lot more flexible," he said. "There is a little more padding in them and they're softer. The new glove liners are a lot better than having no glove liner at all."

Tech. Sgt. Thomas Ryan, Det 1, 823rd RED HORSE fire contingency instructor at Tyndall, wore one of the original prototypes prior to this week's field testing, looking for ways to improve the suit before bringing it to Korea. The current iteration is the culmination of about four different suits.

"I've worn both suits, and this suit is miles apart. It's so much better than the old suit. It has all sorts of bells and whistles that are designed for a firefighter to make our lives easier," he said.

Kronenberger, along with his fellow Kunsan firefighters, said he enjoyed testing the JFIRE throughout the week and were glad to provide feedback to the developers collecting the data. Overall, Kunsan provided a wide array of testing environments because of the realistic wartime training for which the Wolf Pack is known.

"Coming to Kunsan to work with the Wolf Pack was the best thing we could have done because the way that you all train for war here is outstanding," Ryan said. "We wanted to run the suit through the ringers and make sure it got that top notch trial; and we're getting that here with the Wolf Pack."