Methodology for the Assessment of Clothing and Individual Equipment (CIE)

The Army has been searching for a repeatable and sensitive way to evaluate clothing and individual equipment (CIE), including personal protective systems, for increase in mission flexibility, mobility, and protection. The goal of this methodology was to have Soldiers engage in an operationally relevant scenario and to provide a continuous, fatiguing set of tasks, mimicking movement to and action on an objective. By using an interdisciplinary approach (incorporating biomechanical, cognitive psychology, and human factors expertise), we have demonstrated a comprehensive methodology that addresses the Warfighter as a system. The paradigm of evaluating the Warfighter from a cognitive, physiologic, and performance approach allows the ability to analyze how these processes interact. This approach gives a complete picture of what the Warfighter's challenges are in complex scenarios.