Background. ANG ST global fighting capabilities and equipment have been substantially
degraded due to our previous focus on the USCENTCOM Area of Responsibility. ST requires
environment-specific individual equipment to operate within maritime, jungle, tropical and subtropical
environments to provide capability from infiltration, through actions on the objective, to
exfiltration. ST requires improved maritime capabilities including fins, mask, snorkel, wearable
dive pouches for radios, adequate thermal protection for 65–80-degree water and waterproof dive
packs capable of holding 60 and 120 liters. ST also requires an underwater precision navigation
device to ensure arrival within 30 meters of an intended beach landing site and Night Vision
Device (NVD)/thermal optics capable of dive operations to 66 feet and useable at the surface to
clear threats prior to exiting the water. Operations against existing threats requires multi-spectral
emission mitigation capability at the individual, vehicle, operational location, and mission
support site levels. Individual equipment requirements include lightweight, breathable, water shedding,
and quick drying uniforms and load bearing equipment. Load bearing equipment
includes assault vests, tailorable/modular ruck sacks sufficient to support 96-hour operations and
waterproof stuff sacks to protect sensitive electronic devices. Operators also need an integrated
sleep system including a jungle hammock, bivy sack, insect netting and rain protection.