Military clothing and accessories are considered indispensable for the protection and comfort of army officials. These items are designed to protect the bodies of individuals against extreme weather conditions, explosives, chemicals, flames, high temperatures, microwave radiation, insects, etc.
Such clothing and accessories with NSN can be found online, classified under multiple supply codes like outerwear, nightwear, footwear, apparel for special purposes, luggage, badges, insignia, and others.
Learn more about these categories below.
Chapter Overview
Textiles, leather, furs, apparel and shoe findings, tents, and flags
FSG 83 consists of textile fabrics, yarn and thread, notion, and apparel findings, padding and stuffing materials, fur materials, leather, shoe findings, tents and tarpaulins, and flags and pendants. FSC 8330 stands for leather materials such as handicraft, sheepskin, kidskin, horsehide, cattle hide, and calfskin leather. It also covers handicraft lacing, leather fillet, leather palm gloves, and vinyl sheets.
Supply Code 8335 includes shoe findings and soling materials used in the production of military footwear. These incorporate footwear last pattern sets, last heel curve template sets, last toe curve template sets, insole rounding pattern sets, footwear upper pattern sets, footwear heals, cold-weather boot valve maintenance kits, footwear last models, etc. Military shoes are expected to provide officials with the support, comfort, and protection their feet need during combat and parade situations.
FSC 8340 covers tents and tarpaulins used for building shelters. There is a myriad of clothing & accessories NSN items assigned different supply class numbers. FSC 8340 is used for items like tent poles, tent flies, tarpaulins, tent pins, frame arch segments, anchor plates, missile system equipment, console tents, tent door spar segments, locking tent straps, tent hooks, line slips, ridge plates, etc. It also covers painter’s drop cloth, tent toggle, pole ferrule, wall tent screens, repair kits, surveyor’s umbrella, and others.
FSC 8345 stands for flags and pennants like the national flag, organizational flag, signal pennant, individual automobile plate, award pennant, flagstaff sets, identification flags, individual flags, flag case, flagstaff head, guidon, etc.
Clothing, individual equipment, and insignia
Supply classification group 84 consists of outerwear for men and women, clothing for special purposes, male underwear and nightwear, female underwear and nightwear, men’s and women’s footwear, men’s and women’s hosiery, handwear, and clothing accessories. Other items in this category include badges and insignia, personal armor, individual equipment, luggage, specialized flight clothing, and children’s apparel and accessories.
FSC 8405 refers to men’s outerwear in the form of trousers, coats, and coveralls. It covers clothing items like wet weather parka, raincoats, wet weather trousers, utility trousers, coveralls, civilian uniform caps, garrison caps, berets, service cap crowns, and others. Conversely, women’s outerwear involves dresses, coats, vests, raincoats, skirts, shirts, slacks, utility caps, tunic, utility shirts, utility slacks, utility jackets, etc. Learn more about the history and different styles of raincoats.
In addition, code 8415 stands for clothing items for special purposes, which protect the bodies of wearers in specific situations. There are various types of gloves in this category, such as disposable, chemical and oil protective gloves, heat-protective, and antiflash gloves.
Chemical-protective gloves are designed to protect wearers against chemical hazards, mostly made of nitrile and neoprene. Both materials are known for their resistance against chemicals like acids, oils, and alcohol while providing dexterity and flexibility.
In contrast, heat-resistant gloves are designed to resist high temperatures when exposed to flames. These are usually made of Nomex material, which is lightweight but warm. They cover the wrist and cuff area but offer remarkable finger dexterity and movement.
Anti-flash gloves are created to provide protection against high temperatures resulting from flame exposure and high explosives. Due to being made of cotton flannel, antiflash gloves are light and absolutely dexterous. Their elbow length provides excellent protection from flames and sparks. Go here, https://www.britannica.com/topic/flannel, to discover more about the properties of the flannel fabric.
Besides gloves, FSC 8415 includes microwave radiation protective coveralls, chin straps, head insect nets, protective leggings, machinist’s apron, arc-preventative coveralls, utility apron, camouflage pattern helmet cover, air to ground identification jacket, extreme cold weather parka, survival vests, high-visibility vests, chemical-protective suit, etc. This category consists of numerous items for cold weather, such as special undershirts, shirts, extreme cold weather socks, mitten shells, snow camouflage parkas, coat liners, mittens, etc.
Moreover, FSC 8430 refers to men’s footwear, while FSC 8435 to women’s footwear. The former covers men’s overshoes, safety shoes, firemen’s boots, climbers’ boots, hot-weather boots, electrical hazard protective shoes, gymnasium shoes, conductive shoes, submarine deck shoes, etc. The latter covers the same types of footwear only designed for women.
FSC 8440 and 8445 refer to men’s and women’s hosiery, handwear, and clothing accessories, respectively. Code 8840 covers socks, men’s gloves, neckwear scarves, general officer’s belts, leggings, waist belts, ceremonial belts, neckties, etc. Code 8845 includes women’s gloves, sanitary belts, handbag straps, waist belts, pantyhose, shirt neck tabs, and other accessories.
FSC 8455 is dedicated to badges and insignia. These items are available as a branch of service insignia, insignia button, shoulder sleeve insignia, rating badge, qualification badge, individual decoration, individual decoration set, award ribbon attachment, award service ribbon, service medal set, medal cases, etc.
Luggage is represented under FSC 8460, including money bags, map cases, suitcases, locker trunks, briefcases, dispatch cases, portfolio, flyer’s kit bag, universal parachute kit bags, aluminum cases, and other luggage types.
Individual equipment, represented under FSC 8465, includes sleeping bags, shoulder book bags, mail carrier’s bags, sunglasses, laundry bags, water canteen covers, wind and dust sun goggles, high-visibility leg bands, ski climbers, ice creepers, handcuffs, leg irons, variable density goggles, pneumatic mattress, ball whistle, ski repair kits, utility net, skis, drinking water storage bag, etc.
Personal armor items, classified under FSC 8470, incorporate ground troops’ helmet, parachutists’ helmets, protective body armor, phone talker’s helmet, combat vehicle crewman’s helmet, helmet screw, helmet washer, explosive ordnance disposal suit, ballistic blanket, assault vest system, grenade pouch, and assault body armor.
To sum up
Military clothing items and accessories should be of high quality.
Their role is to provide convenience, comfort, and high-level protection!