Thermal Comfort Difference on Gender under Military Garment System Using Thermal Manikin

To protect military personnel's lives, the military provides, and requires personnel to wear, a military garment system, which includes a ballistic vest. In this study, three levels of a military garment system were tested to measure the thermal and evaporative resistances under the garment system. In addition, for female military personnel who wear ballistic vests designed for men, this study compared the thermal comfort values by gender through thermal manikin tests. The results concluded the need for better designed ballistic vests for improving the ventilation system.