LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - Every soldier who served in the U.S. Army since the mid ‘50’s is personally acquainted with the standard issue pile cap, wool scarf, long woolen underwear, olive green wool pants and shirt outerwear, and the tin metal mess kit with accompanying tin tableware.  But not any more.  Supply Sergeants of the 42nd Division Support Command (DISCOM), currently are assisting citizen-soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard accomplish a “100 percent turn-in”; exchanging their old uniforms and field equipment for newer, high-tech issue.  Moths will have to seek elsewhere for dinner as the new equipment items are made of fabrics with names such as Gore-Tex™ and polypropylene. 

 The separate pile cap and scarf are being replaced with a combination one piece balaclava, long underwear now are made from polypropylene, and the familiar cold weather parka is being replaced by a Gore-Tex™ jacket.

 Tin mess kits are being replaced by disposable paper and plastic due to environmental concerns.  Mess kits had to be cleaned in boiling water which was eventually dumped on the ground.  Current regulations prevent dumping wash water and it isn’t always feasible to recycle wash water when troops are in a tactical field training environment.  Soldiers now are issued Meals-Ready-To-Eat (MRE's) containing a plastic spoon with the plastic bag that the food comes in serving as a dish.  When other than MRE meals are served in field locations, the use of paper plates and plastic utensils makes clean-up faster, easier, and helps comply with the requirements of environmental guidelines.

 Most DISCOM troops were issued the new equipment items prior to their involvement in Operation “Noble Eagle”, during which time they provided enhanced security at the Hudson River bridges and tunnels between New Jersey and New York.  The Supply Sergeants will be kept busy making sure all soldiers in all units have up-to-date field gear while collecting, packing, and returning the old items back into the supply system.

DISCOM units are located in Teaneck, Somerset, Jersey City, Dover (Morris County), and Sea Girt.