In the line of duty, you have to be situationally aware and laser focused on the task at hand. That’s why you need protective gear that’s as tough, smart and reliable as you are.
Designed with breakthrough technology to make it lighter, easier to use and more comfortable, 3M law enforcement and defense industries personal protective equipment (PPE) delivers the level of protection you need with the comfort you deserve.
Towards that end, 3M Personal Safety Division has received initial orders for more than 6,500 devices totaling more than $1.6 million, to equip U.S. Army soldiers with hearing protection and auditory situational awareness.
The orders include:
- 3M™ PELTOR™ TEP-100 Tactical Earplug Kits, and
- 3M™ PELTOR™ COMTAC™ III ACH Communications headsets,
- Plus spare parts and accessories.
“3M supports PEO Soldier’s objective to maintain hearing protection and prevent hearing loss,” said Shawn Gregg, U.S. Business Director, 3M Personal Safety Division.
“These products will help soldiers to be more effective in combat, and will help allow them to return home with their hearing intact.”
Deployment of these Tactical Communications and Protective Systems (TCAPS) is managed by PEO Soldier.
“Our history with U.S. Special Forces, collaboration with the U.S. Army, and relationships with U.S. Military Audiologists all helped contribute to the hearing solutions we have been asked to supply,” said Doug Moses, U.S. Product Marketer for Protective Communications at 3M Personal Safety Division.
The patented 3M PELTOR TEP-100 earplugs were introduced to the market in 2014 when demand for ruggedized, stand-alone electronic “in-the-ear” hearing protection devices surfaced.
3M PELTOR TEP-100 Earplugs Features Include:
- Rechargeable electronic earplugs help reduce loud noise while amplifying low-level sounds
- Intuitive one-button operation turns unit on and off and selects high or normal volume setting
- Lithium-Ion battery provides up to 16 hours of continuous operation between charges
- Portable charging case powered by 3 AA alkaline batteries or USB (Micro B) port
3M’s research and development team responded by designing and developing a low-cost, easy-to-use, system that could be utilized in a wide range of applications, and in remote locations.
A key application was for military service members and tactical law enforcement teams requiring auditory situational awareness, as well as hearing protectors to protect against the effects of hazardous noise.
The 3M PELTOR COMTAC III ACH was originally introduced to U.S. Military forces and law enforcement tactical teams in the early 2000s.
The COMTAC Headset was the first tactical communications headset to offer an environmental listening function, sometimes referred to as “Talk-Through,” which enhances the ability to locate and identify opposing forces, by allowing safe audio sounds through.
The headset reduces harmful noises, which promotes increased mission effectiveness, safety and survivability. The headset utilizes a proprietary digital audio circuit to sense noise levels above the desired threshold and compress them to a safe decibel level.
Additionally, weak sounds can be amplified to an audible level, to better serve team members with existing hearing loss. Now in its fourth generation, over 600,000 systems have been delivered to military forces worldwide.
3M PELTOR COMTAC III ACH Features Include:
- Level-dependent surround sound for “talk-thru” function
- External communications and stereo “talk-thru” are independent of each other
- Ambidextrous noise-canceling boom mic
- Meets Environmental Standard MIL-STD-810F; Meets EMI Standard MIL-STD-461E
3M PELTOR COMTAC Headsets and Tactical Earplugs are commercially available and sold through the 3M distribution network. For more information, please visit 3m.com/tacticalppe.
3M is a global leader in hearing conservation, specializing in hearing protection devices, communication solutions in high noise environments, detection products such as noise dosimeters, fit validation systems and seen as an education authority throughout the world.
