The DoW Insect Repellent System is a safe and effective way to protect military personnel from insect-borne illness and reduce the annoyance caused by pests.
The system combines four key protective measures:
- Wear a permethrin-treated uniform.
- Wear your uniform properly.
- Apply a DoW-approved insect repellent (DEET, Picaridin or IR3535) to exposed skin.
- Use a permethrin-treated bed net.
Use all elements for maximum protection.
Permethrin-treated uniforms, when worn as directed, protect service members from insect and tick-borne diseases. Some military uniforms are factory-treated with permethrin, while others may need to be field-treated with permethrin. Factory-treated uniforms can be identified by a sewn-in label on both the coat and trousers. New factory-treated uniforms have a removable hangtag indicating that the uniform has been treated with permethrin.
Factory-treated uniforms are issued to service members in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps and are available for purchase at military clothing sales stores. Use the
DoD Uniform Insect Repellent Treatment Matrix
to identify military uniforms that are factory-treated or may be field-treated with permethrin.
The following uniforms are factory-treated with permethrin:
U.S. Air Force
- Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP) Uniform
- Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU)
U.S. Army
- Army Combat Uniform–Operational Camouflage Pattern (ACU-OCP)
- Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU)
- Flame-Resistant ACU (FR ACU)
U.S. Marine Corps
- Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform (MCCUU)
- Marine Corps Tropical Combat Uniform (MCTCU)
- Flame-Resistant Combat Ensemble (FRCE)
- Enhanced FRCE
U.S. Navy
No factory-treated Navy uniforms are currently available. Please refer to
Field Treating U.S. Navy Uniforms with Permethrin for guidance.
Washing and Caring for Factory-Treated Uniforms
Do not dry clean permethrin-treated uniforms. Dry cleaning removes permethrin from the fabric and eliminates the uniform’s insect protection.
For maximum wear, always follow your uniform’s Use and Care instructions. Factory-treated uniforms remain effective at repelling insects for up to 50 washings.
Do not re-treat factory-treated uniforms with permethrin.
Field-Treating U.S. Navy Uniforms with Permethrin
Field treatment options for U.S. Navy uniforms include:
-
0.5% permethrin aerosol (NSN 6840-01-278-1336). Reapply after six weeks or after six washings.
-
0.5% permethrin trigger spray (NSN 6840-01-692-7397). Reapply after six weeks or after six washings.
-
40% permethrin Individual Dynamic Absorption (IDA) kit (NSN 6840-01-345-0237) (pictured). Lasts up to 50 washings.
The following U.S. Navy uniforms may be field-treated with permethrin using the permethrin aerosol, trigger spray or the IDA kit:
- Navy Working Uniform (NWU II) (desert)
- Navy Working Uniform (NWU III) (green)
Navy blue coveralls should
only be treated with the aerosol or trigger spray method.
Use permethrin safely: Always read and follow the product label, and never apply permethrin directly to your skin.
Treating Civilian Clothing with Permethrin
Permethrin can be applied to civilian clothing such as long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved pants, and socks. It is compatible with most fabrics but works best with cottons, wools and synthetic blends.
Always follow the product label directions when treating civilian clothing with permethrin.
Visit
Treating Civilian Clothing with Permethrin for a video tutorial on applying permethrin to civilian clothing.
Wear Your Uniform Properly
Military uniforms are a physical barrier that shield personnel from biting and disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes and ticks. For maximum protection, wear your uniform loosely, with:
- The neck collar closed.
- Sleeves rolled down.
- Pants tucked into boots or socks.
- Undershirts tucked into pants.
Physical Fitness Uniforms are
not treated with permethrin. More exposed skin means more opportunity for insect bites. When wearing physical fitness uniforms, always use a DoW-approved insect repellent on exposed skin, and limit time outdoors when possible.
Apply a DoW-Approved Insect Repellent to Exposed Skin
Always apply a DoW-approved insect repellent to exposed skin, such as hands, neck, and face when outdoors. Always follow the directions on the label. When using sunscreen, apply the sunscreen first, let it dry, then apply insect repellent.
Never apply insect repellent to the eyes, lips, or to sensitive or damaged skin.
The DoW has approved the following insect repellents for application to exposed skin:
OFF!® Sportsman Deep Woods Pump Spray (NSN 6840-01-584-8598): 25% DEET, repels mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, gnats and chiggers for up to 8 hours.
Sawyer® Premium Insect Repellent Controlled Release Lotion (NSN 6840-01-463-5455): 20% DEET, repels mosquitoes for up to 11 hours.
Natrapel® Pump Spray (NSN 6840-01-619-4795): 20% Picaridin, repels mosquitoes and ticks for up to 12 hours.
Coleman SkinSmart® Insect Repellent Pump Spray (NSN 6840-01-656-7707): 20% IR3535®, repels mosquitoes and ticks for up to 8 hours.
Bullseye™ Bug Repellent (NSN 6840-01-656-7707): 20% IR3535®, repels mosquitoes and ticks for up to 8 hours.
Chigg Away® (NSN 6840-01-137-8456): 10% Sulfur, repels chiggers.
Use of trademark name(s) does not imply endorsement by the U.S. DoW but is intended only to assist in the identification of a specific product.
Use a Permethrin-Treated Bed Net
Permethrin-treated bed nets provide an added layer of protection from biting insects, including mosquitoes, ticks, biting midges, and sand flies. Some bed nets come factory-treated with permethrin, and others may need to be treated with permethrin before use.
Check the bed net’s packaging insert or sewn-in tag for insect repellent treatment information.
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Additional Resources
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