Army Combat Uniform’s insect repellent at center of fraud case

Task & Purpose, Patty Neiberg, 12.19.2023, reports on “Army Combat Uniform’s insect repellent at center of fraud case.” The article discusses allegations made by the Department of Justice against Insect Shield LLC and its late founder, Richard Lane, regarding the rigging of test results for bug-repellent Army Combat Uniforms. The complaint suggests that the company falsely tested and misrepresented the effectiveness of insect repellents applied to uniforms under federal contracts worth over $63 million. This negligence potentially left soldiers exposed to diseases like Zika and Lyme disease due to incorrect application or inadequate levels of bug repellent.

Insect Shield, although not the manufacturer of the Army Combat Uniforms, was responsible for spraying completed uniforms with insect repellent before distribution to soldiers. The lawsuit alleges that this misconduct might have affected millions of soldiers across multiple contracts. The Department of Justice seeks damages under the False Claims Act, prompted by a whistleblower complaint in 2019. This case is not an isolated incident; instances of fraud involving military gear have surfaced in recent years, resulting in substantial settlements against uniform makers and contractors. The article also highlights the transition from soldiers applying insect repellents themselves to factory-treated uniforms, ensuring a safer and consistent application of bug repellents.

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Read the full article on Task & Purpose’s website here.

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