In 1918, General Pershing, the leader of the American Expeditionary Forces Army, requisitioned 200 oxygen breathing apparatus for the American "sapper" regiment engaged in underground warfare from the only company that concentrated solely on protecting life - MSA. Although technology has dramatically changed the world's military landscape, MSA today remains the world's leading provider of defense safety equipment.

Throughout its history, MSA's mission of protecting people's health and safety has been intertwined with the needs armed forces personnel, be it for respiratory protection or head protection. Since the company's founding, MSA products for the military have been used in two world wars, as well as Korea, Vietnam the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq.

• Head protection (Advanced Combat Helmets)
• Respiratory protection (CBRN Gas masks)
• Communications equipment (internal mask-mounted, helmet-mounted, MICH communication systems)
• Chemox Breathing Apparatus (for fighting onboard ship fires)

Advanced Combat Helmets. The MSA Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) was initially developed for the U.S. Military Special Operations Command, meeting stringent requirements and setting new performance standards.

The helmet incorporates a new, lightweight design that offers soldiers considerably more protection with greater comfort and stability. The ACH has been credited with saving several lives in recent military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan and has been adopted by the U.S. Army as the new standard of issue for all troops deploying to those regions.

The ACH provides advanced ballistic protection while allowing maximum sensory awareness for the user, including unobstructed field of view and ambient hearing capabilities. It also allows mounting of night vision devices and integration with respiratory protective equipment. The helmet's retention and suspension system gives maximum balance, stability and comfort, while providing the proper size, fit and ventilation.

Recently, the MSA helmet was judged by the Army to be among the greatest inventions based on evaluations conducted by six active Army Divisions and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. After reviewing more than 30 nominated products, evaluators provided their ranked list to U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command for consolidation into a list of 10 top inventions, which included the MSA helmet.

Gas Masks. MSA respiratory protective devices, particularly gas masks, have been worn by millions of soldiers since World War I. Today, MSA continues to be a leading supplier of gas masks to the military, with its innovative MCU/2P mask serving as the product of choice among U.S. Navy and Air Force pilots.

The expertise MSA has gained through its military work is also benefiting first responders in the commercial and law enforcement sectors. In 2004, due to the excellent work of MSA's research and engineering experts, MSA produced the first air-purifying respirator to receive NIOSH certification for protection against Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) contaminants. To date, MSA holds two of just three CBRN approvals issued by the government for respiratory protective equipment.

MICH Communication System. Recognizing the effective communications is perhaps the best weapon a soldier has, MSA has also developed the lightweight, comfortable and easy to use MICH Communication System. The MICH Communication System uses an unobtrusive microphone/sound transmission system to interface with radio transceivers and intercom systems. The MICH System integrates fully with MSA's Advanced Combat Helmet.

The single-communication system allows hands-free use of the radio. The dual-communication system allows the user to hear two radio communications or one radio and one intercom system. Both systems are compatible with various radio communication systems and have been proven under strenuous military combat.