Remember the body armor debate? A lot of uninformed people were up in arms over the perceived lack of body armor for the troops. Then of course there were those that were informed, but wanted to exploit public opinion for political gain. I tried to inform the uninformed about all the aspects of body armor. I know very well since I am in the military and I’ve worn the body armor for extended periods of time. I know that when doing hard physical activity or when the temperature is high, troops will choose not to use the body armor. This is not only for comfort, but for safety. That body armor stopping a bullet won’t do much good if the body armor gives the troop a heat stroke first or slows them down so they can be more easily shot.
But you don’t have to my word on it, listen to the troops.
We have to climb over walls and go through windows, I understand the more armor, the safer you are. But it makes you slower. People don’t understand that this is combat and people are going to die.
-Sgt. Justin ShankBefore you know it, they’re going to get us injured because we’re hauling too much weight and don’t have enough mobility to maneuver in a fight from house to house, I think we’re starting to go overboard on the armor.
-SSgt. Thomas BainWhen you already have 60, 70 pounds on and you add 10 pounds when you go patrolling through the city or chasing after bad guys, that extra 10 pounds is going to make a difference. You’re going to feel it.
-Lance Cpl. David PartridgeThe reason they issued (the plates), I think, is to make people back home feel better, I’m not wishing they wouldn’t have issued them. I’m just wishing that they wouldn’t make them mandatory.
-Lance Cpl. Philip Tootle
Hat tip: Boots and Sabers
People who don’t know what it’s like carrying a combat load shouldn’t even TOUCH this issue. Good post, but you left out the ricochet factor. A Marine in my unit was struck in the side, and the round then hit his SAPI plate, bouncing it back into his organs. My favorite part about this ‘armor crisis’ is when people try to put a number to the number of service members that would have been saved had there been more body armor… how would ANYONE determine the number of lives saved by having greater mobility? I know I REFUSED to wear the shoulder pads that make you look like a gorilla, because you can’t even lift your arms up AND it interferes with putting your rifle into your shoulder.
Comment by Jake — Wednesday 29 March, 2006 @ 19:40