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To: Non-Sequitur

No, they're not as minimized as they could be, but it gets to the point where you have to decide just how much mobility you're willing to sacrifice for a little extra protection here and there. The IBA is definitely more restrictive than an LBE, but it's not that bad, and, given the tremendous amount of protection afforded because of it, we're more than willing to make the trade-off. Now, there's also a lot of attachments for the IBA (throat protector, shoulder pads, groin pad, etc.) that add a little extra protection, but it starts to affect your mobility. Now, mobility on foot is not nearly as big a need for us now in Iraq as it was in, say, Vietnam, but there gets to be a point where you say, "No more armor. Let me be able to move, and I'll take my chances." Part of the Future Combat System is nanotech armor that wears like clothing but immediately solidifies when hit by a high speed object. That technology does exist now (although I think it's limited only to metal objects). Once that becomes fully viable, we can have entire suits made of it with little effect on mobility.

It's all just part of a trade-off. Me, personally? I'd prefer to be able to skip a full Kevlar suit of armor so I can still perform my job.


23 posted on 01/07/2006 10:04:03 AM PST by Future Snake Eater (The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.)
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To: Future Snake Eater
Since I know several people who have taken AK rounds in the lethal zones of their body's but for the IBA, I am a huge proponent of wearing it. Since I joined almost 2 decades ago we have gotten almost paranoid about force protection. We would have lost many more warriors if it were not for the advances in personal and vehicle armor.
The real question is, who "released" this report? Why not skip the middle man and e-mail the findings to the Al Queda? Maybe paint the vulnerable areas orange. Somebody has further endangered our servicemen and they won't be held accountable. Reuters should be hauled into court, criminal court, the next time a soldier dies from a wound in an unprotected area. How reckless can they be? And how long until they pay for it?
24 posted on 01/07/2006 12:27:29 PM PST by benjamin032
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