Is a soldier's life worth more than $650? (Parents buying body armor for sons in Iraq)

JWR ^ | 10/02/03 | Jonathan Turley

[Dr. Scarpetta]

For many GIs, Iraq appears to be a strictly BYOB war — Bring Your Own Bulletproofs.

Suzanne Werfelman is a mother and a teacher who has been shopping for individual body armor. This is not in response to threats from her elementary-class students in Sciota, Pa.; it's a desperate attempt to protect her son in Iraq.

Like many other U.S. service members in Iraq, her son was given a Vietnam-era flak jacket that cannot stop the type of weapons used today. It appears that parents across the country are now purchasers of body armor because of the failure of the military to supply soldiers with modern vests.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[Cronos]

If we anihilate an area each time it happens than the people living there will start killing and stopping the terrorist before he starts.

Nope, wouldn't work. The German's tried to do that in WWII and the got the local populace even more up in arms agains them.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[Dr. Scarpetta]

I picked up a slightly used size extra-small for a friends daughter in the National Guard last year for $150. The full size level IV plates run about $400 extra. Every U.S. serviceman should be issued a set with their first BDU.

How heavy are they?

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[Sender]

It's a shame we don't provide these as essential equipment.

This site has the body armor Israelis depend on for sale.

[Britton J Wingfield]

Exactly. Winning hearts and minds is not just a cliche.

The jihadis are just starting to find that out the hard way.

[isom35]

what part do you not believe?

[Ronaldus Magnus]

How heavy are they?

Not much more than the old non-ballistic flak jackets. They are quite a bit stiffer, but not as bulky. The plates do have a considerable heft to them, but less than the old issue chicken plate.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[madison10]

Its' disgraceful that our military cannot supply their own with the necessary protection! Where is all the money going?

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[armymarinemom]

It is a shame but soldier and their families provide a lot of the gear. We have gought extra armour, retractable locking baton, extra mag leg gear, and gloves.
We have one strange looking Christmas wish list.

[300winmag]

It's simple.This decision was one of budgeting during the Clinton Administration. They decide to phase in the purchase over 10 years. They could have done it sooner but their would have been no money for training or updating firepower.This was a rational decision during peace time once they were refused funds by the rats under Clinton.

And that's why we also have a shortage of tires, tracks, and facilities to repair the vehicles. It's also why the airframe life of C-17s is being used up faster than new aircraft are being built. Peacetime replacement rates were stretched out even more under the klintons, and there is no wartime "surge" capacity because they cut it out to spend the money elsewhere, outside of DOD.

Bill and Hitlery, the gift that just keeps on giving.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

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[Alberta's Child]

If I ever found myself in a situation like this where I was certain that Uncle Sam wasn't providing me with a vital piece of equipment, I'd be AWOL in about five minutes.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

It is a shame but soldier and their families provide a lot of the gear. We have gought extra armour, retractable locking baton, extra mag leg gear, and gloves. We have one strange looking Christmas wish list.

Did you buy these ceramic inserts for vests?

[RightWhale]

Protection against shrapnel, not bullets.

Yes, and little use against bomb blast and fire. The guerilla weapon of choice seems to be bombs. Competent snipers seem to be rare anymore.

[BlueElephant]

This is incredible! We have the best military in the world and our troops who are fighting for us should have the best possible equipment.

[FlyVet]

Protection against shrapnel, not bullets.

Not to mention, they weigh a ton. I never had to wear one except for a few week long exercises, but I can how it could slow you down after awhile. $650 is a lot cheaper than severe injury or death, not even counting the SGLI payout.