Shipment of body armor vests on its way to Kuwait, Iraq-bound troops

Stars & Stripes ^ | Tuesday, January 13, 2004 | Lisa Burgess

[xzins]

ARLINGTON, Va. — Working full-tilt, nine contractors have finished crafting 160,000 Interceptor body armor vests, and the equipment is now en route to units preparing to deploy to Iraq and a central distribution point in Kuwait, according to Army officials.

This month’s production run of the Interceptor tactical vests fulfills a promise to Congress by Army officials, who said that by January the service would have enough of the vests to outfit every soldier deployed to Iraq, according to Army spokesman Maj. Gary Tallman.

“Congress has been notified that the requirement has been met,” Tallman said Friday.

Interceptor vests are the Army’s best body armor. The $1,585 items are composed of layered sheets of Kevlar, with pockets in front and back for ceramic plates that protect vital organs. The vests are highly effective against ammunition and shrapnel. Soldiers wearing the vests in Iraq have been shot at point-blank range with AK-47s and lived to tell about it.

As units assigned to Iraq’s first rotation make their way home through Kuwait, they will turn in their assigned vests to a central collection point at Kuwait’s Camp Victory, Tallman said.

Those vests will be checked out and reissued to Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 personnel who are staging in Kuwait.

Other units will get their vests before stepping off American soil, Tallman said.

“Deploying units for OIF2 will be issued [the vests] either here [in the United States], or in theater before they enter Iraq,” Tallman said.

But one state legislator isn’t sure that’s going to happen.

Ohio State Sen. Marc Dann, a Democrat from the state’s 32nd district, introduced a bill in the Ohio Senate last week that would set aside $500,000 to buy body armor for Ohio National Guardsmen who are deployed or deploying to Iraq.

In a Monday telephone interview, Dann said that he became concerned after being approached by the mother of a soldier with the 216th Engineering Battalion, one of nine Ohio Guard units slated to deploy to Iraq in March.

The mother said she was considering buying a vest for her son because she was not confident the Army would provide one, Dann said. He promised to look into the matter.

“Frankly, I didn’t think it was that big a deal,” Dann said, and that the Army would immediately allay any concerns.

After days of intense staff work produced no such assurances, Dann and another state senator, Toledo Democrat Theresa Fedor, met to discuss the matter with Air Force Maj. Gen. John Smith, adjutant general for the Ohio National Guard, and senior members of his staff.

Dann said he left the meeting unsatisfied by what he called Smith’s “vague assurances.”

Tallman said he was not specifically aware of Dann’s legislation, but said it was unnecessary.

“The Army will ensure that all soldiers in OIF2, regardless of [active or Reserve status], will have [Interceptor vests] before they deploy to Iraq,” Tallman said.

Moreover, the Army is discouraging families or other donors from purchasing body armor that the Army has not tested, certified or approved, Tallman said.

“It is not recommended that units accept public donations or individually purchased body armor,” Tallman said. “The Army cannot attest for the effectiveness of body armor not procured through an approved Army contract, and validated by tests.”

Dann plans to hold a hearing on the vest issue Wednesday.

“Maybe I have absolutely nothing to worry about,” Dann said. “I hope that’s true.”

[Ranger]

They got the vests but did they get the plates? I'm hearing from folks saying that what they received didn't include the plates and that those would supposedly be catching up to them in Iraq.

[xzins]

I read the above article saying they're shipped as a unit with the new ceramic plates.

My guess is that they wouldn't be putting this out as a news release it it didn't include the plates. It'd be too easy to pick apart, otherwise.

[StarCMC]

And they need to do something about armour on vehicles!

Yes, and RF jammers as well -- makes the remote doorbell triggers for IED's inoperable. My bro came within 25 feet of an exploding IED last week. Are these things THAT expensive? Let's put our troops ahead of our dollars here!

[archy]

I read the above article saying they're shipped as a unit with the new ceramic plates.

My guess is that they wouldn't be putting this out as a news release it it didn't include the plates. It'd be too easy to pick apart, otherwise.

Don't bet on everybody getting IBA vests. Not that they're necessarily the best choice for everyone.

	Interim Small Arms Protective Overvest (ISAPO)

	Overview:
	The ISAPO is an expedient solution to achieve a modular small arms protection upgrade to the fielded Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (PASGT) fragmentation protective armored vest (commonly referred to as the flak jacket). The ISAPO is worn over the PASGT Vest to provide front and back protection against small arms and flechette threats.
	Description:
	It is compatible with the fielded ALICE (All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment) protective clothing and individual equipment. Description: Worn over the PASGT vest.
	Component Materials:
	Carrier-1000 denier nylon Quarpel treated camouflage material. Plates- Ceramic composite.
	Color: Woodland and Desert Camouflage patterns.
	Weight: 16 lbs. PASGT/ISAPO System Weight: 25.1 lbs. (size medium)
	Size: Unsized
	Basis of Issue: One (1) per ground Soldier
	Price:
	$330.00 (Unit Cost) Carrier + plates (2 each)
	NSN:  Woodland camouflage carrier w/ 2 plates - MCN: 8470-01-F01-0279 Carrier, Desert camouflage - NSN: 8470-01-432-3155 Carrier, Woodland camouflage - NSN: 8470-01-432-4010 Plate - NSN: 8470-01-432-3156
	Status: ISAPO was Type Classified in March 1996 with the intention of a one-time procurement of 5000 overvests for Army contingency purposes. The ISAPO will be available for use until the full solution (Interceptor Body Armor) is fielded in FY00. ISAPO will be available in Woodland and Desert camouflage patterns. The 5000 ISAPO one-time procurement was conducted by U.S. Army Soldier Systems Command (SSCOM). Estimated ISAPO unit cost is $330.00.
	Project Manager Soldier Equipment Last updated: 10/31/03 Note: We do not sell retail or wholesale to private industry or individuals. The items shown on all the fact sheets are for military use and Basis of Issue authorization is subject to DCSOPS approval.

[PhilDragoo]

Great news bump: badguy bullets bounce off body armor bump.

[Ranger]

I'm telling you the vests don't all have the ceramic plates. I have confirmed this from 2 sources. Hopefully they will find them upon arrival in Iraq. I believe the Army statement was intended to head off an imminent blast from Congress. And yes the army has so mismanaaged the body and vehicular armor that they would issue such a lame statement.

[djf]

I invite freepers to read an old essay.

Maybe we can remember what we're fighting for.


http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a363e1f5322a3.htm

PS: My website is dead, so don't bother.

[xzins]

Don't bother what?

[windchime]

Bump!

[archy]

I'm telling you the vests don't all have the ceramic plates. I have confirmed this from 2 sources. Hopefully they will find them upon arrival in Iraq. I believe the Army statement was intended to head off an imminent blast from Congress. And yes the army has so mismanaaged the body and vehicular armor that they would issue such a lame statement.

In particular, tank crewmen's *Combat Vehicle Crewman's* vests don't:

Our Combat Vehicle Crewman Vest is the standard protective armor for the United States Department of Defense. It is recognized as the best body armor protection from spall, heat, fire and fragmentation for armored vehicle personnel.Our V50 Ballistic Test Data consistently meets or exceeds 1,625 fps (495 Mps). Constructed of Kevlar® high strength, lightweight fibers, this design allows a high degree of mobility and versatility in the tight confines of armored vehicles. Also, the Kevlar® materials have a thermal conductivity which is lower than asbestos; the vest is heat and fire resistant; it will not melt or support combustion.

UPGRADE OPTIONS:
- Ballistic upgrade to effectively handle 9mm FMJ and 44 magnum projectiles at 1400 fps (427 mps)

- KM2 Kevlar® lighter weight, high performance materials may be substituted for a 15% weight reduction while maintaining the same ballistic rating

[verity]

#14.

Unless kevlar protection is available. lol

[AGreatPer]

Who are the asx xxxx officers that did not anticipate the need for this years in advance of needing it? Of course, we will never know.

[Ranger]

Thanks Archy. I did confirm today with the Senate Armed Services Committee that the vests were issued and that hopefully ceramic plates will be waiting in Iraq when the second rotation arrives to be inserted into the vests.