[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

OK, I am not surprised, some heat needs to be applied.

[xzins]

Take for instance the very expensive "SAPI" ceramic body-armor inserts that have been in desperately short supply. The Army will be almost up to supplying the needs in combat areas this month (if suppliers meet their deadlines, but none of them are). But as the Army leadership is most carefully prioritizing who gets them, the flipside is that very few of our units not in an active combat area have them and no protective gear will go back with units as they rotate out of theater.

Speaking for my own experience, but my son will be on the ground in Iraq very, very shortly as they finish their "area-specific training." I asked him POINTEDLY about Sapi. He says that he has it and so does ALL of his unit.

They are a heavy com. engr. unit going to construction projects as near as I can tell -- not frontline troops.

I was relieved. Everything has been recently issued.

As a chaplain from the army, I believe I know when smoke is being blown. Are there some lowlifes in the procurement world...yes. But, having served in a variety of units that were in a constant R&D cycle (TF 160 was one), let me tell you that the commanders ON THE GROUND are intense about any new stuff ACTUALLY WORKING. Not only does their career hinge on it, but so does their troops lives and their own lives.

Finally, also as a chaplain; let me encourage you to pray daily for our troops.