Okay, My unit is being replaced by the 278th and I have seen first hand their "up-armored" vehicles. Most have just sheets of metal wielded on the side that won't stop nothing. It is not the specifically designed add on armor.
And every soldier I have talked to in the 278, even the officers, think the soldier was right to ask the question.
Sounds like level 3 ....there is still quite a bit of that...
Who said it wasn't a decent question....the complaint was the devious hand of the reporter who was involved to make certain it was a career enhancement action for him personally.
I think the army is missing a golden opportunity to get the funding and the equipment right. By claiming hillbilly armor is suddenly acceptable protection to get the media off their backs, they are tricking to public in to believing the the problem is resolved. No problem, no money. No money, no metal.
Interesting. I've seen plenty of that myself on everything from HUMVEEs to 7 tons.
If you read these threads you'll see a great number of people more interested in protecting Rumsfeld than protecting the troops.
Where are you? I'm in the Al Anbar province. You can answer that freepmail if you want.