Re your #29 - "..., even when velcroed on the front of the vest as this one is."
This strikes me as being a bit odd; that flag patch makes a dandy aiming point for an enemy sniper - almost daring one to take a crack at it.
I don't think I'd do that - at least I'd use a subdued one.
Maybe he just sticks it on for dress up occasions or to get his picture took.
When he's at the office I assume they ditch all that stuff and put on the cammie war paint.
It's important that they see the bad guy before he sees them, obviously.
We've heard that Al Qida (or whoever) has hired a few crack Chechnian Snipers who are really quite proficient with their Dragunov 7.62 X 54Rmm rifles - and that old 1891 vintage round is quite as capable as our 7.62 X 51MM NATO when it comes to dealing death at a distance.
Although they bear a resemblance, the Dragunov (or one of its many derivatives) is NOT an AK-47, nor does it use the same round. The X54R is significantly more powerful than the 7.62 X 39mm used in the Kalisnakov.
If one of those Chechnian boys is tasked to take out some of our best snipers, as well they may be, then I hope our guys keep their heads down and watch their six.
And that we keep 'em in our prayers back here at home.