Saturday, October 17, 2009

Is Body Armor For U.S. Soldiers Safe?

The research determined that body armour does not worsen brain injury Photo: AP

Army Says Body Armor Safe, Despite GAO Report -- U.S. Department of Defense

WASHINGTON, Oct. 16, 2009 – Despite testing anomalies cited in a Government Accountability Office report on body armor released today, the program executive officer for the organization that fields new equipment to soldiers said the armor plates in question are safe.

At a Pentagon news conference just hours after release of the GAO report, Army said Brig. Gen. Peter Fuller said the 85,000 "X Small Arms Protective Inserts" of interest in the report have not been fielded to soldiers and are in storage, and that the plates now in use are safe.

Read more ....

Update #1: Investigators find flaws in Army body armor tests -- AP

Update #2: Army Enhances Protective Equipment Quality Assurance -- U.S. Department of Defense

My Comment: The U.S. Department of Defense is usually slow to respond to critics when it comes to issues like this one .... their quick response is not only a reflection of their concerns on this matter, but an obvious desire to make sure this issue will not impact the concerns of those soldiers who are in the field.

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