LAT/AP: Some Marines Declining Extra Body Armor

[DeepModem Mom]

Some Marines Declining Extra Body Armor
By ANTONIO CASTANEDA, Associated Press Writer
March 26, 2006

HUSAYBAH, Iraq -- Extra body armor -- the lack of which caused a political storm in the United States -- has flooded in to Iraq, but many Marines here promptly stuck it in lockers or under bunks. Too heavy and cumbersome, many say.

Marines already carry loads as heavy as 70 pounds when they patrol the dangerous streets in towns and villages in restive Anbar province. The new armor plates, while only about five pounds per set, are not worth carrying for the additional safety they are said to provide, some say.

"We have to climb over walls and go through windows," said Sgt. Justin Shank of Greencastle, Pa. "I understand the more armor, the safer you are. But it makes you slower. People don't understand that this is combat and people are going to die."

Staff Sgt. Thomas Bain of Buffalo, N.Y., shared concerns about the extra pounds.

"Before you know it, they're going to get us injured because we're hauling too much weight and don't have enough mobility to maneuver in a fight from house to house," said Bain, who is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment. "I think we're starting to go overboard on the armor."...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top12mar26,0,5953759.story

[mbperrin]

1. I see 2 sarges bucking for promotions....

"How was that, Mr. Rummie? Did that sound all right? After all, armor is BAD for soldiers, and only America haters want to get more of it to the troops." (wipes drool)

ah well................

[Frangible]

8. No, it's true

Flexible, soft body armor cannot stop rifle rounds (ie: AK-47), and even then, it's semi-flexible and does not breathe, making it heavy and hot.

To stop rifle rounds you need ceramic plates, which are very heavy.

The fact is most soldiers aren't killed by torso shots from AK-47s, they're killed by RPG-7s, IEDs and AK-47 shots to the head, which more body armor isn't going to help in either case.

The best defense is to simply not start illegal wars in the first place. Modern body armor is great, but has its limits. Love and peace means less people shooting AKs and RPGs at you in the first place.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. This has been a RW talking point for several years now

[IselaB]

3. If "some" Marines are declining additional body armor

I'm glad they have the option of declining additional body armor. And I'm glad that some Marines have the option of wearing additional body armor.

[TacticalPeek]

4. You're too reasonable.

The next thing you know they'll be wearing the extra armor while riding down IED alley and ditching it when they line up their stacks outside a door.

Like you say, better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.


And welcome to DU!
:toast:


:patriot:

[bluestateguy]

5. This is the first have heard of this. It strikes me as, um, false...

nt

[wakeme2008]

6. if true, it is wonderful they have it....

While they may not use it all the time, there will be times I am sure they pack it on.... I know in Nam there were times I carried little ammo, but other times I could not get enough...

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Wasn't there some other kind of armor, lighter...

that was available to the military? Snakeskin or something? I seem to remember discussions to that effect at the time this armor was purchased. I'm hoping someone will post about this.

[wakeme2008]

9. DMM... this should be it's own thread

http://www.sftt.org/main.cfm?actionId=globalShowStaticContent&screenKey=cmpDefense&htmlCategoryID=30&htmlId=5270

enjoy see how FU the Pentagon is..

[DeepModem Mom]

11. Thanks wakeme -- I posted a thread in GD:

Marines not wearing heavy new body armor -- remember Dragon Skin?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x763354


If you have further thoughts, please post them!

[jukes]

10. i often slung my helmet in Nam

just uncomfortable. & i opted for more ammo rather than a flak jacket, but we had heavy cover & these guys are open to snipers & IEDs.

o/c, the point wd be moot if we'd BRING THEM HOME. let the oil barons hire mercs for their conquests, not use up our defenses & taxes for their profit.

[DeepModem Mom]

12. IMPORTANT: LINK HAS CHANGED. NEW LINK --

The link above now leads to a different story. Here is a link to the same body-armor story at ABC News:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1770187