Decision to let Marines shed body armor on hold

[unhappycamper]

A gear-laden Marine tries to get over a wall in Karmah, Iraq, earlier this month. A decision on whether to allow Marines to ditch their helmets and other gear while on patrol in Anbar will be taken up by the incoming command of I Marine Expeditionary Force. The idea was first pitched earlier this year in light of improving security in the province.


Decision to let Marines shed body armor on hold
By Geoff Ziezulewicz, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, January 26, 2008

CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq — A decision on whether Marines will be able to ditch their helmets and other pieces of body armor while on patrol is being put on hold until the next commander takes charge of forces in western Iraq next month.

In response to improved security in Anbar province, Marine Corps leaders last year broached the idea of letting unit commanders decide if their Marines could safely do their jobs without all the equipment that has been mandatory.

This week, a spokesman for the II Marine Expeditionary Force, which leads Multi-National Forces-West in Anbar, said that decision has been handed to the incoming I Marine Expeditionary Force command, set to take over the area next month.

“Currently, the proposal is part of the turnover — no decision has been made,” 1st Lt. Shawn Mercer, a II MEF spokesman, said in an e-mail.

Mercer reiterated that, if approved by the incoming I MEF command, the proposal would be an option at the local level for unit commanders, not a requirement.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51924