Army Bans Use of Privately Bought Armor

[im10ashus]

What. The. HELL? This is just not right! Edited to add: Isn't a LITTLE protection better than none?

:mad:

By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer


Soldiers will no longer be allowed to wear body armor other than the protective gear issued by the military, Army officials said Thursday, the latest twist in a running battle over the equipment the Pentagon gives its troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Army officials told The Associated Press that the order was prompted by concerns that soldiers or their families were buying inadequate or untested commercial armor from private companies — including the popular Dragon Skin gear made by California-based Pinnacle Armor.

"We're very concerned that people are spending their hard-earned money on something that doesn't provide the level of protection that the Army requires people to wear. So they're, frankly, wasting their money on substandard stuff," said Col. Thomas Spoehr, director of materiel for the Army.

Murray Neal, chief executive officer of Pinnacle, said he hadn't seen the directive and wants to review it.

"We know of no reason the Army may have to justify this action," Neal said. "On the surface this looks to be another of many attempts by the Army to cover up the billions of dollars spent on ineffective body armor systems which they continue to try quick fixes on to no avail."

cont'd...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/army_body_armor;_ylt=AhfOduwUHh0kz6or5zUv_pys0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

[LittleClarkie]

1. Will they take the good stuff away from the generals then?

Last I heard, they were "testing" it for suitability.

But don't forget, support the troops.

Bastards.

[im10ashus]

3. CRIMINALS!!!!

Let's make them MORE vulnerable??? :wtf:

I am seething right now. I have a nephew in the Army and he has already been through TWO "tours" of Iraq.

[JuniperLea]

5. A guy on another thread claims to be home from active duty...

I guess you and I are having mass hallucinations... I remember back at the beginning of the year all of the reports coming out about the soldier vs officer body armour. We even had links here from message boards where enlisted people spoke of the situation.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2198658&mesg_id=2198847



What do you think? Too much Kool Aid? Freeper? I haven't a clue, but six posts???

[im10ashus]

6. Very suspect individual.

eom

[shain from kane]

2. Only body armor supplied by Halliburton is approved. We don't

want anyone else making money off the war on terror.

[TahitiNut]

4. Welcome to the Army.

It's good to see they're just as two-faced and Mickey Mouse as they were 40 years ago. (You'd better bet your sweet ass the Generals will wear whatever armor they want.)

"You're out of uniform, GI!" (I'll bet the shatter-proof shooters' sunglasses are being examined, too.)