Armor is too heavy!
 

Well now, I smell BS, but will not divulge any truths from the "public release" statements.
http://www.military.com/news/article...ESRC=army-a.nl

However, I weighed 225 for the majority of my career. Hypothetically speaking, put on uniform, 'suit' up for mission, step on scale, scale read 295lbs. That included the vest, ESAPI (front and rear), cranium housing group protector, 9mm with 30 rounds, hip holster, bayonet, M-4 with 210 rounds basic load, CCO sight, quick grips with pistol grip, 4-cell mag light, 100oz of water, "Plugger" (Army issue hand held GPS), and two items never to be discussed, one in right boot, the other in left boot...

5 1/2 lbs?! WOW!

Re: Armor is too heavy!
 

An extra 1/2 pound for better protection does not seem much. Maybe they can look at other areas of weight saving like the cloth for the jacket and trousers?

So Felix do you miss lugging all that weight around in the heat huh? :heee:

Re: Armor is too heavy!
 

Sounds like an excuse to buy less armor, as far as I'm concerned.

The way we train our soldiers these days...they can handle that weight. Poor guys, I know they work their collective butts off, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to get into a tossle with one.

Re: Armor is too heavy!
 

..article is too dang long! ..it's 5:15am...

Re: Armor is too heavy!
 

Ahhh! The eternal gripe of the foot soldier.."the armor is too heavy", until, of course, it does it's job, then it seems to be just about right!!
Being Navy I never armored up, but we had PLENTY of summertime drills with NBC gear.....remember those wonderfull summers days with NBC gear on, Felix?

Re: Armor is too heavy!
 

"and two items never to be discussed, one in right boot, the other in left boot..."

let's let the world in on a massive secret. i know what those items are. in the right boot he stores... his right foot. in his left boot, his secret weapon... his smelly left foot.

Re: Armor is too heavy!
 

Actually, it's Dr Scholl's!

Re: Armor is too heavy!
 

I was 'gelling' before "gelling" became popular! :D And my commander could never figure out why he could not hold my pace!

Re: Armor is too heavy!
 

I have become "FAT", I weighed in at 242lbs in my skivvies!

Re: Armor is too heavy!
 

Yes those days were fun!

IBA has been around for several years now, it's in it's third revision. For the sake of the soldiers body, I can understand the weight issue. However, just about everything has been made smaller and lighter, and gear has been removed from the standard patrol uniform. The old LBE or LVE, or if you were privy, the modern quick release pouches have been streamlined. The vest itself holds a 100oz "camel back", all pouches needed (ammo, first aid, storage) the old "pistol belt" has long been gone. The type three "kevlar" helmet is much revised, many don't like it (too small, and lite). Yet an average man will still carry 65lbs once he is in patrol uniform! The larger the person, the more weight, due to the increase size of the vest and plates.

@Ilander, the Army has finally broken the code, "all" recruits now go through a redesigned basic training before they go to their specialized training. Correct, they have all learned the basics of hand to hand, and go ahead and let one body slam you while wearing (x)lbs of Individual Body Armor.