The Army’s Body Armor May Be Too Heavy For Soldiers In Combat, Report Finds

Discussion in 'Security & Defenses' started by dave8383, Sep 27, 2018.

  1. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Suppose an entire unit could afford to upgrade their armor. No one gets left out. Why would that be wrong?
     
  2. dagosa

    dagosa Well-Known Member

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    Nothing, absolutely nothing. I’m all for the best protection soldiers can have. But not just one unit. Why don’t you campaign for Trump to stop stealing money from the military ? There are many alternatives to debating about who will pay for the armor our soldiers aren’t wearing. You can’t cut taxes for the rich, run a trillion dollar deficit, then expect soldiers to pay for their own armor. Is that what you’re arguing for ?
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2019
  3. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Yes, many. And while we debate whether to pay for the stuff you listed and the stuff you omitted like healthcare for illegals, foreign aid to countries that hate us, the failed war on drugs, expensive gun control (Trump isn't the only source of poorly prioritized funds is my point)... surely allowing the troops to better protect themselves should they so choose is an option worth considering...
     
  4. dagosa

    dagosa Well-Known Member

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    No. It should not be an option to have to protect themselves. The military should pay for it. Shut down all military action till they are fully equipped. Trump steals billions from them; he has the authority to do that.
    You have no problem with Trump stealing billions from them !


    You are babbling about other topics that are totally irrelevant. The military gets every penny they ask for. We spend more money on the military then the next seven countries combined. Now you want soldiers to outfit themselves. Hypocritical.

    You’re lying about illegals. They are ineligible for any healthcare other then emergency room care which EVERYONE GETS and they are still billed for that ! . That’s nothing compared to military budget.

    How about your tax cuts for the rich with a trillion dollar deficits so soldiers have to pay themselves to be fully equipped ? Ridiculous.
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2019
  5. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I don't want them to have to. I want them to be able to. Surely you understand the difference...
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2019
  6. dagosa

    dagosa Well-Known Member

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    Body armor should not be an option you have to pay for yourself.
    The military should provide provisional storage for excess armor that’s optionally available to units. If a soldier wants additional armor, he should get a voucher or submit for reimbursement from a fund set up for just such purposes !
    No, soldiers should not be paying for it. The equipment should then be turned back into company supply when not in use to be reconditioned. Start with Trumps billions he stole.
     
  7. dagosa

    dagosa Well-Known Member

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    You really don’t get it. You want soldiers to have the option to be able to buy their own body armor while I want soldiers to have the option to have optional personal choice body armor FOR FREE as a Govt. Provided option. Yes, body armor should be free just like the healthcare that soldiers get as part of their employment healthcare package. This concept seems to be foreign to conservatives.
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2019
  8. modernpaladin

    modernpaladin Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    You don't get it. What you're proposing, while optimal, is subject to the endless bickering of our stagnant, tiresome political establishment, because it involves public funds. What I'm proposing, while merely a bandaid, could be accomplished now, because it only requires an internal policy revision.

    Your position is: 'do nothing until we can do it right.' My position is 'do what we can until we can do it right.'
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2019
  9. dagosa

    dagosa Well-Known Member

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    You don’t get it do you ?
    Personal protection is done this way in the private sector with sports teams for decades. High school, College and professional football, hockey etc. allows players to pick and choose body protection beyond the basics of helmets and shoulder pads and gives them choices at the provider’s and teams expense......and it’s really expensive and tested.

    Nope, your old time thinking is the reason why EVERYONE is not personally protected. The budget makers in the military are not the ones on the front line, and neither are you. It’s class warfare to even think like this.

    What’s laughable is, it’s going on now at great personal expense and you don’t see it. Thousands are still left unprotected because they can’t afford it. Officially allowing it is just kicking the can down the road.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2019
  10. K9Buck

    K9Buck Well-Known Member

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    Really?
     
  11. Mushroom

    Mushroom Well-Known Member

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    Actually, he is correct.

    The program of the Army for upgrading our body armor and most of our equipment was known as FCS, Future Combat Systems. This had the tasks of upgrading not only body armor but vehicles to make them safer in combat areas. Started in 2003 after the losses going into Iraq, there were groups of them on several major Army installations. They were a common sight around Fort Bliss, where they would test their new toys in the desert on and around the base.

    But the FCS budget was slashed in 2009, and the program cancelled because of the amount that the DoD budget was slashed a few months later. And a great many programs were cancelled because of it, including the entire MGV program. The MEADS program, authorization of THAAD Battalion creation, and most other upgrades and replacements.

    In fact, as far as I am aware we have not had a major piece of body armor upgraded or replaced since the Bush administration. Units that deploy today use the exact same equipment I used over a decade ago.
     

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