# Army Soldiers' Helmets

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-soldiers-helmets/260074>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 16, 2004, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-soldiers-helmets/260074 "2004-08-16T11:56:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![donster22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@donster22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donster22)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-soldiers-helmets/260074/1 "2004-08-16T11:56:02Z")

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hello

i keep seeing american soldiers on the news!!  
what is the metal bracket / gadget on the front of their helmets.  
it looks like it’s black and made of metal?

thanks  
donster22

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**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-soldiers-helmets/260074/2 "2004-08-16T12:14:23Z")

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I think it holds their night vision thingies.

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-soldiers-helmets/260074/3 "2004-08-16T15:28:04Z")

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> [@legion](#):
>
> I think it holds their night vision thingies.

Bingo.

Used for NVGs.

How do I know? I got one on mine. A clip, that is. . .

Tripler  
A head mounted flashlight also comes in handy at times.

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [August 16, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/army-soldiers-helmets/260074/4 "2004-08-16T16:08:22Z")

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Well, if you want to get technical, a flashlight _is_ a “night-vision thingy.” 😃