# Do our troops wear Bullet-Proof Vests?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 26, 2003, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196 "2003-03-26T03:07:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreamer)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/1 "2003-03-26T03:07:51Z")
I’m curious to know if they do wear them and if not, why?
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### Author:  [@dreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreamer)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/2 "2003-03-26T03:12:47Z")
I did not clarify that I was asking about the US Troops
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/3 "2003-03-26T03:26:08Z")
Last I heard, no. Reason being that soldiers are most likely to be exposed to rounds of sufficent power as to go through the vests, so there’s no point in them carrying all that extra weight around.
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### Author:  [@Logical\_Phallacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Logical_Phallacy)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/4 "2003-03-26T03:38:34Z")
i’d be highly amused to find out no, but tuckerfan’s explanation makes a great deal of sense.
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### Author:  [@hobbes730](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobbes730)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/5 "2003-03-26T03:55:24Z")
I imagine they do, although I think they’re considered flak jackets, not bullet-proof vests. Even though they may not protect from high-power or caliber rounds, they can still be life-saving when dealing with small-medium arms, knives, bayonets, frag grenades and the like…
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### Author:  [@WillSantini](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillSantini)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/6 "2003-03-26T04:01:44Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by hobbes730 \*
> \*\*I imagine they do, although I think they’re considered flak jackets, not bullet-proof vests. Even though they may not protect from high-power or caliber rounds, they can still be life-saving when dealing with small-medium arms, knives, bayonets, frag grenades and the like… \*\*
Flak jackets are to protect against shrapnel.
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### Author:  [@Ficer67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ficer67)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/7 "2003-03-26T04:04:13Z")
They do, but I cant find a site right now. Its just like hobbes said, though. Body armor cannot stop most rifle bullets, and certanily not the rounds that the military uses. Body armor is mostly good for stopping shrapnel from bombs and bullets from small arms.
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/8 "2003-03-26T04:14:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by WillSantini \*
> \*\*Flak jackets are to protect against shrapnel. \*\*
IIRC, the term with which Vietnam-era GI’s used for them was “flak magnets” since they had the annoying habit of _holding_ pieces from an incedary round and making it difficult to put them out. I know that several 'Nam vets have told me that the first piece of advice they were given when they got to the field was to ditch 'em.
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### Author:  [@patchbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/patchbunny)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/9 "2003-03-26T04:39:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by dreamer \*
> \*\*I’m curious to know if they do wear them and if not, why? \*\*
The US military flak jacket is primarily designed to protect the wearer from shell fragments. IIRC, it is comprised of 16 layers of kevlar fabric. Since concealable body armor uses approximately the same number of layers, the question naturally becomes, “Hey, isn’t it the same thing, then?” The answer is “Yes.”
I have a copy (naturally not here) of a study done a few years ago to determine just what handgun calibers a flak jacket will stop. They also tested 12 ga slugs.
The determination was that the flak jacket is roughly equivalent to Level II body armor (one level better than your average cop wears), as it stopped most all handgun rounds tested, and a few of the slugs.
I can dig up the article if folks want specific details or the reference.
–Patch
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### Author:  [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/10 "2003-03-26T05:15:34Z")
Wow, I’m hijacking everything lately.
Isn’t the same true for the helmets they wear (both in World War II and currently)? That is, the helmets are useless against bullets?
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### Author:  [@aeropl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aeropl)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/11 "2003-03-26T05:20:35Z")
Wow, I’m hijacking everything lately.
Isn’t the same true for the helmets they wear (both in World War II and currently)? That is, the helmets are useless against bullets?
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/12 "2003-03-26T05:22:07Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by aeropl \*
> \*\*Wow, I’m hijacking everything lately.
>
> Isn’t the same true for the helmets they wear (both in World War II and currently)? That is, the helmets are useless against bullets? \*\*
They’re not totally useless (the new ones are kevlar). They do afford protection to a degree, but a shot at close range from a high powered rifle would probably put a hole in one.
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### Author:  [@InLikeFlynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InLikeFlynn)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/13 "2003-03-26T05:29:07Z")
Depends on their job. They are all issued full body armor. Helmets to jock protector flaps. A sniper obviously would be less inclined to use such a cumbersome piece of equipment as an infantryman would!
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### Author:  [@InLikeFlynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InLikeFlynn)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/14 "2003-03-26T05:33:55Z")
Depends on their job. They are all issued full body armor. Helmets to jock protector flaps. A sniper obviously would be less inclined to use such a cumbersome piece of equipment as an infantryman would!
Kevlar does a damn good job at stoping shrapnel and small arms fire.
Kevlar Helmets are general issue!!
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### Author:  [@InLikeFlynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InLikeFlynn)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/15 "2003-03-26T05:40:48Z")
Depends on their job. They are all issued full body armor. Helmets to jock protector flaps. A sniper obviously would be less inclined to use such a cumbersome piece of equipment as an infantryman would!
Kevlar does a damn good job at stoping shrapnel and small arms fire.
Kevlar Helmets are general issue!! aeropl and will stop a 9mm
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### Author:  [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/16 "2003-03-26T05:51:35Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by patchbunny \*
> \*\*
>
> The determination was that the flak jacket is roughly equivalent to Level II body armor (one level better than your average cop wears), as it stopped most all handgun rounds tested, and a few of the slugs.
>
> –Patch \*\*
I’ve heard that even if they stop the 12 gauge slugs, there is still a problem with internal bleeding from the impact.
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### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/17 "2003-03-26T13:28:04Z")
FYI: I believe Level IV armor can stop many rifle bullets, but I’ve heard it’s quite expensive and heavy (I think it uses ceramic plates). Does anyone have more info?
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### Author:  [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/18 "2003-03-26T13:43:25Z")
Yes, body armor is widely issued and required to be worn. I would point out the guys who got suckered punch in a rear area by a crazed American trooper wearing their body armor.
The new stuff is called Interceptor and it has a number of detachable parts. They get mixed and matched to meet job requirements. The collar is most disliked by everyone.
The Interceptor can take a Trauma Plate in the chest area that increased protection quite a bit. (these plates are in short supply, only frontline guys seem to have 'em)
This stuff is widely issued. I have seen footage of Navy troops at sea wearing it.
All that being said, there is only so much body armor can do. The analogy with policeman is somewhat flawed. Policemen get shot in the front or back, soldiers (on the ground) on the back or in the side. Policemen rarely face shrapnel.
The body armor does not have to be perfect to be pretty good. At close range, a rifle bullet will go clean through any practical armor. The trick is to prevent injury from small fragments and to reduce injuries from large powerful ones.
(BTW, this stuff has another great benifits for both soldiers and policemen, it really cuts injuries in vehicle accidents.)
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### Author:  [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/19 "2003-03-26T15:40:33Z")
From a NY Times Interactive Feature:
> [@](#):
>
> Flack jacket
> The kevlar vest can protect against shrapnel and shots from a 9 mm pistol. A ballistic plate insert can stop some rifle and machine-gun fire.
There are lots of news articles on the military’s use of body armor; I remember a few good ones I’ve read in magazines that I can’t find now.
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### Author:  [@DrNick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrNick)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2003, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-our-troops-wear-bullet-proof-vests/164196/20 "2003-03-26T15:49:06Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by aeropl \*
> \*\*Wow, I’m hijacking everything lately.
>
> Isn’t the same true for the helmets they wear (both in World War II and currently)? That is, the helmets are useless against bullets? \*\*
Well, I can’t speak for American armed forces, but UK Royal Marines take their helmets off in the field, as they are bugger all use.
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