[Vision2020] Army Surgeon General Dons New Female Body Armor

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the U.S. Army at:

http://www.army.mil/article/95468/
 
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Army Surgeon General Dons New Female Body Armor
DHHQ, Falls Church, Va. - It had been a complaint for years that body armor was not made for the female physique. That has now changed. The armor that women had to wear in combat was ill-fitting, uncomfortable and restricted freedom of movement, which is a detriment in operational environments. The Women's Health Task Force informed by the voices of the women serving in Afghanistan identified concerns with the body armor in use at that time. Through the deliberate efforts of the Army and Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, these issues are currently being addressed. This particular version of the new tactical vest has been designed with women specifically in mind. 

On January 31, Lt. Col. Frank Lozano, Product Manager, Maj. Joel Dillon, Assistant Product Manager of Soft Armor, PEO Soldier, and Deana Archambault, Project Engineer, reviewed and discussed the improvements of the new tactical vest with Army Surgeon General, Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho.

Dressed in her ACUs, Horoho donned the new tactical vest. "This is what security should feel like. You should not have to think about it. It's just there". Horoho continued "Historically the design for body armor for women was extrapolated from the anthropomorphic measurements of a standard male cohort…. not surprisingly the fit was woefully inadequate and decremented agility in tactical environs."

Immediately after donning the vest The Surgeon General demonstrated her full range of motion in her shoulders and arms by rotating her arms in a wide arc. "This is amazing," she said. 

Through a joint effort between Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment, the U.S. Army Natick Soldier RD&E Center (NSRDEC) Anthropometry Team and the Natick Design Pattern and Prototype Team the protective vest has been fitted for today's female Warrior.

While providing the same high-level ballistic protection, it has an improved quick release system, narrower shoulders, front ballistic plate insertion, more adjustability in the waist area, and a collar that can accommodate the regulation hair (bun) styles of female Soldiers.

PEO Soldier has manufactured 100 of the new female Improved Outer Tactical Vests (IOTVs) thus far. In August and September of 2012, the female IOTV was field tested by 19 Female Engagement Teams (FET) Soldiers at Fort Campbell, KY. Vests were also fielded to FET team Soldiers in 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, GA in November 2012, and numerous vests have also been provided to Special Operations Command for evaluation. Many of these FET Soldiers have since deployed to theater and are continuing to evaluate and provide feedback on the vests. PEO Soldier is currently planning to have adequate female IOTVs produced to begin fielding deploying units in early fall 2013.

In December 2011, The Surgeon General directed the establishment of a Women's Health Task Force (WHTF) to evaluate issues faced by female Soldiers both, in Theater and CONUS. This Task Force serves to amplify the collective voice of women in uniform.

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Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still 
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill 
If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon
 


Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .

"Moscow Cares"
http://www.MoscowCares.com
  
Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"There's room at the top they are telling you still 
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill 
If you want to be like the folks on the hill."

- John Lennon
 
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