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View Full Version : New Improved body armor for Army troops weighs 3-6 pounds less



bobdina
07-26-2009, 10:56 PM
Soldiers test Improved Outer Tactical Vest

Jul 23, 2009

By Spc. Amanda McBride 4IBCT Public Affairs, 3rd ID


Staff Sgt. Daryl Lee, Headquarters Operations Company, Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, replaces the front chest plate in the Improved Outer Tactical Vest, July 9, on Fort Stewart, Ga.

FORT STEWART, Ga. -- Prior to any deployment, Soldiers learn the ins and outs of every piece of their equipment and gear they have before they deploy.

And it is no different for Soldiers assigned to Headquarters Operations Company, Special Troops Battalion, who were recently issued the Improved Outer Tactical Vest, July 9.

The IOTV is one of the latest advancements in military gear designed to better provide body armor coverage on a Soldiers body. Like most gear, the IOTV is used to help protect Soldiers while in a combat situation and also designed for emergency removal.

"The key improvement over the old (Outer Tactical Vest) is that (Soldiers) are able to extract themselves from the vest quickly as opposed to maybe having to cut themselves free from the vest if it ever gets snagged on something or there in a situation where they just can't unstuck," said Terence Hensey, new equipment training instructor.

Though new, the vest still has the weave slots making most of the pouches from the OTV compatible with the IOTV, which makes it easier for Soldiers to switch to the IOTV.

"Items that carry forward from the old vest are the enhanced small arm protective inserts, the sappy plates, side plates," Hensey said. "The most current plates offer protection against armor piercing 7.62 rounds."

With improvements on IOTV, Soldiers are getting issued new the vest designed to better protect their torso area.

The weight of the vest is designed to be carried by the lower abdomen, hips and thighs as opposed to hanging off the shoulders and spine, Hensey said.

"The older vest didn't fit in a way that was very comfortable to the Soldiers and they found that most of the weight of the vest was carried by the shoulders and the spine," he said.

"This vest comes in 11 different sizes and it fits much better, adjust much better to the Soldier who wears it."

After being issued the IOTV, STB Soldiers received a class on how to fit, wear and maintain their vest.

Weighing three to six pounds less than the OTV, most Soldiers going through the class think the IOTV is a good vest.

"They like the way it wears, it wears (better)," Hensey said. "They feel that they will be able to actually sight with their weapon better and fire their weapon better with this system."

Sgt. 1st Class Carlos E. Rodriguez, assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division Provost Marshall Office as a operations noncommissioned officer, said that the IOTV is a great improvement on weight and wear than previous vests.

"This vest is light and fits properly for today's urban type movement," Rodriguez said. "(It is) light, covers more vital area, and it moves with you."

The Santurce, Puerto Rico, native, also believed that it helps Soldiers better understand the vest when also helps being shown the proper way to wear the vest.

"For it to fit and be properly worn for protection you must know exactly how to wear it properly," Rodriguez said.

http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/07/23/24795-soldiers-test-improved-outer-tactical-vest/?ref=news-home-title4

Outlaw2-5
07-26-2009, 11:26 PM
This wouldnt be something on the order of dragon skin would it?

ghost
07-26-2009, 11:35 PM
This wouldnt be something on the order of dragon skin would it?


I doubt it. If it was, I'm sure it would have been mentioned in the article. Not to mention the Dragon skin is not only a completely different type of vest, but it also utilizes a different type of protection system(as opposed to the standard plates worn under the current vests).

bobdina
07-26-2009, 11:57 PM
I doubt it. If it was, I'm sure it would have been mentioned in the article. Not to mention the Dragon skin is not only a completely different type of vest, but it also utilizes a different type of protection system(as opposed to the standard plates worn under the current vests).

Your correct ghost and by the welcome to the boards Outlaw2-5 , feel free to speak your mind in here.

Space_238
07-27-2009, 06:35 AM
The IOTV has been out for a while. It sucks. It was made for turret gunners and can't be used with an FLC. No thanks, I still use it with an FLC, fuck the regs. Most importantly, I wish I had my IBA.

Not that bad without the stupid neck inserts though, feels like plate carriers. So this vest was actually somewhat good before the safety nazi's got to it.

bobdina
07-27-2009, 01:19 PM
So this vest was actually somewhat good before the safety nazi's got to it.

Great comment dude.

nastyleg
07-27-2009, 04:50 PM
Never worn the OTV but have worn the IBA many times. It was good then came all the added armor to the kidneys, shoulder daps, side daps. it got bulky. I wonder how the OTV feels.