For the heavy weapons fire we were instructed to assemble full IBA. That is, we had to affix two additional side strike plates, two underarm pads, a neck guard, two deltoid pads, and the groin pad. All in all, another ten or so pounds. All of the pads are contain a small arms resistant kevlar weave. Two front and two side strike plates contain, to quote GlobalSecurity.org, "a boron carbide ceramic with a spectra shield backing that [is] an extremely hard material. It stops, shatters and catches any fragments up to a [rifle] 7.62 mm round with a muzzle velocity of 2,750 feet per second. It's harder than Kevlar."
You can see more of the side plates and deltoid pads in the movie below of me firing the M240B machine gun. Compare what I'm wearing in the photo above with the earlier version of IBA we wore last week to see the difference.
This kit saves lives in theater, no doubt, but it's heavy. In the barracks, we estimate it weighs 45+ pounds. Add the kevlar helmet, weapons, etc. and you're walking around with 50+ pounds of gear. That's quite an adjustment for a guy who stands 5' 8" but weighs only 140 pounds. My attractive wife says I should just suck it up.
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6 comments:
Are you sure that cod piece is big enough Rico?
It's his Conan look...
That is right, you should suck it up. Think of the Spartans.
Dude - my Halloween costume is full-on Roman legionnaire armor and it weighs about 40-45 pounds . . . you can do it if they did!
Get some!
remember, It aint heavy -- its your brother.... a big FAT brother.
Actually, when I was in the infantry my ruck weighed in at 108 pounds. Can't imagine wearing IBA and humping that damn thing around anymore....
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