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While most operators on the field won’t have the option of selecting the exact manufacturer or type of armor they choose, they should at least have the option to fit their carrier to size. For good models, you will be able to adjust the plate carrier on both shoulder straps, as well as both sides of the cummerbund.When adjusting your plate carrier, there are four things to look for:CoverageLeewayComfortLight weightAnd, they are in that exact order. Your comfort doesn’t mean...

Every material is bulletproof if you lay it on thick enough, and no material is bulletproof if you have a big enough bullet. What materials are used to make vests bulletproof in particular are bound by what you can carry and what modern weaponry you can expect in the field.For this purpose, we can look at three categories of materials:High-density materialsHigh-tensile fibersComposite ceramicsBut, not every dense material will be ideal for body armor. Some metals are rather tough when thick,...

To know how to equip and wear military vests, you first need to know which type of vest you need. In some cases, it will be a simple matter of selecting an internal carrier while in others you will need to make a full selection of layers, carriers, and additional gear.Currently, there are three types of vests used in the military:Loading vestsArmored vestsModular vestsThe first two categories are slowly becoming obsolete because modular vests can do both jobs and better,...

There is a widespread misconception that bulletproof vests work as a simple barrier between the projectile and the person wearing it. But, for that to be true the thickness of the armor would be unbearable to carry.Rather, ballistic armor, both soft and hard, works by using tensile forces to pull the impact to a wider area. This way, the force you get on the receiving end of the bullet is much weaker, ranging from a kick or a punch, to...

Through popular media, there is the idea that ‘The Special Forces’, or the popularly called ‘Green Berets’  for the SOF in the Army, have some sort of advanced equipment that makes them better than everyone else. Regretfully, that is not the case, and it is not a question of what body armor do Special Forces use, or which guns, but how they use them.The reason why all branches of Special Forces are so superior is due to harsh training and...

When talking about levels of ballistic armor, we usually refer to the National Institute of Justice and their NIJ ballistic standard. In this context, we can know how armor is tested and what types of ammo does NIJ Level 2 body armor stop.Additionally, the armor might be referred to as NIJ Level II using Roman numerals, as these styles are used interchangeably.There are four main levels for the NIJ standard:IIa – Soft/ anti-9mm armor.II – Against automatic pistols.IIIa – Against...

Regardless of preference and marital status, anyone who served tours in Iraq or Afghanistan had two loves: Molly and Alice. Namely, these are both parts of the IBA body armor that was the standard for the US Army and Navy troops from 2000 to 2020. MOLLE (pronounced Molly) refers to the modular webbing on the armor that allows for attaching various types of gear. And ALICE stands for All-purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment, which is for lugging around standard gear.Aside from...

Although it may look very sturdy, and its main purpose is to stop a bullet, a ballistic vest is not indestructible. Even with proper maintenance, body armor will expire at some point, and it is recommended that you exchange your plates at least once every five years.Additionally, any type of wear and tear, especially exposure to very low temperatures and direct sunlight, will reduce this time significantly.There are three questions to ask when deciding if it’s time to change your...

While there are standard requirements when it comes to body armor for law enforcement officers, each department and State jurisdiction will have their small differences. Either for political, social, or objective reasons, some departments will use different types of vests. But, the overall types can be categorized by the type of mission where they will be used. These types of police body armor are:  Internal Soft Body Armor Covert Body Armor Soft External Carriers Hybrid Soft and Hard Plate Carriers Plate...

When asked so broadly what is body armor used for there is no other answer than defense. But, as we start to narrow down the question we can get more information about what we can defend from and how.Ballistic body armor is made to protect from bullets, and there are big differences when it comes to types of ballistic armor, their hardness, weight, and levels of protection. Each piece will protect a different part of your body and may allow...

Probably the biggest confusion in the world of personal defense is the difference between Level III and Level IIIa body armor. Not only do they sound very similar, but it is also confusing that IIIa refers to a significantly lower level of ballistic protection than Level III.Also, even though the standard is to write the NIJ ballistic levels of protection in Roman numbers, there are blogs and even manufacturers who will use regular numbers and issue products as NIJL3a and...