Soldiers field-test the Army's newer, lighter body armor

[Zarvan]

First Lt. Dawn Ward, a platoon leader with 663rd Ordnance Company, participates in the final round of field-testing for the Modular Scalable Vest during a series of evaluated tasks at Fort Carson, Colo., Oct. 18. (Staff Sgt. Lance Pounds/Army)

Fort Carson soldiers field-test the Army's newer, lighter body armor

Damon Brant, a new equipment trainer from Project Manager Soldier Protection Individual Equipment at Prince George, Va., ensures the proper wear and use of a new body armor system by Spc. Creed Cooney, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with 62nd Ordnance Company, during a weeklong field-test of the Modular Scalable Vest (MSV) at Fort Carson, Colo., Oct. 18, 2017. (Staff Sgt. Lance Pounds / Army)

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Soldiers at Fort Carson, Colorado, took the Army’s new body armor into the field and put it to the test over a series of tasks from Oct. 16-20.

The new modular scalable vest could be the replacement for the improved outer tactical vest, or IOTV, that’s currently in use, the Army said.

“Compared to my IOTV, this vest is lighter and cooler, has a greater range of motion, and a better fit,” said 1st Lt. Dawn Ward, a platoon leader with the 663rd Ordnance Company. “It is a huge improvement over previous body armors.”

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The Army is pushing for the new vest as a part of its effort to lighten the total load a soldier has to carry, the service said.

From 2018 to 2021, troops could see the new vest, as well as new head protection that resembles a motorcycle helmet and eyewear that goes from light to dark in under a second, Army Times previously reported in April.

The new gear falls under the Soldier Protection System, which is under development at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

A spokesman for the office told Army Times that soldiers who are deploying are first in line for any newly released equipment. Once this evaluation is complete, the vest will go into production and is expected to reach soldiers in the field by summer 2018, according to the Army.

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your...ield-test-the-armys-newer-lighter-body-armor/