Posted on Mar 10, 2019
How do modern troops like modern (Kevlar) helmets?
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As a Vietnam vet, I am a member of the “Steel pot” Army. We used that helmet for cooking, washing, and shaving. We carried stuff in it and, in sandy soil, we dug holes with it much faster than we could with a shovel. Does a modern soldier with a modern helmet wish he still had one like ours?
Posted in these groups: 
Infantry
Infantry
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 12
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The new ones are a lot more comfortable. Plus, they can actually protect from a bullet better than steel.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
When the soldier survived an AK47 round to his kevlar helmet during the Grenada operation convinced me which I wanted to wear.
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SGT (Join to see)
Soldier who took a machine gun round to the head now has his helmet to prove it
Since this incident the Army has begun fielding an even better helmet.
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I had been in 10 years when the change came about. We liked the idea of better protection, thought they looked cool (like the Panzer Grenadiers!), but hated the fact we couldn't shave in them. All in all, we were happy. After while, every APC had a couple tupperware bowls stashed somewhere for shaving.
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SPC William Hasley
Great answer. I'm trying to imagine my mother's reaction, in 1968, if I had asked her to send some Tupperware. She would have been absolutely sure I had gone off the skids.
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SPC William Hasley
Thanks for answer. That picture makes it appear you modern guys have more than enough to carry. Can't say I envy it, but I surely do respect it. Stay safe.
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SPC William Hasley I've worn the steel pot, original Kevlar, and the ACH. Hand down, ACH is a vast improvement. Only thing you can't do is use it to cook food or heat water in it. With a canteen cup you can heat water. I usually used one for eating/drinking. The other, shaving/washing. Marked with paint.
Technically you could dig with it, but I wouldn't. Usually have a NVG and or it's mount on it. I also had a red/white/infrared light mounted on the left side for hand free use. Nice at He clearing barrel or searching something. The absence of a liner I say actually a plus. The suspension system in a steel helmet liner or the Kevlar K-pot sucked, wearing grooves in your head. The adjustable pads are pretty good. Downside, no,place to tie a dummy cord for the helmet band or helmet mounted devices. Plus the protection is amazing in comparison as SFC (Join to see) says.
Still sturdy enough to use as a club if you had to beat the crap out of someone.
Technically you could dig with it, but I wouldn't. Usually have a NVG and or it's mount on it. I also had a red/white/infrared light mounted on the left side for hand free use. Nice at He clearing barrel or searching something. The absence of a liner I say actually a plus. The suspension system in a steel helmet liner or the Kevlar K-pot sucked, wearing grooves in your head. The adjustable pads are pretty good. Downside, no,place to tie a dummy cord for the helmet band or helmet mounted devices. Plus the protection is amazing in comparison as SFC (Join to see) says.
Still sturdy enough to use as a club if you had to beat the crap out of someone.
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SPC William Hasley
Thank you: I’mso long away from it that I was really vague as to what an ACH was. I just looked it up and my reaction is “We’ve come a long way, Baby.” I appreciate the info.
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I swear I'm 2" shorter than I should be due to the steel pot. And, I still have it.
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The times have changed, modern helmets for the modern solder serves just as head protection, not like the olden days in the service.
We older solders use the steel pot as a convenience to serve for something useful that we didn't have in the field.
The modern solder doesn't need to use his/her helmet for something else, because the military provides those essentials to the solder in this modern day and age.
Cooking, washing, shaving, carrying stuff, to dig holes in the ground, and like I used it to sit on, modern warfare has all of those things for the solder.
And, as my photo shows, if you're hit by a 50cal, it's doesn't matter what you used your helmet for, you're dead.
We older solders use the steel pot as a convenience to serve for something useful that we didn't have in the field.
The modern solder doesn't need to use his/her helmet for something else, because the military provides those essentials to the solder in this modern day and age.
Cooking, washing, shaving, carrying stuff, to dig holes in the ground, and like I used it to sit on, modern warfare has all of those things for the solder.
And, as my photo shows, if you're hit by a 50cal, it's doesn't matter what you used your helmet for, you're dead.
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SPC William Hasley
Thanks for the comments. I forgot how often we just sat on it. That was a big deal back then.
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I got in when the ACH was common issue. I've now been issued a higher cut helmet that's somewhat lighter. I don't know anybody who would prefer the old kit.
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I started with the steelpot helmet myself, had the Kevlar helmet when I went IRR, it was a little better, but not as usable as the old steelpot helmet.
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I've worn the PASGT, LWH, ACH and ECH and the ECH is my far my favorite. It fits very nice, weighs allot less than the previous models and will supposedly stop a 7.62X39 but I don't want to test it. Never been cool enough for the FAST helmet yet.
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I was issued a steel pot in the Army an kevlar in The Michigan National Guard. I never used the steel pot for anything other than what it was intended for. The Kevlar helmet offers far more protection.
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