Side SAPI plates. Good or bad?

Is there any possibility of shrapnel or projectiles entering the body even with the SAPI plates in place?

Hi LT
So, I took your comment to mean that you and your colleagues have debated the value of the side SAPI based on casualty injuries youve seen.
IMO, there may be a bit of confirmation bias happening at that upper level.
If you havent already, it may be worth it to inject into the conversation data regarding casualty injuries you have NOT seen based on the side SAPI presence.
As many others have stated, there are trade-offs for more vs less armor so situationally dependent appropriateness should be a consideration. There will always be unfortunate and regrettable moments when injuries occur as you detailed. I would submit those injuries may have been less complicated to treat but they would be still on the same patient, plus the added bonus of the shrapnel thay was stopped by the SAPI. That said, I’d wonder how many more injuries on how many additional patients would occur without the SAPI in place.
I’d certainly advocate for upgrades/alternatives that are less bulky. There are trade-offs in r&d as well tho.
Who pay$ for the end product?
Maybe why the Corps contracts us out to settle the difference?

Off course they are the best brand i ever used. Plate carrier planet has some information about them. https://www.platecarrierplanet.com/best-sapi-plates-for-sale/

keep them

Anyone who says they’d rather not wear body armor has probably never been hit in the chest with a bullet... just a hunch.

They are definitely more than necessary

They provide a good return on a small investment in weight and space, as long as they are mounted correctly. I've seen some Soldiers fail to attach them correctly and they hang off like saddlebags. But if you do it right, they're snug and out of the way.

I am ambivalent about side SAPI plates. I know they save lives. But, requiring them could also cost lives, I believe, if they end up adding too much weight to the load the Soldier wears. Case in point: When I was ordered to wear side SAPIs, I could barely shuffle. In no way could I come close to any sort of movement that in any way resembled a run. If I had been ordered to wear them and gotten into a firefight, I would have been a detriment to my unit, as I wouldn't have been mobile. Luckily, I was in an aviation Bn my first deployment, and was in a supporting role in my second. And, I never got in a firefight in either. My conclusion: side SAPIs for infantry and others whose job will make them the most likely to need them, and make sure the Soldiers are strong enough to wear them and be mobile. But no side SAPIs for supporting roles, as that's just more sensitive equipment to lug around and keep track of.

we used to have a wrap around zippered vest, and don't understand why we got away from the concept. the chance of getting hit from the obliques is just as good as front or back. need to make them up closer to armpit to fill that gap

They are good but might require a different configuration for wear.