Those of you still Active Duty or working Civilian Law Enforcement, What is your number one complaint with your PPE?

LCpl Brett McMeans — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 15:56:09 -0400

Let me know what you dislike most about wearing Personal Protection Equipment? With all the different types of PPE's, there is usually one common complaint while wearing them. What is yours?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 3:58 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 15:58:00 -0400

Coming from an AGR the issue I have is that we only have it for a deployment then turn it back in and then get a new one for the next mission. I wish it was with the rest of my gear in the ISM and go with us as we move unit to unit.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 4:24 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 16:24:11 -0400

The maneuverability when wearing it is a huge factor. They found in Afghan that Plate Carriers. The weight of the IOTV to infantry units really reduced their ability to move. But on the down side it also reduced their level of protection. Now in Iraq the IOTV worked well as many units didn't need to move long distance or on any adverse terrain.

A lot of people don't like them. I will wear the stuff* out of mine. Better to have it and not need it and not have it an need it.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 4:31 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 16:31:00 -0400

Eye pro and ear pro . The eye pro always fogs up, gets sweaty, or dirty. It degrades your vision making it harder to do everything making you a less effective war fighter. Ear pro is more simple... No one wears it we have to be able to hear comm and we can't plug our ears. We need ear peices that hook up to our comm and have external microphones. Like a hearing aid.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 4:33 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 16:33:16 -0400

The vests are absolutely terrible for law enforcement. On the deployment side, plate carriers are the best thing I ever had, bar none.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Apr 25 at 2015 5:27 PM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 17:27:52 -0400

More from when I was in LE, body armor does not breath. It's like your own personal sweat lodge.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 10:33 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 22:33:09 -0400

My number complaint is with bulkiness of the IOTV. In Iraq we wore sideplates, DAPs, throat protectors, tailbone protectors, and groin protectors on our IOTV. Thankfully we were mounted but I felt like the michelin man trying to manuever in it. What's more problematic is that you can't shoulder a rifle while wearing it. How are my riflemen supposed to put accurate fire on the objective with PPE like that?

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2015 8:08 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 08:08:24 -0400

I thought about some really good complaints like, weight, lack of agility, cumbersome, etc. and then I realized that it stops 7.62 mm ballistic projectiles, shrapnel and has save countless lives.

I have no complaints!

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Apr 26 at 2015 8:20 AM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 08:20:57 -0400

Even the smallest size IOTV the Army issues doesn't fit properly. Plate carriers are definitely better in my opinion but leave more exposed.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2015 8:28 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 08:28:20 -0400

Well, as a larger individual i have the luxury of being issued an extra large. In the plate carrier an XL is manageable for long dismounted movements. Where as with my IOTV deployment I barely fit in through the turret hatch or in the back of an RG31 period. It just feels as if the vest are just made excessively bulky. Also the size of plates make no sense. The plates should almost be one size fits all while only the size of the vest should change. Prime example the XS plates are the size of side plates which i haven't met a person yet who gains any protective coverage (except for the heart area) from that size. My XL on the other hand completely covers my upper torso and greatly restricts my movements. Not to mention the tremendous weight difference too. I believe the vest serve their purpose but have a flawed design that could use some vast improvements.

Response by SPC Alvin Cantrell made May 6 at 2015 6:49 PM

SPC Alvin Cantrell — Wed, 06 May 2015 18:49:14 -0400

On the Leo side of the house I would like to see the carrier double as the uniform shirt.maybe even attach to the duty belt to take some stress off the low back.

Response by CPL Dennis Keith made Apr 20 at 2017 12:23 PM

CPL Dennis Keith — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:23:26 -0400

It's hot, but if it works I'll never complain again.