Army Orders Soldiers to Shed Dragon Skin or Lose SGLI Death Benefits

I don't understand what is the big deal, first these guys are putting there life on the line without the proper equipment. So who can blame them for getting there own body armour.

Army Orders Soldiers to Shed Dragon Skin or Lose SGLI Death Benefits

On Saturday morning a soldier affected by the order reported to DefenseWatch that the directive specified that "all" commercially available body armour was prohibited. The soldier said the order came down Friday morning from Headquarters, United States Special Operations Command (HQ, USSOCOM), located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. It arrived unexpectedly while his unit was preparing to deploy on combat operations. The soldier said the order was deeply disturbing to many of the men who had used their own money to purchase Dragon Skin because it will affect both their mobility and ballistic protection.

"We have to be able to move. It (Dragon Skin) is heavy, but it is made so we have mobility and the best ballistic protection out there. This is crazy. And they are threatening us with our benefits if we don't comply." he said.

The soldier reiterated Friday's reports that any soldier who refused to comply with the order and was subsequently killed in action "could" be denied the $400,000 death benefit provided by their SGLI life insurance policy as well as face disciplinary action.

America Responds to Body Armour Controversy

Interceptor Armor Stops AK Round

Regarding Nathaniel R. Helms' article ("Army Orders Soldiers to Shed Dragon Skin or Lose SGLI Benefits," DefenseWatch, Jan. 14, 2006):

I know the Dragon Skin is a superior product, but the Interceptor is not exactly crap, either. I saw a video on Military.com that shows a GI hit in the chest from less than 100 feet away by an AK-47, 7.62X39mm. He gets up and moves on.

I think the troops should have the best, but the Interceptor was the best when it first came out. Now, improvements in the weave have produced Dragon Skin. Next logical step, incorporate the improvement into the current system, or replace the current system.

ED/SP



[edit on 19/1/2006 by Sauron]

This was debunked on the PBS news last night. I'm not quite sure why it is still being reported as fact when the military themselvs said it isnt true.

Edit: It looks like only questionable internet news services are still reporting this. Most other agencies have dropped the story.

[edit on 19-1-2006 by Dronetek]

Well that is good to hear, these people deserve the best money can buy.

There are legitimate reasons for standardizing the body armor.

Let’s say you were wearing an unusual model of body armor and you get hit. The medic comes over and needs to put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding FAST. Too bad he wasn’t familiar with the armor and because it took him an extra couple of minutes to get it off you, you bled to death.

There is already an ongoing thread on this topic. Please add to the conversation there:
soldiers penalized for buying superior armor

Originally posted by HowardRoark
Let’s say you were wearing an unusual model of body armor and you get hit. The medic comes over and needs to put pressure on the wound to stop the bleeding FAST. Too bad he wasn’t familiar with the armor and because it took him an extra couple of minutes to get it off you, you bled to death.

Versus.....what?......dying instantly.

[edit on 19-1-2006 by Jamuhn]

Did anybody else notice this?

The soldier reiterated Friday's reports that any soldier who refused to comply with the order and was subsequently killed in action "could" be denied the $400,000 death benefit provided by their SGLI life insurance policy as well as face disciplinary action.

lmao! Yeah, we'll starve your orphaned kids, leave your wife homeless and we'll dig you up and court marshall you.

wtf???

"This was debunked on the PBS news last night. I'm not quite sure why it is still being reported as fact when the military themselvs said it isnt true."

Ya!, lets believe those folks at the Pentagon. They wouldn't lie!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ongoing discussion.

Thread closed.