Bulletproof Vests for NJ soldiers in Iraq

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

[ Transcribed from a letter. I met Kathy tonight, so it's for real. -pd.]

Kenneth & Kathy Gratto
23 Winant Road
Kendall Park, NJ 08824

January 22, 2004

To Whom It May Concern,

This letter is on behalf of fifty one men and women who are being deployed to the Middle East as part of "Iraqi Freedom." We are seeking donations toward the purchase of bullet proof vests. These items will go a long way toward protecting the brave men and women from harm and may prevent fatal injuries.

While our son is one of these soldiers that will be serving our country with great pride, all have chosen the path of protecting our country and freedoms. We should do our best to protect all of these individuals as best as we possibly can.

Any donation, regardless of the amount, would be greatly appreciated.

If any further information is needed, please do not hesitate to contact us at

732-297-4111

Thank you in advance.

Sincerely,

Ken and Kathy Gratto

 

[Steve in PA]

And just what do they think theses "bulletproof" vests are going to protect our servicemen from?????

Do they have any idea as to how heavy and expensive vests are that would protect them from rifle fire?????

 

[vrwc]

I would guess if they are a combat unit, They do know what they need and how much it costs.
I donated my level 3 to a buddy heading over there.
I would hope that most body armor manufacturers that aren't on the DOD contrcat would be happy to discount their wares for deployed troops. Most of the price of body armor is liability costs

 

[Jeff White]

It's buyer beware out there....

This is from the PEO-Soldier website. People buying body armor off e-bay or other sources need to be careful, they may be paying high prices for substandard goods.

Any SAPI (Small Arms Protective Inserts) you see on the market are either stolen government property or not the same as the government is buying to equip our soldiers.

Jeff

https://peosoldier.army.mil/default.asp?section=iba
The Army and the Army's Program Executive Officer Soldier office have received several public inquiries, and reports by family members, that deployed Soldiers, or family members of Soldiers, have asked to individually buy the Interceptor Body Armor.

"While it is possible to obtain types of body armor through Internet searches or mail order, this does not mean that any of these products meet the ballistic and weight requirements," said Brig. Gen. James Moran, Program Executive Officer Soldier.

All recent contacts by PEO Soldier with vendors claiming to have plates available for our Soldiers were found to be resellers of non-certified plates or were false claims and did not have the machinery or necessary raw materials available to produce plates. The resellers did not have plates available and were attempting to obtain them from the existing Army sources. When plates were available, they did not meet the ballistic protection requirements.

Interceptor Body Armor is tested for quality assurance by the Army to ensure Soldiers have the best protection available. The Army will continue to aggressively research and validate all potential sources of ballistic plates. Team Soldier is dedicated to saving Soldiers lives, improving their quality of life and increasing their combat effectiveness.

 

[vrwc]

Good point Jeff,
I didn't read the details of who was doing tthe procurement.

Are they still having troubles filling all the DOD orders, I thought this problem had ben resolved? Didn't they commit to equiping all forward deployed with the SAPI?

 

[Jeff White]

No they haven't succeeding in procuing enough IBA w?SAPI plates to equip all deploying soldiers.

The problem is in the way the Army procures equipment. IBA has been around since 98. But they never rally contemplated they'd ever deploy a force of this size. They only bought enough to support someone's estimate of what a contingency would require, then moved on to other things.

They did the same thing with Strella suppression kits for helicopters. The initial technology was developed in 1972/73. But they only bought enough to equip certain units. During Desert Storm we were unable to operate many aircraft near the Iraqi border for months because we failed to buy this needed equipment. We didn't learn from that and I'd bet we don't learn from this situation either. We'll be short some essential gear that has been in the system for years in the next war too...I'd bet money on it.

Jeff

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

And just what do they think theses "bulletproof" vests are going to protect our servicemen from?????

Do they have any idea as to how heavy and expensive vests are that would protect them from rifle fire?????

Mrs. Gratto was just a nice middle-aged lady who wanted donations for "ceramic armor" to protect her son and his fellows from "the seven point six bullets they use there."

So I doubt if she knew, but I'm sure her son does.

- pdmoderator

 

[vrwc]

Jeff,
do you know who makes the IBA and SAPI?
I am sure that some of the big names have level III stuff that is the real deal that may not be the IBA system but still work out ok.
What i donated was a point blank IIIA with III plates front and back.
My buddy said that the CO's were allowing a wide lattitude in terms of gear IE if they had it they could wear it. That never would have gone over when I was in uniform but hey if they dont have the gear to issiue somethings better than nothing.

I will do a little looking into who has the contract for IBA+SAPI and see if there are any honest places that make a true level III that have any on hand to pass on to the thread starter

 

[Jeff White]

Point Blank and Specialty Defense Corporation are currently producing IBA for the military. There are several different plates made for the LE market that should work although they aren't the same as the issue SAPI plate.

Jeff

 

[Nathaniel Firethorn]

News article

http://nbs.gmnews.com/news/2004/0205/Front_Page/033.html

Mom looking out for safety of soldiers
Donations will buy
bulletproof vests
for 51 guard members
BY CHARLES W. KIM
Staff Writer
North/South Brunswick Sentinel

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — The mother of a U.S. National Guard soldier is hoping to buy body armor for her son and his comrades.

Kendall Park resident Kathy Grotto went before the Township Council Tuesday night to ask for help in funding bulletproof vests for her son and 50 other National Guard troops scheduled to leave for Iraq tomorrow.

While the military issues "flak jackets" that do provide some protection, "It won’t protect them from bullets," Grotto said.

Grotto said she has been able to purchase five vests from a Miami company that does business with the military. The company is giving her the same $600 price per vest that the military is charged.

"They are giving us the government rate," Grotto said.

People can donate to her, or they can go on the Internet and order the vests themselves.

"We have 51 to get," she said.

Mayor Frank Gambatese said that the township would look into buying one as well.

"It is appalling to me that we would send our men out there without the proper protection," Gambatese said.

The flak jackets that are issued by the military do protect against shrapnel and some small arms fire, but they do not protect against the higher caliber bullets, according to Grotto.

"They can go right through metal," she said.

If anyone wants to donate or buy a vest for one of the men, Grotto can be reached at (732) 297-4111.

All vests purchased will be sent to the unit in Iraq, Grotto said.