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"The Army has expressed great interest in getting more flexible body armor. One of the key complaints about the armor used by troops on the battlefield is that it is too heavy and inflexible and may lessen a soldier's speed and agility." - from "Potential Advance in Body Armor Fails Tests (WaPo)"
This is the understatement of the day. "May" lesson a soldier's speed and agility?? Do you think 40lbs. of ceramics and kevlar strapped to your torso "may" lessen your speed and agility?
Right now would be a great time to get into the body armor business. Here's the business model:
Come up with an attachment to the existing armor to cover a new part of soldiers' bodies(arms, sides, butts, whatever...). Find some data on soldier injuries, primarily from shrapnel, and show how your attachment will reduce injuries. (This is an easy exercise as shrapnel generally hits every part of a soldier, so just cover part of their body and you're good.) Now, market the new attachment to the families of soldiers and subtly suggest they call their congressman to demand the government supply your product to soldiers. Who can or will say no? And since the Army bought the attachment, they'll make soldiers wear it. Just make sure you get in the caveat that your product, weighing 4 extra pounds, when combined with the existing 40lb. body armor, "MAY" reduce a soldier's speed and agility.
At some point we'll all look like the Michelin Man anyway, so you might as well get your piece of the pie!
Seriously, though, there is a balance between protection and agility. I think we've already passed it. Many organizations allow their soldiers to choose which of the supplied attachments they feel are necessary (arms, neck, throat, groin, and sides are all currently on the menu). Some, like my battalion, mandate that they all are worn.
It's a tough call, lots of grey area, so let's do the American thing and make some money off the war and our soldiers!
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