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Shipment of Interceptor vests on its way to Iraq-bound troops
Working full-tilt, nine contractors have finished crafting 160,000 Interceptor body armor vests, and the equipment is now en route to units preparing to deploy to Iraq and a central distribution point in Kuwait, according to Army officials.Thatâs a lot of vests This monthâs production run of the Interceptor tactical vests fulfills a promise to Congress by Army officials, who said that by January the service would have enough of the vests to outfit every soldier deployed to Iraq, according to Army spokesman Maj. Gary Tallman. âCongress has been notified that the requirement has been met,â Tallman said Friday. Interceptor vests are the Armyâs best body armor. The $1,585 items are composed of layered sheets of Kevlar, with pockets in front and back for ceramic plates that protect vital organs. The vests are highly effective against ammunition and shrapnel. Soldiers wearing the vests in Iraq have been shot at point-blank range with AK-47s and lived to tell about it. Everyone had a vest, they just didnât have this vest. As units assigned to Iraqâs first rotation make their way home through Kuwait, they will turn in their assigned vests to a central collection point at Kuwaitâs Camp Victory, Tallman said. Those vests will be checked out and reissued to Operation Iraqi Freedom 2 personnel who are staging in Kuwait. Other units will get their vests before stepping off American soil, Tallman said. Ok, letâs see...Interceptor vests, check. Upgrade armor for Hummers, purchase order in at Kurdâs Armor RâUs, check. Whatâs the next bitch? Posted by: Steve 2004-01-13 |
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