Corps: New body armor more comfortable - Marine Corps News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Marine Corps Times

Corps: New body armor more comfortable

As early as spring, Marines will be dawning the next generation of improved body armor designed to be more comfortable and adjustable than current models.

The designs are similar to those of existing vests, but have been refined, said 2nd Lt. Jamie Larson, a spokeswoman for Marine Corps Systems Command, out of Quantico, Va.

The development of the IMTV dates back to at least 2008, when troops in Iraq and Afghanistan complained of the discomfort of the MTV, which can add up to 30 pounds when filled with armor plates.

The neck hole on the new IMTV is about a half-inch larger than the current version’s, a move that compromises protection but allows a Marine to turn his head more quickly. The IMTV also will give Marines the ability to adjust how their side small-arms protective inserts hang to reduce interference with arm movement. Binding in the armpit and an improved cummerbund are designed to reduce chafing and improve distribution of weight, officials said.

The IMTV also has redesigned shoulders, with a cut similar to the Outer Tactical Vest worn prior to the MTV’s fielding in 2006. Like the IMTV’s neck, the cut of the vest’s shoulders offers slightly less coverage than the MTV’s, but addresses Marines’ requests for more arm and shoulder mobility and allows Marines to better shoulder their rifles.

The new plate carriers also have been designed with a more comfortable cummerbund that includes the same quick-release system incorporated on the IMTV, allowing the vest to be discarded quickly in the event of an emergency. Shoulder buckles were moved to the front of the vest, making them easier to adjust. It also has improved shoulder padding.

The SPC was first fielded widely to combat units in Afghanistan in 2008 as a lightweight alternative to the MTV, and it has proven popular. Marines now typically deploy with both the MTV and SPC, with commanders setting the requirements for which vest should be worn based on threat levels.

The design of the improved plate carrier didn’t receive as many changes, but its fielding will be delayed until summer because MARCORSYSCOM decided to put the ISPC through another round of user evaluations before sending it to combat, Larson said.

The Improved Modular Tactical Vest and Improved Scalable Plate Carrier will replace all MTVs and plate carriers currently fielded to each Marine in combat, officials said.

Both improved vests will be fielded to all deploying Marines once they are available. The service plans to field about 108,000 of each.