That’s “Bring Your Own Body Armor.” Wanna know how well equipped our service members are in Iraq? They’re now buying their own body armor, and in some cases their families are paying for it.
Soldiers headed for Iraq are still buying their own body armor — and in many cases, their families are buying it for them — despite assurances from the military that the gear will be in hand before they’re in harm’s way.
Body armor distributors have received steady inquiries from soldiers and families about purchasing the gear, which can cost several thousand dollars. Though the military has advised them not to rely on third-party suppliers, many soldiers say they want it before they deploy.
Last October, it was reported that nearly one-quarter of American troops serving in Iraq did not have ceramic plated body armor, which can stop bullets fired from assault rifles and shrapnel.
The military says the shortfall is over and soldiers who do not yet have the armor soon will. But many want to avoid the risk.
“What we hear from soldiers is that they are told that they are going to get body armor just before they leave or just after they get there. But they don’t want to take a chance,” said Nick Taylor, owner of Bulletproofme.com, an online distributor of body armor in Austin, Texas.
It’s like a keystone cops routine, I swear.