Some of our Marines would like to shed some of their PPE (personal protective equipment).

Lt. Col. Kelly Alexander, the commanding officer of Task Force Highlander, part of Regimental Combat Team-2, which operates in western Anbar province has calls this a ’soft posture’. He feels they can go out with less armor because the area has become more secure.

Lt. Col. Alexander made the request to shed the armor and was told on Tuesday night that the request is being taken to a higher headquarters. The Marines would keep the equipment with them so that it can quickly be put back on should things heat up and the armor is needed.

By taking off the additional armor the Marines will be able to be more agile. They are talking about around ten pounds of armor they will be able to take off.

I was particularly interested in this because my son is a tanker. I’ve heard him complain about the amount of body armor they are required to wear. He says it’s so much that it makes it difficult to turn quickly and getting in and out of the tank requires moving in a certain way so that you can get through the hole. Apparently, there isn’t any popping in and out of the top of the tank.

All all that isn’t even starting to mention how hot the armor is in addition to the sheer weight of it.

I’ve thought it was interesting to hear our Congress people carry on about paying for more body armor for our Soldiers and Marines. It sounds good to ask for that. They play it up to sound like they support the Troops. It sounds supportive of the Troops - if you don’t know that they are already wearing so much armor they can’t move around, leaving them more vulnerable to the more agile ’shoot and scoot’ style of the enemy.

I mean - look at the guys in these tanks and remember it’s over 100 degrees where they are. They HAVE to be miserable in the heavy clothes with armor on top of them.

I hope they get a little bit of relief - safely.

Read more at Stars and Stripes

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