Inspector General: Army Improperly Tested Body Armor

NewsNM - Swickard: if I had a loved one in harm's way I would be frantic. We need the facts right now about the safety issues. From National Public Radio - A report from the Department of Defense's Inspector General details flawed quality assurance inspections of the body armor used by troops to stop bullets. The investigation, which was requested by Congress, looked at seven Army contracts worth $2.5 billion and awarded between 2004 and 2006. What it found is that in some cases, the Army skipped some tests altogether, while in others it used inconsistent methodology. The report points out for example that The Army Program Manager Soldier Equipment (PM SEQ) "did not always use the correct size ballistic insert" or "use a consistent methodology for measuring the proper velocity, or enforce the humidity and temperature requirements." In other cases, in order to expedite delivery, the PM SEQ skipped "the weathered and altitude" tests. The bottom line, says the Inspector General, is the "the Army lacks assurance that 5.1 million ballistic inserts acquired through the seven contracts provide appropriate protection." The report says, however, that investigators did not conduct their own tests so, "we could not conclude whether the deviations affected ballistic performance." Read more

Inspector General: Army Improperly Tested Body Armor