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B-174472 1 (1974-03-18)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaafsz0001 and id is 1 raw text is: DS4 4W UUNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE oul A WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 PROCUREMENT AND SYSTEMS J J ACQUISITION DIVISION 9.q MAR 1 8 1974 B-174472 The Honorable The Secretary of Defense LM095959 Attention: Assistant Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Dear Mr. Secretary: In April 1973 we informed you that we would initiate followup work on our report to you titled Combat Soldiers Need More Head and Body Protection, B-174472, May 8, 1972 (code 67035). In that report we stated the Army's attempts at reducing the weight of its vest and helmet without < increasing their ballistic protection may not be warranted because Vietnam data indicated that greater ba+ListKkqp ecjtikon was needed. The same data showed that only 19 percent of the Army soldiers included in the anal- ysis wore vests. Our report recommended, among other things, that the Army deemphasize weight reduction and put a higher priority on developing a new helmet and vest whichMeets otheJder' s need for head, tacec neck. an,- tion and that the Army use the ves n training programs so that soldiers will become accustomed to using it. We reviewed the actions taken by the Army as a result of the above- cited report and found that the Army has made changes in its body armor program which could significantly alleviate the conditions cited in our report. Specifically, we found that the Army revised its materiel need for personnel armor and now gives first priority to casualty reduction followed by human factors, reliability, and maintainability. We were in- formed that the armor development plan is being revised to reflect this change in priorities. We also found that the Army revised its training regulations to encourage unit commanders to use body armor and helmets during appropriate periods in training and to stress the importance of protective head and body gear as a means of preventing or minimizing wounds in combat operations. We believe that these actions, if properly implemented, should re- sult in the development of a vest and helmet which will provide the soldier with the desired protection. Furthermore, the Army's training )~Ig /of / 1,

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