To determine what effect, if any, the problems GAO observed had on the test data and on the outcomes of First Article Testing, the Army should provide for an independent ballistics evaluation of the First Article Testing results by ballistics and statistical experts external to the Department of Defense before any armor is fielded to soldiers under this contract solicitation. Because DOD did not concur with this recommendation, GAO added a matter for congressional consideration to ...
Continue Reading →Body Armor Testing: What the GAO found
During Preliminary Design Model testing the Army took significant steps to run a controlled test and maintain consistency throughout the process, but the Army did not always follow established testing protocols and, as a result, did not achieve its intended test objective of determining as a basis for awarding contracts which designs met performance requirements.
In the most consequential of the Army’s deviations from testing protocols, the Army testers incorrectly measured the amount of force absorbed by the plate ...
Continue Reading →Why the GAO Study on Body Armor Testing?
The Army has issued soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan personal body armor, comprising an outer protective vest and ceramic plate inserts. The Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) observed Preliminary Design Model testing of new plate designs, which resulted in the Army’s awarding contracts in September 2008 valued at a total of over $8 billion to vendors of the designs that passed that testing.
Between November and December 2008, the Army conducted further testing, called First Article Testing, on these designs. ...
Continue Reading →Military Body Armor Supplier Files for Bankruptcy
Point Blank Solutions Inc., who claims to be the leading manufacturer of body armor, filed for bankruptcy protection on April 14, 2010. Citing Court filings, Reuters reports that the Florida-based (Pompano Beach) company “supplies more than 80 percent of the U.S. military’s soft body armor vest requirements . . .”
Claiming mounting legal bills in the trial of former CEO David Brooks – currently on trial in New York for securities fraud and other related crimes – Point Blank Inc. and three affiliates ...
Continue Reading →Is Secretary Rumsfeld responsible for the lack of military leadership?
As an Army 2nd Lt stationed at the Pentagon during the Viet Nam war, I still vividly recall the military brass scrambling to deal with one crisis after another while pretending that they were in control of a war that had already been largely lost. With Robert McNamara at the helm, competent military leaders were replaced by faceless bureaucrats who were more adept at tabulating body counts than combat itself. Working at the Pentagon during that period was a surreal ...
Continue Reading →Does New War Doctrine Expose US Troops to greater danger?
With a 2,600 page Health Reform Package, one doesn’t have time to read the fine print. At other times, US government policy statements are often so broad in scope that one has difficulty piecing together the implications.
In a recent address that was not picked up by the press, Admiral Michael G. Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, articulated what some consider to be a change in US War Doctrine. In a fascinating article picked up by Fred Edwards in Crosshairs – Miltary Matters in ...
Continue Reading →Say thanks to our Military Heroes
A video giving thanks to the brave young men and women serving our country is creating quite a stir on YouTube. Soldiers for the Truth is happy to add our heartfelt thanks for the sacrifices you make each day on our behalf.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you each day. Again, thank you!
Continue Reading →Unreliable Body Armor Tests Place US Troops at Risk
For those who have been following my summary for SFTT of the October 2009 110-page report on the GAO report to Congress entitled Independent Expert Assessment of Army Body Armor Test Results and Procedures Needed Before Fielding, (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d10119.pdf) I salute you. While one tries to remain as objective as possible, this damning report by the GAO proves conclusively that our military leadership has not been candid with the American public.
As a retired military officer, I wish I could ...
Continue Reading →Should US Troops Wear Body Armor?
There appears to be a bit of a backlash within military circles and families of men and women currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan over the “suggestion” that our troops should leave their body armor behind to ingratiate themselves with local civilians. This “new” strategy to win the “hearts and minds” of the local populace first came to my attention during an airing of a 60 minute special on General McChrystal some months ago.
Continue Reading →Basic Five B.E.S.T Campaign to Support the Troops
Ever since its inception, Soldiers for the Truth (“SFTT”) has been focused on insuring that our frontline troops have the best possible equipment to accomplish their mission and come home alive safely and in one piece. Our campaigns have been based on providing our troops with the “Best Equipment to Support the Troops,” often referred to as our “B.E.S.T.” Campaign strategy. While much of our recent investigative reporting has been focused on body armor, SFTT will soon be extending ...
Continue Reading →