Soldiers in Baumholder get fitted for new tactical vests

First Sgt. Michael Morton of the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry in Baumholder tests the flexibility of the Improved Outer Tactical Vest, which the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division is being issued before its upcoming deployment to Iraq.


Soldiers in Baumholder get fitted for new tactical vests
By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, January 23, 2008

BAUMHOLDER, Germany — The new Improved Outer Tactical Vest, complete with a quick release mechanism, would have come in handy when 1st Sgt. Michael Morton was wounded during his previous tour in Iraq.

“I definitely could have used it,” said Morton, who was among the group of Baumholder soldiers being outfitted Tuesday with the new body armor.

When he was wounded, the old bulky vest proved difficult to remove when medical treatment was needed, Morton said.

But with one pull, the new vest releases into two pieces, making it easier for medics to get to work on injuries and for soldiers to shed it quickly, according to the Army.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment were issued their new vests Tuesday. The vests were the first to be handed out to the soon-to-deploy soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=51835



uhc comment: Meet the Improved Outer Tactical Vest:



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improved_Outer_Tactical_Vest

The Improved Outer Tactical Vest, or IOTV, is a replacement to the older Interceptor body armor fielded by the United States Army. It is compatible with the Deltoid Axillary protection system, E-SAPI (Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert) and Side SAPI plates, as well as the interceptor body armor's groin protector. The IOTV has, in the past, been issued to US forces as part of the Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI) at overseas locations, but is now being issued in selected posts as part of the Continental United States (CONUS) portion of the RFI.