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I can remember when we first started using body armor that other problems arose that presented a whole new set of operational parameters. Damn things don't do much for floatation so operations in and around water becomes a new challenge. You are really going to have to watch the weak swimmers. Also there are restrictions as to what areas you can move in and out of so in some CQB situations where the size of the entrance way is limited consequently folks tend to want to remove plates or risk getting hung up in places providing more exposure over time until they can work their way through the openings. Heat injuries will probably increase. I have also seen false senses of bravado by folks that feel that they have extra protection so that they are less concerned about using available cover and concealment. Sort of reminds me of the cambodes who thought as long as they had a number one Budda hanging around their neck or clenched in their teeth that they were bullet proof. I have also seen one individual do stupid things that he would not have otherwise done in weapons handling because he felt folks were protected by their body armor. The result was a GSW to the back where there was no plate. So from my non-medic standpoint I think while you might not be seeing as many chest injuries you are going to be dealing with wounds that might not have killled folks outright before but they will be bleeding out from wounds that would not have been previously the primary cause of death . Then there will always be joe tent peg, you know him he is the same guy that would have pulled his filters out of his gas mask because it was easier to breath. He will be removing chest plates and stowing them in his ruck and his leaders will be thinking that because he is wearing armor that what they are asking him to do is an acceptable risk because he is "protected". Folks will be checking for wounds other than those to the armored areas when he goes down and might miss the real problem.
Jack Moroney
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