thedrifter
06-27-06, 02:56 PM
July 03, 2006
Lawmaker strikes deal on helmet test
Army gear said to be more protective
A Pennsylvania lawmaker says he has persuaded House appropriators to fund tests of Army and Marine Corps combat helmets and liners to see whether one offers better protection than the other.
Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., said June 20 that he struck a deal with Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young, R-Fla., chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, to support a provision that calls for such tests when House and Senate negotiators meet to work out a compromise 2007 defense appropriations bill.
Weldon, chairman of the House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee, said in a press release that his provision calls for funding comprehensive testing and evaluation of Marine Corps and Army helmets, including their sling and pad suspension systems. It also would require the Pentagon to provide troops with the best helmet and lining system no later than 60 days after the final test results are in.
Months of investigation by his subcommittee “established that an improved helmet liner existed and was becoming increasingly requested by Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Weldon said.
That “improved helmet liner,” in Weldon’s view, is the one used by the Army in its advanced combat helmet.
At a hearing June 15, Weldon sharply questioned Marine Corps officials about why their helmets have been shown — by the Corps’ own tests, he said — to provide “about half the blast impact protection” of the Army helmet.
Maj. Gen. William Catto, who heads Marine Corps Systems Command, said he has not seen proof that the Army helmet or its padded suspension system provides better protection than the Marine helmet.
The Army’s advanced combat helmet has a shock-absorbing pad system inside.
About 660,000 of the helmets have been fielded since 2002.
The Marine Corps’ lightweight helmet, issued to more than 130,000 troops, uses a sling suspension system that critics say does not provide the same impact protection as the Army’s helmet.
Catto said the Corps issues the advanced combat helmet to special units such as reconnaissance units, but he is not convinced it is the answer for the entire force.
Along with pushing for tests of the two helmets, Weldon also relayed his concerns to Ken Krieg, undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics.
“Apparently, we have thousands of war fighters, primarily Marines, who believe that they are not being provided the necessary combat helmet protection they need,” Weldon wrote in a June 20 letter to Krieg.
“This is an unacceptable situation that has existed for some time and needs immediate correction.”
— Times staff
Ellie
Lawmaker strikes deal on helmet test
Army gear said to be more protective
A Pennsylvania lawmaker says he has persuaded House appropriators to fund tests of Army and Marine Corps combat helmets and liners to see whether one offers better protection than the other.
Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., said June 20 that he struck a deal with Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young, R-Fla., chairman of the House defense appropriations subcommittee, to support a provision that calls for such tests when House and Senate negotiators meet to work out a compromise 2007 defense appropriations bill.
Weldon, chairman of the House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee, said in a press release that his provision calls for funding comprehensive testing and evaluation of Marine Corps and Army helmets, including their sling and pad suspension systems. It also would require the Pentagon to provide troops with the best helmet and lining system no later than 60 days after the final test results are in.
Months of investigation by his subcommittee “established that an improved helmet liner existed and was becoming increasingly requested by Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Weldon said.
That “improved helmet liner,” in Weldon’s view, is the one used by the Army in its advanced combat helmet.
At a hearing June 15, Weldon sharply questioned Marine Corps officials about why their helmets have been shown — by the Corps’ own tests, he said — to provide “about half the blast impact protection” of the Army helmet.
Maj. Gen. William Catto, who heads Marine Corps Systems Command, said he has not seen proof that the Army helmet or its padded suspension system provides better protection than the Marine helmet.
The Army’s advanced combat helmet has a shock-absorbing pad system inside.
About 660,000 of the helmets have been fielded since 2002.
The Marine Corps’ lightweight helmet, issued to more than 130,000 troops, uses a sling suspension system that critics say does not provide the same impact protection as the Army’s helmet.
Catto said the Corps issues the advanced combat helmet to special units such as reconnaissance units, but he is not convinced it is the answer for the entire force.
Along with pushing for tests of the two helmets, Weldon also relayed his concerns to Ken Krieg, undersecretary of defense for acquisitions, technology and logistics.
“Apparently, we have thousands of war fighters, primarily Marines, who believe that they are not being provided the necessary combat helmet protection they need,” Weldon wrote in a June 20 letter to Krieg.
“This is an unacceptable situation that has existed for some time and needs immediate correction.”
— Times staff
Ellie