Female Specific Body Armor Being Tested

Female engagement teams from the 101st Airborne Division in Fort Campbell, Ky. are fielding body armor especially designed for the 14% of female soldiers in the U.S. Army.

According to the Stars and Stripes report, the more form-fitting vests are designed to fit the curves of the female body, thus providing better protection and more comfort. The vests have an adjustable waist and are cut more narrow through the shoulders.

Libby Richardson of the U.S. Aberdeen Test Center is conducting the study and if the assessments go well, the new piece of equipment will move forward to a final review and 3,000 will be produced and fielded to a selected brigade by next summer.

At Fort Bragg and around the Army, the Female Engagement Team program officially started in Oct. 2010. They help Afghan officials and ISAF commanders understand the communities the teams work in and people’s need for services such as medical treatment and education. They have also helped the Afghan government to protect and earn the trust of the population.

Read the full story and view photos of the vest here.