Army can't be sure some of its body armor met safety standards

[The Straight Story]

Pentagon audit questions Army contracting procedure for body armor
By Pauline Jelinek, Associated Press April 3, 2008

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Army can't be sure some of its body armor met safety standards, partly because it didn't do proper paperwork on initial testing of the protective vests, a Defense Department audit said.

Democratic Rep. Louise M. Slaughter of New York, who requested the department inspector general's report, on Wednesday demanded the firing of officials responsible. But the Army said the gear is safe and the issue is a disagreement over when and what type of testing is required - principally so-called "first article testing" typically done on a product before a contract is awarded.

The inspector general reviewed $5.2 billion worth of Army and Marine Corps contracts for body armor from 2004 through 2006.

"Specific information concerning testing and approval of first articles was not included in 13 of 28 Army contracts and orders reviewed, and contracting files were not maintained in 11 of 28 Army contracts to show why procurement decisions were made," the report concluded.

"As a result, DoD has no assurance that first articles produced under 13 of the 28 contracts and orders reviewed met the required standards," or that 11 of the 28 contracts were awarded based on informed decisions, it said.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=39694&dcn=todaysnews

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Remember, they didn't want us to get

Dragon Skin and even said that troops wearing it would not be covered under the Army Life Insurance

Makes you think huh?

This is cronyism to the nth degree

[The Straight Story]

2. Dragon skin seems pretty awesome, must not be enough kickbacks for it though

:)

[jmowreader]

3. The Army lied. What else is new?

This is from the VA:

http://www.insurance.va.gov/SGLISITE/SGLI/mythsRumors.htm

True or False: SGLI won't pay if I die while wearing privately purchased body armor or a privately purchased helmet.

False: SGLI claims are paid regardless of body armor or helmet type. Wearing body armor or a helmet is not a requirement for a SGLI claim to be paid.