Why Do Military Personnel Wear A Tactical Vest
Military personnel are regularly faced with unpredictable situations so preparedness is of paramount importance for them. Carrying essential equipment in backpacks reduces mobility on battlefields therefore militaries issue official vests to their members. Tactical vests are often referred to as plate carriers because on top of carrying equipment they can be fitted with armor plating to enhance their protection. As you can tell military personnel can utilize a tactical vest in a variety of
ways and this article explores their purpose and usage scenarios.
Uses of Tactical Vests for Military Personnel
Tactical vests are incorporated into military training exercises which highlights their importance for military personnel. Here are some ways are utilized by servicemen:
Organizing Tactical Gear
One of the biggest uses for tactical vests for military personnel is in tactical gear organization. Troops need to carry different types of equipment to assist them during a wide range of missions. it come with dedicated sections to hold everything from radios, ammunition, first aid kits, and navigation devices. Since fitted to the body they don’t put soldiers off balance from the weight of the equipment. it is designed to evenly distribute the load throughout the wearer's body for maximum mobility. Not to mention vests provide quick and easy access to necessary equipment at all times.
Adapting to Different Missions
Soldiers may be assigned with a wide range of assignments on the battlefield and their gear will also vary based on the specific mission objectives. Tactical vests come with a modular design that allows soldiers to change the layout of the pouches and compartments to carry different types of gear.
So if mission objectives change soldiers can quickly replace the pouches and compartments on the same base vest so they can carry other forms of equipment.
Added Protection
While the fabric of tactical vests isn’t designed to stop bullets they do come with dedicated sections to install bulletproof plates. While not a replacement for bulletproof vests they do offer protection against small arms fire, stabbing attacks, and shrapnel. The ballistic plating can be removed and installed easily so military personnel can use this added safety feature when needed.
Real Life Scenarios Where Tactical Vests Help Military Personel
By now we have covered the uses of tactical vests for servicemen. Here is a breakdown of some real life scenarios/examples of how it come in handy in the military:
Training
Military personnel are often required to wear tactical vests during the training programs to get them used to carrying and accessing key equipment. The military drills are designed to simulate real life combat scenarios and experiences. So when military personnel wear their tactical vests with equipment arranged in a specific orientation they develop the ability to access their gear as quickly as possible.
By training with their tactical vests over and over again soldiers also develop their operational readiness. Not to mention training allows soldiers to learn the standard layout for arranging different compartments and pouches of the vest for maximum efficiency.
Extended Patrols and Reconnaissance
A soldier will be required to walk long distances relying on their navigation and survival equipment. A tactical vest does more than just keep all the necessary reconnaissance equipment organized. Soldiers can cover longer distances without fatigue because it don’t add unnecessary weight load to carry. Additionally military personnel can maintain their comfort thanks to even load distribution.
Rapid Response Scenarios
In case of an ambush or a situation that requires split-second decision making soldiers don’t have enough time to reach into bags to retrieve ammunition. Since it is used as a part of their training soldiers can quickly retrieve extra magazines, grenades, and other ammunition by relying on muscle memory.
Every second counts in a life threatening situation and tactical vests significantly cut down the time needed for military personnel to access crucial equipment.
Search and Rescue
Search and rescue missions are considered high risk and unpredictable. Soldiers need both protection and organization of gear to fulfill these types of missions successfully. it can be configured to carry additional magazines if hostile engagement is expected. Or they can configure the tactical vest to carry thermal imaging and navigational tools by configuring their layout if the mission doesn’t pose a risk of hostile encounters.
Using Tactical Vests in Combination with Bulletproof Vests
Soldiers can get the maximum protection and equipment organization by combining tactical vests with bulletproof vests. The plate inserts used with tactical vests combined with the added protection of Kevlar significantly increase the survivability of military personnel during firefights. Bulletproof vests are typically worn as a concealed protection element underneath the tactical vest. So the plate inserts serve as the first line of defense against gunfire.
Wearing both types of vest offers the perfect balance between mobility and protection. Not to mention military personnel can easily equip the plate inserts whenever the threat levels go up. Ballistic plates are heavy and they can reduce the mobility of the wearer during reconnancese missions. The ease of equipping and removing additional plates depending on the threat level is a major reason why tactical vests are a great combination for bullet proof vests.
Conclusion
Tactical vests are designed to ensure preparedness and military personnel are required to be ready for worse case scenarios. GAF is a tactical vest manufacturer can ensure that the soldiers can easily carry equipment with added protection against gunfire. it adaptability and customization options suit the versatile nature of a soldier’s job. They can easily adjust to fit the needs of each mission no matter if they need to add armor plating or add additional pouches.
This article has covered everything you need to know about why military personnel wear a tactical vest. However if you are a civilian who values preparedness you can also get a tactical vest for outdoor activities and self-defense training.
