Quote:
Originally posted by Footmobile
Does anyone know if any units have as yet to receive the "training plates" for the IBA? Same weight as the real deal but no ballistic properties and a fraction of the cost? They were supposed to come on line this year from what I read a while ago.
This would help this situation somewhat I believe. If your average squad leader in the 101st, 82nd, 1st MARDIV etc..had access to training plates for the body armor, which everone will wear in theatre, combat fitness will be greatly enhanced for soon to delpoy units.
There is a shortage of real deal SAPI plates, and your average grunt units are not issued them until days before deployment and have little opportunity to train with them.
Issue an equal number of rubber rifles, rubber machine guns and rubber mortars that are in the T & E to that unit. Keep them in a conex box, with your training plates and Bob's your Uncle. Also gotta have that weighted rubber ammo for those special occasions 
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I think my unit has something like 14 sets of IBA and plates. THe downside to this is they just grabbed some random plates and some random vests not taking into account size of plates matching the vests. I think we have about 8 issuable sets. Totally unacceptable. We are being told that we wont get the complete armor set until we hit kuwait. For the trainup, MUIC and other pre deployment activities no one will get used to shooting with it or just every day operations. We do have enough flack jackets but as you know its not the same.
I think there should also be weighted rubber/plastic m16 and m9 magazines to simulate a combat load of ammunition. Hopefully this can be implemented or at least considered as a training option.