Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Brian Baird received confirmation Wednesday that every member of the 81st Reserve Infantry Brigade, based at Ft. Lewis, Washington, will be fitted with advanced Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) upon their arrival in Iraq this spring.  The assurance was given to Rep. Baird by Major General James Collins, the Deputy Commanding Officer of Ft. Lewis, Washington.

A set of IBA consists of an outer tactical vest and a set of ceramic inserts.  The armor weighs a total of 16 pounds - 9 pounds less than any other type of U.S. body armor - and provides protection against fragmentation, and up to 9MM ball ammunition.

Rep. Baird contacted General Collins for this assurance after speaking with a number of local Guardsmen and their families, concerned that earlier IBA shortages would result in a lack of protective equipment for future deployments.

“I’ve been out to Walter Reed several times this winter and met with young men and women whose lives were saved by this armor,” said Rep. Baird.  “All of our soldiers deserve the best protection we can provide and I am encouraged by General Collins’ assurance that the 81st will be outfitted properly when they arrive in Iraq.”

A shortage of advanced body armor going into Operation Iraqi Freedom forced thousands of soldiers to wear Vietnam-era “flak jackets” while serving in combat-situations.  Other soldiers relied on family members to purchase the IBA vest or protective ceramic inserts and ship the gear to them in the field.  The Army has since moved aggressively to address these shortages, and now believes it has enough IBA for all U.S. troops in Iraq.  General Collins told Rep. Baird that, while the IBA will not be available to the soldiers during training, they will receive it immediately upon their arrival in the Iraq.

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