Combat Body Armor Saves Lives…but Leads to Long-Term Injuries

[The Straight Story]

Combat Body Armor Saves Lives…but Leads to Long-Term Injuries

Medical studies performed by the U.S. Army and Marines Corps have found troops are carrying excessive amounts of weight on their bodies, due to body armor and other equipment, resulting in increasing numbers of neck, spine and other serious injuries.

Soldiers are supposed to be carrying no more than 50 pounds on their bodies, according to a 2001 assessment by the Army. But a recent three-month examination conducted in Afghanistan revealed that troops on foot patrols were humping loads ranging from 87-127 pounds.

Similarly, a 2007 study by the U.S. Navy found Marines typically had loads weighing 97-135 pounds.

The extra weight has produced “an avalanche of musculoskeletal injuries” among America’s fighting force. A study by Johns Hopkins University discovered that nearly one-third of all medical evacuations from Iraq and Afghanistan from 2004 through 2007 were caused by musculoskeletal, connective-tissue or spinal injuries. These injured soldiers outnumbered combat wounded 2-to-1.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Combat_Body_Armor_Saves_Lives__but_Leads_to_Long_Term_Injuries_110224

[Cid_B]

1. Saw this one coming...

[w8liftinglady]

2. they don't have any problem re-deploying you after one of these injuries. ask my kid

3 deployments, stop-lossed twice, hurt his second deployment with a knee injury requiring total
knee repair...guess why?
You would think that would have been his ticket home.

not until another tour...after he cooked six months in langstuhl pre-op.

[indepat]

3. We can all take great comfort in the fact our government will assure that these returning warriors

get life-time disability compensation and continuing government-paid medical care for their combat-related injuries sustained while implementing America's vision of global hegemony. :patriot: