FULL HELMETS FOR TODAY'S WARRIOR
Carlton Meyer
When Soldiers complained that they needed a better helmet, the U.S. Army's answer was to spend billions of dollars to attached electronic gizmos. What Soldiers need is a helmet that fits over the head, not one that is strapped to the top of the head. Helmets must come down over the ears (with ear holes) to protect the sides of the head, like a football helmet.
The Army should study combat casualties so it can recognize how many serious injuries or deaths could have been prevented if helmets covered more the side of the head. A 4-inch wide kevlar strap on each side of the helmet should taper down to the chin to protect much of the face from shrapnel, debris, and rifle butts. If this makes the helmet too heavy, thin out the rear portion of the helmet.
These helmets should also fit better. The one-size fits all looks good in parades, but doesn't allow a snug fit. The Army has dozens of boot sizes and several uniforms sizes, so it has several different helmet sizes. With a snugger fit and/or retention system the helmet will not flop around when a Soldier runs or dives for cover.
Most Soldiers will think these new helmets look funny, but that what they said with the kevlar "Fritz" helmets replaced the steel pots. Soldiers may one day appreciate that they don't look funny the remainder of their life after a full helmet stops a chunk of shrapnel from ripping off their jaw. Soldiers with internal head injuries (ICP) are considered "dead" in triage and left alone to die. While the simple procedure called trepanning should be a skill forward medics and PAs should be able to do on the scene, the fact remains you simply cannot afford a head injury while a member of the U.S. military in battle. With all the American expertise in football and motorcycle helmet designs, a radical new helmet should cost very little to develop.
21st Century Weapons
E-mail May 1998