How Satisfied are Soldiers with their Ballistic Helmets? A Comparison of Soldiers' Opinions about the Advanced Combat Helmet and the Personal Armor System for Ground Troops

Abstract

Many factors are considered during ballistic helmet design, including comfort, weight, fit, and maintainability. These factors affect Soldiers' decisions about helmet use; therefore, rigorous research about Soldiers' real-life experiences with helmets is critical to assessing a helmet's overall protective efficacy. This study compared Soldiers' satisfaction and problem experience wit the advanced combat helmet (ACH) and the personal armor system for ground troops (PASGT) helmet. Data were obtained from surveys of Soldiers at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Ninety percent of ACH users were satisfied with their helmet, but only 9.5% of PASGT users were satisfied (p < 0.001). The most frequently reported problems for the ACH involved malfunctioning helmet parts. The most frequently reported problems for the PASGT involved discomfort. This analysis indicated that there was strong Soldier preference for the ACH over the PASGT, which could enhance its already superior protective qualities. It also demonstrated the usefulness of Soldiers' assessments of protective equipment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 14, 2008
Accession Number
ADA485628

Entities

People

  • B. Joseph McEntire
  • Brian J. Ivins
  • Christopher C. Trumble
  • Deborah L. Warden
  • Fred H. Brown
  • John S. Crowley
  • Karen Schwab

Organizations

  • United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab

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  • Human Systems

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  • Abstracts
  • Department Of Defense
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  • Instructions
  • Military Medicine
  • National Governments
  • North Carolina
  • Protective Equipment
  • Technical Information Centers

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  • Materials Science
  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
  • Organizational Psychology.