September 25, 2007: Some soldiers are using the 30
pound protective vest as a physical conditioning aid, both in the gym and
outside. Today's combat soldiers and marines are, like professional athletes,
very much into physical conditioning. A little extra speed and strength on the
battlefield can save your life. This is especially true now that the protective
vest, with all the attachments, weighs in at 30 pounds. Troops headed for the
combat zone, wear the vest during all their training. But other have found that
wearing the vest in the gym, or while running, helps as well. The more you move
about with the vest on, the more you develop the muscles, and lung capacity,
that support the weight.
After the first rotation of combat troops came back
from Iraq and Afghanistan, some noticed that they were in pretty good physical
shape. Those who were deep into physical conditioning quickly figured out that
the heavy protective vest was having the same impact as training weights, that
are worn to build up certain muscles. Even soldiers who don't particularly like
running or doing calisthenics with the vest on, realize that this will make
life easier for them when they get back to the combat zone.
