Dave wrote:
I don't claim to be an expert in this area, but if you're talking about the
kind of protective gear I've seen in pictures, I suspect there may be
serious doubts about its effectiveness in a hot desert environment with
people needing mobility, as compared to a method that doesn't require
donning a lot of gear. Ever been in a hardhat suit and compared it to SCUBA
or Jack Brown? Each has its place, but you don't choose hardhat if you have
to move a lot.

Better than that, I've used firefighting OBA gear. Sure it's a heavy,
hot, cumbersome PITA but try doing the job without it. And it doesn't
give you cancer.

Now, if somebody were to say to me, "Here, buy these pills and give them
to your firefighting (or HAZMAT) team and they will not need all that
awful gear, plus they'll be ready on instant notice," then what would I
say? Probably, "Can you sell me some beans to grow a giant beanstalk, too?"

But then I am responsible & intelligent, and believe in accountability
for my actions & decisions.

Basically, the Army bought a fairy tale and the men who put their lives
on the line for our country are paying for it. And you want to shrug it
off. WTF, it's only a bunch of poor dumb ex-enlisted men, right?

DSK