253rd Transportation Company Receives Protective Gear

Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of New Jersey, confirmed yesterday that each member of New Jersey’s 253d Transportation Company, mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, now has been issued Interceptor Body Armor (IBA). Interceptor Body Armor consists of an Outer Tactical Vest (OTV) and is supplemented with a set of Small Arms Protective Inserts (SAPI) that provide additional protection.

One set of IBA weighs 16 pounds and costs $1,585.00. The vest alone is designed to protect soldiers against fragmentation and up-to 9mm ammunition. SAPI inserts increase the level of protection to guard against 7.62 mm ammunition. Every member of the 253d was originally issued OTV but only 75% had received SAPI.

An overall shortage of equipment, attributed to manufacturing production delays, has been a source of concern to both political and military leaders at all levels. Initial production of IBA was 1,600 sets / month; production levels have since increased to 25,000/month in response to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. IBA requirements for all troops involved in Iraqi Freedom will be met by the end of this month.

A member of the 253d Transportation Company, recently home on R&R, brought the shortage of body armor to the attention of Brigadier General Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General- NJ, through Senator Leonard T. Connors, Jr. (R-9th Legislative District-NJ). General Rieth and Senator Connors addressed their concerns to Congressmen Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Congressional District- NJ) and H. James Saxton (R-3rd CD- NJ) resulting in the expedited issue of this equipment.