Blumenthal Applauds Delivery of Lifesaving Protection to Troops in Afghanistan

Press Release

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) today praised the on-time delivery of more than 200,000 kits of life-saving body armor to troops fighting in Afghanistan. Following their Congressional delegation visit to Afghanistan, Senators Blumenthal, Bob Casey (D-PA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) wrote to the Deputy Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter requesting the urgent delivery of these kits that provide ballistic groin protection and save limbs that would otherwise be lost in improvised explosive device (IED) attacks.

"On behalf of our heroic war fighters abroad and their families at home, I would like to thank Deputy Secretary Carter and General Barbero for their personal attention to expediting delivery of these lifesaving materials to the field and achieving an on time delivery schedule," said Senator Blumenthal. "Our troops deserve the best protective equipment available in the fastest possible time, as they put their lives on the line. These roadside bombs kill and maim our brave war fighters - America's sons and daughters - inflicting the majority of all casualties. This protective gear will literally save lives, as well as alleviate the severity of wounds."

The on-time delivery of the program, made possible by the work of the Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO), enabled Army and Marine Corps units operating in Afghanistan to have additional protection against IEDs. JIEDDO was able to deliver the requirement -- from identifying the need, to funding the manufacture, and delivering the kits -- in under four months, despite the logistical challenges of delivering armor protection into the limited landing slots at Kandahar and Bagram Airfields in Afghanistan.

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