On the battlefield the wound map is changing, especially due to the fact that protective eyewear has been required for several years now, thus reducing the damage to soldiers’ eyes. However, injury data shows that the lower face and jaw area is now being targeted, not only on the battlefield, but increasingly in riot and emergency situations. By providing a protective system of integrated components that can be attached to the standard-issue Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) helmet, blunt force, blast and ballistic threats to the head and face, and subsequent serious injuries, can be reduced.
By making optically correct, ballistic visors and ballistic mandible guards available for Army and Air requirements within the federal deployed and domestic response missions of the National Guard, potential trauma resulting from a number of threatening situations can be reduced. Head and face protection will be increased for soldiers and airmen operating in roles such as: Homeland Response Forces, Civil Support Teams, Air Force Security, Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive – Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), as well as, Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), Joint Terminal Air Controllers (JTAC) and Pararescue specialists. A well designed component system that enables the wearer to “up armor” his or her basic Advanced Combat Helmet allows for an ideal balance between enhanced head protection and mission requirements.
Ideally the system consists of three parts: a multi-purpose front mount capable of securely holding night vision devices, a three-position visor and a mandible guard – all of which are easily donned and doffed as the situation requires. The facial protection system must also be robust, lightweight, and feature a three-point helmet attachment assembly that offers greater stability than current NVG mounts. The visor, while offering an unrestricted field of view, must be optically correct (i.e. no distortion of vision) and able to be worn in one of three positions from the maximum coverage to the maximum breathability: locked, vented or up. The ballistic lower-face protection should be rugged but lightweight and easily removed from the helmet without tools. Ideal uses for this type of integrated head and facial protection are against ballistic fragment threats such as from IED blasts, open vehicle gunner protection, shooters’ kits as well as riot control situations. Alternatively an open wire mandible guard configuration that offers blunt force protection and increased awareness in non-combat situations should also be available to attach to ACH helmets.