United States Test Laboratory in Wichita, Kansas, last week (August 20) tested nine separate, serialized Dragon Skin SOV-2000 (Level III) ballistic body armor panels that varied in age from 5 years-9 & 1/2 months to 6 years-8 months. The purpose of this test was to validate Pinnacle Armor's six-year warranty for Dragon Skin products.

All Dragon Skin items met the NIJ-specified criteria for Level III ballistic protection, and did so by significant margins. Test results confirmed Pinnacle Armor's six-year warranty for full ballistic protection over the period of the warranty.

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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has now joined the Army acquisition mafia in attempting to deny America's Grunts an honest chance for determining just what is the "best-available" body armor. In a flagrant abuse of discretionary authority, the DOJ's Office of Justice Programs has intervened in an unprecedented way to promote and support the obstructionism of the Army's acquisition mafia -- the common objective being to prevent Pinnacle Armor's Dragon Skin body armor from receiving a full and fair technical assessment.

Through its subordinate office, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), OJP has demonstrated an appalling willingness to sacrifice its heretofore vaunted reputation for scientific objectivity for some hidden bureaucratic agenda that places the lives of domestic law enforcement officials in severe jeopardy.

Just as the Army acquisition mafia has proven its willingness, even eagerness, to protect its current Interceptor body armor program at the expense of lives and limbs of our great frontline troops, so has OJP/NIJ now proven that it is willing to do the same -- sacrifice frontline law enforcement to protect favored programs and the hundreds of millions of dollars funding them.

The Military Industrial Complex has succeeded in obtaining DOJ/OJP/NIJ collusion in an effort than can only cost more lives and limbs. While favored contractors and their congressional enablers have ever reason to smile at the Army's successful recruitment of a new Executive Branch co-conspirator, this blatant and heavy-handed intrusion by OJP/NIJ may well prove a Pyrrhic victory.

Key details are enclosed. This is a complex matter at best, and the new terms and acronyms will certainly be confusing. That's the way large government programs are, even honest ones. For those programs corrupted by the special interests seeking to loot the public treasury, this complexity is one of their favorite and time-honored factors in forestalling scrutiny by the Congress, the media, and an informed, aroused citizenry.

This is the way the MIC and its allies like it. If the average American civilian can't understand the jungle of strange terms, unique procedures and clever spin from the government flacks, those on the banks of the Potomac who profit from hidden corruption have little to fear from being held to account.

SFTT urges every reader to persevere and read the entire sordid story portrayed below, including the links to other items. Literally, the lives of our frontline troops, and now, of our frontline law enforcement officials depend on your understanding the game that is afoot. Let your elected representatives know how important you think it is that our defenders -- abroad and at home -- have the "best-available" body armor, not the inferior versions favored on "K" Street in Washington.

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DefenseWatch has obtained results of an yet another independent technical assessment that directly refutes specious claims made at the June 6 hearing before the House Armed Services Committee that Dragon Skin failed to meet Army specifications for personal body armor at "high temperatures."

This is great news for America's Grunts, and some bad news for the Army's acquisition mafia -- Pinnacle Armor's Dragon Skin passed a recent "High Temperature" test at the Aberdeen Test Center that followed precisely the ESAPI First Article Test (FAT) protocol for extreme high temperature.

Before getting into specifics, here's the final result:

Two Dragon Skin Level IV panels (slightly larger than the standard ESAPI plate) took four & five ESAPI-FAT specification shots respectively, after high temperature exposure/conditioning, and defeated every shot.

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Editor's Note: Jim Magee, Colonel, USMC (Ret.), was one of the two witnesses prepared to present favorable testimony for Pinnacle Armor's Dragon Skin® to the House Armed Services Committee hearing on the 6th of last month, but he was unable to be present due to the short notice he was given. Gen. Wayne Downing, US Army (Ret.) was the second such potential witness similarly treated. (Sadly, Gen. Downing passed away unexpectedly just a few days ago. May the soul of this great American patriot-soldier Rest In Peace. He was the most uniformly respected four-star flag officer that I can recall from my 44 years of "paying attention," and while I don't recall discussing him with Hack, I have to think Gen. Wayne Downing is as close to the antithesis of Hack's detested Perfumed Prince as we're likely to see for a long time.) The hoopla that surrounded this HASC hearing vainly tried to conceal the ugly truth -- the hearing was nothing more than the latest Washington version of a star chamber, and was clearly a desperate attempt to try and refute the devastating results of NBC News's side-by-side ballistic tests in Germany of Level IV variations of Pinnacle Armor's Dragon Skin® on the one hand, and the other hand, the Army's Interceptor™ Body Armor (IBA). (Editor's Note: The Marine Corps' repackaged version of IBA, the Modular Tactical Vest (MTV), relies upon the same rigid plates for protection as does IBA -- it's the same window, with different colored curtains, regardless of the spin from MARCORSYSCOM at Quantico). Col. Magee and Gen. Downing had been observers and technical advisors at the shoot-off in Germany. (The test was conducted at "ambient temperature," a temperature often encountered by America's Grunts.) DefenseWatch has obtained a copy of Col. Magee's prepared statement as submitted to the HASC, but, not distributed by same. This copy is presented below, and of all the blatant attempts that have been exposed to date of the Army's acquisition mafia and their enablers in the US Congress, to slant, distort, and misrepresent the facts regarding Dragon Skin's® superior performance in the "shoot-off" in Germany, this suppression of Col. Magees' prepared statement takes first prize -- so far. Please read carefully Col. Magee's prepared statement, then read his curriculum vitae to judge for yourself his credentials and his expertise, and ask yourself why the HASC -- or is it just a few key "professional" staffers -- would be a party to the Army acquisition mafia's clumsy attempts to bury the truth about the demonstrated superiority of Dragon Skin® at the shoot off in Germany. And get ready for some astounding news about an independent, honest "High temp" test of Dragon Skin® by the Aberdeen Test Center that will further weaken, if not destroy, the fabrications and lies presented about the "High temp" part of the May 2006 test of Dragon Skin® under the supervision of PEO-SOLDIER. Semper fidelis, Rog Charles

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NBC Dateline Video: Side-by-side test: Interceptor vs. Dragon Skin
NBC Dateline Video: Is there better body armor for the troops?
NBC Nightly News Video: The Body Armor Controversy
NBC News Video: Fathers Outraged by Military Body Armor
NBC News Video: Army Defends Its Body Armor
NBC Article: Are U.S. Soldiers Wearing the Best Body Armor?

Washington, DC – In light of recent media reports suggesting that a particular body armor system may offer better protection than the system currently being used by our servicemembers, Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) — both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee — today called on Comptroller General of the United States David M. Walker to initiate a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation to reassess the body armor systems currently being issued by all the military services and the Special Operations Command for effectiveness and reliability against the threats facing U.S. troops in combat. Full Story

Text:

DoD: Discontinue Use of Unauthorized Body Armor, Dragon Skin (.pdf)
The DoD order banning the use of Dragon Skin body armor by U.S. Soldiers

Video:

Dragon Skin Demonstration:

Download the high quality version of this video (11MB MPG).

Mail Call - Dragon Skin Body Armor (youtube.com)
Video of a History Channel show which featured a segment on Dragon Skin.

Future Weapons: Dragon Skin (youtube.com)
Video of a Discovery Channel show which featured a segment on Dragon Skin.

Dragon Skin SOV-2000™ Shoot Test #1 (youtube.com)

Dragon Skin SOV-2000™ Shoot Test #2 (youtube.com)

Those readers of DefenseWatch who have followed SFTT's efforts over the past year and a half to get honest and completely transparent comparative testing of all available both armor, including, but not necessarily restricted to both Dragon Skin and the currently issued Interceptor Body Armor system, know that from time to time there's been a tad -- okay, maybe more than a tad -- of anger in my writings on this subject. After all, it's truly an issue of life-or-death importance to America's Grunts. This column is however, written much more in sadness and sorrow than in anger. Full Story

I recently watched a superb testimonial to the medical treatment afforded our wounded and injured warriors. It was an HBO DVD, "Baghdad ER." The last casualty treated was a strapping Marine with a "chest wound." Unfortunately, in spite of every effort to save his life, this gallant young American died shortly after the initial surgery. As I watched the DVD, I knew many of our great fighters could have survived, or not even been injured if they had been wearing the 'best-available' body armor, instead of the inferior government-issued Interceptor with its rigid (read that "brittle") plates and severely limited protection. And then the obvious hit me -- you folks in the initial treatment centers know exactly who was shot through a SAPI plate, or even an ESAPI plate. So -- to anyone out there, who has first-hand, eye-witness information on casualties shot through their Interceptor plates, please contact me at sfttpres@aol.com. This includes cases where the plates may have stopped the first round, but failed to stop subsequent shots. (If you know of SAPI or ESAPI plates stopping multiple rounds, we'd like to hear from you, too.) All respondents will be granted full confidentiality, but must be willing to provide enough identifying information to establish bona fides. Anonymous responses will be ignored. Please, those of you with this information, think about the consequences of your continued silence. More young Americans will bleed and die while wearing inferior body armor until we gather a mountain of incontrovertible evidence that proves this inferiority, and proves it to the satisfaction of the US Congress and our fellow citizens. There are hundreds of witnesses who can provide this life-saving information. Will just a few of you help? s/f,

Roger Charles

As you read this Update, please keep in mind SFTT's Final Objective: the "best-available" body armor for all of America's Frontline Troops. DefenseWatch readers are all too painfully aware that the Pentagon currently issues demonstrably inferior body armor when superior body armor is available, and that based on extensive research, SFTT believes "Dragon Skin" (manufactured by Pinnacle Armor of Fresno, California) is the "best-available." It is important to emphasize that SFTT wants all feasible body armor alternatives fully & fairly tested. (If there is a "better" body armor than Dragon Skin out there, we want to hear about it, and hear about it quickly because lives of America's Grunts are at stake.) DefenseWatch has confirmed that the oft-rumored GAO investigation into the scandalous body armor situation is indeed underway. While the overall GAO inquiry is looking at the broad area of "force protection," specific interest is on issues relevant to both the body armor which has been actually issued to our frontline troops, and that which could have/should have been issued.

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01-08-2007 - Roger Charles
President of Pinnacle Armor Responds to Four Questions about NIJ Certification, & Related Issues
President's Note: Over the holidays I thought that DefenseWatch should provide some additional information on Pinnacle Armor's Dragon Skin body armor and the recent certification by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) that the Level III version of Dragon Skin had passed their test. Given complicated schedules on both ends, I decided the best approach was to submit four written questions to Murray Neal, the President of Pinnacle Armor, and give him the chance to respond via email. What fallows is both background information and technical data that will allow you, the reader, to better place into context what has prevented Dragon Skin from gaining such certification sooner, the major technical issues, and what the immediate future should bring. Let me take this chance to ask each and every reader to remember those stout-hearted troops who have placed their lives and their futures in harms way in defense of our great nation. They deserve the best-available body armor, and, God willing, are now closer to getting it. s/f, Rog Charles

1. Can you explain why it's taken so long to finally get National Institute of Justice certification for your Level III Dragon Skin?

2. How is this September testing different from other NIJ testing? 3. I'm sure you have a plan to test your Level IV system. Can you describe it? 4. Obviously, you see this NIJ certification refuting some of the allegations that the Army has made. Which ones, and how?

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National Institute Of Justice (NIJ) Letter Of Certification For Dragon Skin At Level III Protection President's Note: Pinnacle Armor has received the official letter from National Institute of Justice (NIJ) that they've passed the Level III tests, and that Dragon Skin SOV-2000 is now certified for Level III protection.

View NIJ Letter Of Certification For Dragon Skin [PDF]

Editor's Note: Reporter Adam Sexton of NBC affiliate KCEE24 in Fresno, California, has just completed a two-part series titled, "Dragon Skin," that is must viewing for those interested in the continuing issue of "best-available" body armor. This is groundbreaking television journalism at its best. Take a look, and draw your own conclusions. s/f, Rog Charles

PART 1: Nov. 14, 2006 KCEE24 (Fresno, CA) | PART 2: Nov. 16, 2006 KCEE24 (Fresno, CA)

 FLASH - DefenseWatch Bulletin

Ever wonder why our troops cannot get the best-available body armor, and who is responsible for this disgraceful situation? DefenseWatch has identified one more "contributor" to this sad state of affairs -- Colonel D'Arcy E. Grisier, II, USMC (Ret.). Grisier serves as Military Legislative Assistant for the Chairmen of the Senate Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support for Senator John Ensign of Nevada. Guess which subcommittee of the Senate Armed Serviced Committee has jurisdiction (or, could claim such, if interested) for the body-armor issue? Yep... good ol' Senator Ensign's Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support. So, who is the key staffer upon which Senator Ensign relies for objective, professional recommendations on issues like "best-available" body armor? Well, if you divined that Colonel D'Arcy E. Grisier, II, USMC (Ret.) has that role, you would be right.

Now it can be told that the earlier article on the August briefings to various staffers on the Hill by "designated liars" from the Army's acquisition mafia did include information from a report put together by Colonel D'Arcy E. Grisier, II, USMC (Ret.). Full Story

Gutsy NCO Asks The Hard Question In Letter To Editor Of Stars & Stripes (Pacific): Why Are America's Grunts Being Sent To Fight & Die While Wearing "Flattened Soda Cans" Body Armor?Editor's Note: The 2 Nov 06 issue of Stars & Stripes (Pacific) had two letters to the editor dealing with the issue of "best-available" body armor. First, a very gutsy SSGT David Anderson (no service listed, but assigned to an air base in Iraq), questioned why US troops are not being issued Pinnacle Armor's superior Dragon Skin. (In the case of the Army and too many Marine units, our combat troops are forbidden to use even privately purchased Dragon Skin!) There follows a reply (of sorts) from Army MajGen Jeffrey Sorenson who ignores entirely SSGT Anderson's questions about why the superior Dragon Skin is not issued, or permitted. Hack would have loved to watch this NCO stick it to the Perfumed Princes, and have been enraged (but not surprised) at the pathetic and disgraceful attempt of PP Sorenson to deflect attention from where it belongs -- America's Grunts deserve the best-available body armor. Why are they being issued a demonstrably inferior product?

It is the responsibility of your publication to tell the real story: Why are troops being issued inferior body armor and then being placed in harm’s way with it when superior body armor has existed for years? Full Story

Letter From Proud Marine Father To Congressional Rep's RE: Dragon SkinEditor's Note: We frequently get questions from readers, "What can I do to help get our kids the best-available [fill in the blank]." Well, here's what one reader, and proud father of a US Marine, did on his own initiative. Below is an excerpt of his letter. The complete letter is posted inside. I think it's worth sharing. s/f, RogAn article “11 U.S. Troops Die Inside Iraq” in the October 19 newspaper prompts me to write you. The article goes on “So far, 70 American troops have been killed in Iraq this month. If the death toll continues at this rate, the monthly tally would be the highest since November 2004.” Many have died due to IED’s and small arms fire. Recent tests have indicated there is a superior body armor (Dragon Skin from Pinnacle Armor) available which not only is effective against small arms fire, but also shrapnel from IED’s. (Note: Dragon Skin is used by President Bush’s Secret Service detail.) It is important that our troops get the best commercially available body armor!

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