Infantry: Let Me Free to Be Speedy

I hated my body armor and so do most people. It might save some lives, but in close quarters, it would be great to ditch it and be able to run and fight.

Infantry: Let Me Free to Be Speedy: "Over the last two decades, the marines and infantry have become better trained and more capable. These troops are increasingly using the same exotic equipment, and techniques, as the elite SOCOM commandos. This is a development that has not made much of an impression on the politicians and media. This is largely because 'conventional wisdom' changes very slowly. The conventional wisdom still thinks of U.S. soldiers as unwilling conscripts, even though there's been an all-volunteer force for 35 years. The media is beginning accept that volunteer angle, but is slow in getting into all the ramifications. One of those is the need to respect the professional judgment of the troops. If that means appreciating why some operations should be undertaken without body armor, then let them do it. This change of attitude won't happen anytime soon. Jumping on generals because a bad decision led to casualties is too good a story to pass up, true or not."