Press Release - Weldon Praises Marine Corps Decision To Adopt Pad Suspension Helmet System

WELDON PRAISES MARINE CORPS DECISION TO ADOPT PAD SUSPENSION HELMET SYSTEM

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 - Following a long battle to better protect American troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, today praised the decision of the U.S. Marine Corps to provide upgraded helmet lining systems to all Marines.

"Yesterday's announcement symbolizes a major victory for our troops," said Weldon. "Our brave Marines serving in theater in Iraq and Afghanistan and throughout the globe, have made immeasurable sacrifices to protect America's freedom. We can do no less than provide them with the best available protection from blast-impact head injuries; an all-too-common result of the new type of terror our world is experiencing. I applaud the Marines for ensuring this upgrade, and I take comfort in the thought of the great number of lives it may save."

The Marine Corps announced yesterday that it had purchased 89,000 sets of combat helmet suspension pads to immediately be used in the field, and that all future deployments will be outfitted with the pad suspension system. The decision was based on the early results of Congressionally-directed testing by Weldon through the Department of Defense, which found that the pad system provided greater non-ballistic blunt impact protection.

According to an article in today's Marine Corps Times, the Corps offered guidance for Marines in the field on August 1st, giving them the option to use either type of helmet system. The sling suspension system - which had previously been used by the Corps - uses an adjustable leather strap and mesh barrier to keep the helmet from resting directly on a Marine's head. The new padded suspension systems - already in use by the Army - use shock-absorbing padding to provide greater blunt trauma protection in the event of a blunt-force impact.

In June, Chairman Weldon urged the Marine Corps to move swiftly in upgrading its helmet-lining systems during a Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee hearing. The move came after months of investigation by the Subcommittee, which made clear that an improved helmet liner existed and was increasingly demanded by Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the days following the hearing, Weldon struck an agreement with House appropriators to fund testing on Marine and Army helmet liners to determine their level of safety.

http://curtweldon.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=51377