we were still using the old flaks and lbvs when i first joined, when i got to 1/8 -first battalion eighth marine regiment, we were issued the new interceptor vest, which has molle attachments physically on the vest itself, and also carries the sapi plates (small arms protective inserts) im pretty sure its currently what the army is fielding in iraq and afg. i find it appauling that you are a grunt (infantry) going to iraq, and you don't even train with flaks, it makes no difference that they dont stop bullets, they are heavy, you should know you will be loaded down a helluva lot with gear and shit, and what do they do to prepare you? This is my whole problem with the army, undertrained, and if you arent a grunt you barely get any combat training at all! WTF! look at what happened with that convoy that that piestawa was killed in, they didnt properly maintain their weapons, as a result they were in a hostile area and took casualties instead of inflicting them.
im not a recruiter, i dont give a shit what service you join, but for all those concidering the military, you WILL go to war, so who would you rather fight with over trained overly aggressive Marines, or anyone who doesnt recieve the same? All you army guys dont take offense to this, i have great respect for anyone who has or will serve in any of our fine armed services, but I spent the last few years as an instructor on the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, in 29 palms -- where US and foreign forces go to CAX (combined arms exercise), and believe me the old addage (sorry my spelling sucks today) "the more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war" is absolutely true.