The Army has ordered that $3 million in new, lighter combat gear be sent immediately to two battalions preparing for Afghanistan, officials disclosed Friday.
The decision lifts a hold that the Army had ordered last month on the experimental effort, when it stopped a shipment of the lighter equipment intended for troops already in the war zone.
The turnabout came after the New York Times reported on April 18 the decision to stop the shipment, and after Defense Secretary Robert Gates asked the Army to explain the delay.
Gates "asked his staff to get to the bottom of it," said Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary.
Army officials had said further reviews of the new equipment were needed.
On Friday, Army officials said that the pre-deployment tests had been completed, and that the service's leadership was satisfied that the new gear would protect soldiers while helping to relieve exhaustion and reduce injuries, and enable greater mobility.
Together, the new body armor, boots, rucksacks, weapons and slings for carrying extra bullets will shave at least 13 pounds from the load of the average soldier and almost 25 pounds for those who carry heavy machine guns. The average soldier's load is about 60 pounds on routine patrols, but it doubles when soldiers must be away from base for days in the unforgiving mountains, valleys and deserts of Afghanistan.
