Body armor is changing for the better, thanks to new performance standards set by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). The NIJ is the research, development and evaluation agency of the U.S. Department of Justice and is dedicated to researching crime-control and justice issues. The new NIJ Standard-0101.06, as it’s officially called, specifies revised minimum-performance requirements that body armor must meet to satisfy the needs of criminal-justice agencies. It also establishes the methods... Read More »

Let’s talk about body armor fit and coverage. As we all know, body armor panels and carriers come in many different shapes, sizes, and comfort levels. Today, I want to specifically talk about a few key things you should consider when selecting a vest and getting properly sized. Your department or agency has probably dictated what ballistic threat level you need to wear on duty and may have even told which manufacturer’s model you will be wearing... Read More »

So, your department needs new body armor but budgets are a bit tight? The U.S. DOJ’s Bulletproof Vest Program (BVP) may be the perfect solution! On May 13, 2009, the FY 2009 BVP program began accepting applications. The program is a DOJ initiative designed to provide a critical funding resource for state and local law enforcement to purchase body armor and related equipment... Read More »