According to a new website launched by the Technology and Logistics Division of the IDF, the army has issued unsafe ceramic plates to combat soldiers that “endangers” the lives of soldiers.
Soldiers and donors are able to submit different styles of gear to the website to see if the style is safe for use in combat. There are notably two categories within the IDF issued ceramic plates (or boards according to Google Translate on the site):
The site has many issues and does not provide an in depth look into safety and protocol. For example, if a soldier was shot in the chest while wearing a new ceramic plate, the plate is for the garbage and needs to be replaced. According to this website the plate would “pass” because it was manufactured within the last 15 years.
The first step in fixing a systemic problem is acknowledging that the problem exists - this is a good first step.
Just last week Unit 11741 replaced ceramic plates from 2006 and 2007 which were issued to sadir (regular service) soldiers. There’s a long way to go.
The IDF also admits that soldiers were killed or injured due to “non-standard equipment” being used:
The IDF has repeatedly claimed that the non-standard equipment emerged from donations - the truth is more complicated. As the IDF is now admitting, the army itself has provided tens of thousands of soldiers with unsafe gear (if they provided gear at all) that they themselves are now classifying as “life-threatening” and therefore unnecessarily risked the lives of front-line warriors. Some soldiers fell in this unsafe equipment.
Awareness is not enough. This issue needs to be fixed. Now.
Help us fix this problem via Unit11741.com