What Plate Carriers Do Special Forces and Police Use?

Law enforcement wear plate carriers every day in order to protect them from the unknown. However, they are not the only professionals required to wear one. Those individuals in the Army Special Forces have to wear ballistic vests as well. There are plate carriers and ballistic plates to protect soldiers for every operation they may carry out.

Combat and High-Stress

Military police as well as other special forces in the Army like Green Berets, and other specialized units often encounter high-stress situations that require combat. Ballistic vests are integral to maintaining safety in these situations. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has developed five levels of ballistic protection. Levels range from  IIA, II, IIA, III, and IV, with IIA being the lowest end of protection and IV being the highest. These levels developed by the NIJ are based on what caliber of weapon the ballistic plate can protect against. Level IIA will protect against smaller caliber bullets, while Level IV can hold up against higher caliber ammunition such as rifle rounds. 

For those soldiers who are part of a special forces unit, ballistic vests are necessary. Some of these particular carriers include shoulder protection and even pelvic ballistic protection. Army personnel and law enforcement officers encounter potentially high-stress situations and need to be prepared for whatever may come their way. Choosing a carrier that offers maximum support on all sides is the best option when it comes to selecting a plate and carrier. Some companies offer kits that come with everything you need including carriers and plates. 

In addition to plates and carriers, special forces are often equipped with ballistic helmets. Law enforcement teams such as SWAT and designated task forces often wear these types of helmets too. A ballistic helmet used in special forces usually offers Level IV protection. The majority of these helmets come with excellent coverage and areas to attach additional accessories such as lights on them. Some of these helmets also include kevlar.

Another item of equipment that offers additional ballistic protection is a shield. Specialized types of units in law enforcement, such as task forces often use ballistic shields when they are conducting an operation. Shields add another barrier of protection between officers and the threat.

Plates and Carriers

Hard body armor provides the most protection.  The LAPG Level IV 10” x 12” Ceramic Multi-Curve Ballistic Armor Rifle Plate is sturdy NIJ Level IV tested weighs a little over six pounds and is one inch thick. This plate has a five-year shelf life and holds up well against a variety of ammo. I had the privilege of trying it out on the range and used a variety of high-caliber weapons on the plate, and it held up well. By the time I was done, the top of the plate had been perforated from one of the shots, but the bullet never went through the plate.

For a side plate option, there is the LAPG Level IV 6”x 8” Ceramic Ballistic Armor Rifle side plate. This NIJ Level IV tested plate weighs only a little over two pounds, has a five-year shelf life, and is a great deal for a protective plate. Smaller rounds of course barely penetrated the surface. The plate held up well.

The Shellback Tactical Rampage 2.0 Plate Carrier is a solid option for extreme situations and is made for hard armor plates. Carriers such as this have side plate panels as well as front and back plates. This is just one of many carrier options when it comes to Level IV ballistic equipment.

Condor is another company that makes high-quality protective and ballistic gear for special forces in the military and police. This company makes a variety of ballistic equipment for all NIJ levels of protection.

Most plate carriers also come designed with added features such as an emergency drag handle, and adjustable shoulder straps. The emergency drag handle is crucial because you never know when you may have to pull one of your co-workers to safety. The adjustable shoulders straps are integral to the carrier because they help the carrier fit the person wearing it. The better a carrier fits, the more protection it offers to the individual wearing it. Though made to last, it is important to remember to ensure your carrier is not too worn out. If areas begin to feel loose or if any velcro is not working as securely as it used to, it is best to replace your carrier. Body armor plates expire and it is important to remember to keep on track with the expiration dates so that you are always protected and never have to worry about your body armor not holding up. It is advised to replace ballistic plates a little before their actual expiration date to ensure protection. 

Where to Find Them

Of course, Army and law enforcement personnel will be given their body armor the majority of the time. However, if you need to find your own, you can find just about all levels of plates as well as all types of plate carriers at LA Police Gear. Whether you need soft armor or hard body armor, a concealable carrier, or an outer vest made for combat, there is a wide variety available at tactical gear stores. For the Army, specialized gear will be necessary for their specific duties. Special forces operations require equipment that will last and hold up for combat.

To learn more about NIJ levels and how they are determined you can look at the National Institute of Justice website under the section body armor performance standards and compliance testing.