Don't our American soldiers get too hot with all of their gear and the heat in Iraq?

Question

Each soldier wears an undershirt, long-sleeved camouflage shirt and long pants, thick socks and then heavy combat boots, then on top of that they wear heavy body armor, some are now wearing armor over their upper arms and groin too, then they have the kevlar helmet, then they have their rifles or machine guns (some of which can be really heavy), then they have to carry all their own ammo (which is also heavy), their sidearms, and all their gear on their bodies and in their heavy packs. And then they have to spend long days on their feet in 120+ degree heat and be able to maintain focus and fight the enemy.

Isn't there a serious danger of just passing out from the heat, and even if they don't, can't their combat performance be diminished and their exhaustion increased from all this heavy gear in such heat? Is it possible that being lightly equipped (like the insurgents in Iraq are) might be an advantage?

Thank you, answers from military personnel are greatly appreciated.

I'm just curious. No need to be like: "I see you haven't tried it yourself". That's right, I have no intention of joining the Army, but that doesn't mean you have to act superior.

Also, how do you cope?


And do Humvees, tanks, and other armored vehicles or trucks have air conditioning?

And doesn't all that weight make you move slower, therefore making you into an easier target?

Answer 1

All of the trucks, humvees, etc...have air conditioning now. A vehicle is considered deadlined in our unit if the AC is down. While that might sound great, remember that you hae a big hatch in the top where the gunner sits. So while it may be 110 outside it is maybe ten degrees cooler on the inside. In addition the heat from the engine and especially the transmission can give a person 1st degree burns. Soldiers have to wear gloves to touch metal during the hottest part of the day. It makes sense to put as much armor on a soldier as possible when they are just riding around in a vehicle and not getting out. However, when a soldier has to get out, wrestle with a detainee, run up and down stairs or patrol down a street, the amount of armor is not only hot but very bulky. Movement is limited. The bulk also makes getting in and out of vehicles very difficult. My gear, ammo, weapon, vest etc...weighs over 70 lbs. I weigh 160 and dropping by the day. One of the great things about the military is things I would have thought impossible when I was a civilian I see done everyday. A human is capable of much more than most people think. Being lightly equipped is not an advantage. The more ammo, grenades, radios, etc.. ican carry the better. The insurgents are lightly equipped and lightly armored. While a certain amount of armor makes sense, what today's "light" infantrymen are wearing is overboard. Once technology has decreased the bulk and weight of our armor I will be all for wearing all we can. But right now as an infantryman I say we have too much. Take off the crotchplate, the deltoid protectors, and let me roll. Don't let anyone give you a hard time jsut because you aren't serving. It's not for everyone. The fact that you are thinking about soldiers and the challenges they face is more than most people actually do. So thank you.

Answer 2

Hot American Soldiers

Answer 3

Being lightly equipped does have an advantage, However it has become primarily urban warfare. So the soldiers are wearing the body armor to protect themselves from unseen threats. Yes it's hot yes Heat stroke and Heat exhaustion happen. And It sucks. But the only way to keep it from happening is water, water ,water. Also I'd personally rather be sweaty, smelly, and hot, then dead.

To how do you cope: You would honestly be amazed at what the human body can live through. And learn to endure.
As to AC units ....no. Not any I've been in. We used some scrap metal to give the d@mn thing a cup holder.

Answer 4

Mm-hmm.

I have a friend in the Canadian Armed forces who is currently fighting in the Afghanistan Campaign.

During the summer months (just passed), you need to wear gloves all the time; touching the metal equipment will give you a first degree burn if you don't.

Answer 5

My husband is deployed right now to Kuwait where the temperatures are hardly ever below 100 degrees in the summer. Like everyone else has said, hydration is very important. They provide them with endless amounts of water and gatorade. They get used to it after a while. They are so strong.

Answer 6

Of course it is hot and dangerous. . Haven't tried it yourself, I see. Its called devotion to duty.
When I was in we wore Boonie hats and Tshirts...and a small day pack, Can carry a lot more ammo and move a lot easier. Of course, on the down side, no protection ( Armor)

Answer 7

Oh my yes it's hot! As a former company 1st sgt (the highest ranking enlisted person in a company for you civilian type) my #1 concern was the welfare of my young men. checking to see if they had water was paramount , making sure they where drinking it was the duty of my NCOs ( non commissioned officers) if I had a soldier fall out due to a heat related issue , and I found out it was because they where not drinking enough water that soldiers NCOs butt belonged to me . it was nothing for a soldier to drink more then a gallon of water in 24 hours if not more , because your sweating it out so fast and not even realizing it , plenty of times I would stop my men and make them drink a canteen of water . Refill it and do it again.

Answer 8

They just stay hydrated, suck it up, and do their jobs. You need to relise that our soldiers are the best our nation has to offer, not just wimpy kids. Also, when people are shooting at you, and your friends dieing left and right, you tend to treat things such as heat and heavy gear as a lesser threat.

Answer 9

Yes, even in cold weather, with all of that gear on you sweat and become dehydrated. I have been stationed in three different deserts (on a tank in an Armor unit), and we find ways to cope.

Answer 10

Oh believe me they are very, very hot underneath all of that stuff. That is why they train to go into countries like Iraq before they are deployed. They also must stay hydrated. Drinking alot of water is a must for every soldier.