Infantry question...

[Stockton]

It's that damned E4 mafia always monkey dicking my day up...LOL. 1plug left ear if your right handed...vice versa for lefty. Peltors on dismount ops.

[ZombieKiller]

Cool....thanks for the responses...

[11Z50]

Part of my VA disability is hearing loss after 27 years as an 11-something. While ear plugs were always available, the situation often made their use impractical. As a leader I was constantly on a radio of some type, and ear plugs did not work if you can't have them in place.



As an Infantryman, hearing loss is part of the game. What did you just say???

[corrupt]

Training yes, otherwise not usually. On hard knock raids it's a good idea to wear electric muffs (with radios running through them), but otherwise it's annoying when just out on patrol.

[JJKESSEL]

Why not wear the earphones that cancel out the loud bangs but everything else get through?... and perhaps they could even have an audio input for the NCO or radio guy/gal? Just wondering. And if its money I call shanaghans, it cost almost $6 million to build a blackhawk. We could give every soldier a pair for that much.

Just thoughts....

[C.W.M.V.]

Why not wear the earphones that cancel out the loud bangs but everything else get through?... and perhaps they could even have an audio input for the NCO or radio guy/gal? Just wondering. And if its money I call shanaghans, it cost almost $6 million to build a blackhawk. We could give every soldier a pair for that much.

Just thoughts....

Well money is an issue. Its not like they could just get a bunch of the $60 dollar sets you see for sale on amazon and issue them out. The stuff they issue needs to be extreemly tough or it falls to pieces very quickly. $.50 foam earplugs work as well and they are simple, soldier proof.

As far as inter-squad radio coms they already tried that with land warrior-it was just too much. last version of land warrior I saw was squad leader and above.

For me it always boiled down to KISS. i used one foam earplug and it served me well. Always made sure my soldiers did at least the same in training and in the sandbox.

[The Director]

An interesting thought. I've always worn plugs since first shooting at age seven or so....never ever shot with an open ear.

When you wear only one plug I wonder if it matters which ear you wear it in....i.e. if you shoot right handed will one ear get louder blast than the other or is it equal noise?

[11Z50]

An interesting thought. I've always worn plugs since first shooting at age seven or so....never ever shot with an open ear.

When you wear only one plug I wonder if it matters which ear you wear it in....i.e. if you shoot right handed will one ear get louder blast than the other or is it equal noise?

I shoot right-handed (although I'm a lefty) and it's my left ear that is worse than the right. I'd try to use plugs when I could, but general it just wasn't practical.

The VA issued me hearing aids, and I wear them sometimes, but anytime I'm in an area with lots of background noise, I can't hear anything other than white noise.

[docsmileyface]

I started wearing mine on the last trip out, but I didn't routinely have to listen to the radio. I find hearing what's on the radio hard enough without earplugs in.

Nice thing about tanks, the VIC-III helmets have an external amplifier with shut-off over a certain level.

NTM

The BOSE headseats we had in our MRAPs worked as ear-pro, had those on like 99% of the time but then again we were mounted in our trucks about 99% of the time.

[ReconDoc242]

No hearing protection here

[ir0nclash86]

nope not once. You wont be able to hear what your squad leader is saying or buddies if you have earpro in when doing a dismount patrol. If you can't hear anybody at the range in garrison with ear plugs in what makes you think youll be able to hear them when deployed with those things in? Ive never worn noise canceling muffs but what if someone across the street opens up on you. sure youll see your buddies reaction but wouldnt you want to be able to hear that **** so you know exactly whats going on? wearing noise canceling muffs seems like it would deprive you a few seconds to respond and everyone knows a few seconds could be life or death. I just free ball my ears.

[Capt_Communist]

Huuuuuuhhhh Whhhhaaaaaat Can't hear you

[themailman]

Not a grunt, but always wore em in the right ear on convoys.

[striker3]

I never wore them when dismounted. Firefights are a small portion, if any of a dismounted patrol. I need to be able to hear normally more than I need to protect my hearing most of the time. The only time earpro was used was if we were conducting a raid, or something similar where contact was expected.

I tried to use QuietPro earpro/radio earpiece plugs with electronic noise cutoffs, but I could not get either size to stay in my ear for very long. The cords would invariably get caught up on the neck guard of my MTV and one or the other would pull out. The way that the jawbone mics worked, if both plugs were not in, you couldn't transmit, so I just gave up after about 3 patrols. Good concept, just sucked in application.

[socalblue]

The problem with ear muffs are:

1. Yet another battery operated device to keep fed
2. Very expensive for quality required (heavy duty + radio capable)
3. May cause fit issues with helmet

I say turn DARPA loose on the problem. 2 years & we will see something tiny that works with a long battery life & enhances hearting when not actually firing. May not be cheap but who cares?