Camp Pendleton Marines in Afghanistan to get protective underwear

Marines serving in Afghanistan from Camp Pendleton and other bases will soon receive specially designed underwear to provide protection against the improvised explosive devices that are the Taliban's favorite weapon.

The new underwear, which look like the shorts worn by professional cyclists, will not stop bullets or shrapnel but are designed to prevent dirt and other debris from entering wounds to the genitals and causing infection. Made of sturdy silk, the so-called "ballistic boxers" are treated with antimicrobial agents to prevent such infections.

U.S. troops have suffered an increase in wounds to the genitals and urinary tract due to roadside bombs.

Though troops wear helmets, heavy boots, and protective vests with front-flaps over the genitals, there is little to stop the damage inflicted when a bomb explodes beneath a soldier or Marine on a walking patrol.

"It's almost as if they [the Taliban] have developed these bombs to inflict the maximum damage," said Navy Cmdr. James L'Esperance, a urologist who has treated wounded Marines and soldiers.

A study conducted by doctors at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, the U.S. military hospital where serious casualties are brought from Iraq and Afghanistan, found a significant increase in injuries to the genitals and urinary tract.

In 2009, 52 personnel were brought to the hospital with battlefield injuries to their genitals or urinary tract. In 2010, that figure was 142, including 21 who lost a testicle and eight who lost both testicles.

The Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Regiment, suffered 24 dead and more than 175 wounded during a recently completed seven-month deployment to the Sangin district of Helmand province. The battalion was replaced by the 1st Battalion, 5th Regiment, also from Camp Pendleton.

Marine brass expect the Taliban to mount a counteroffensive in Sangin in an attempt to win back control of "key terrain." Part of that operation is expected to be increased use of roadside bombs.

In a recent six-week stretch, nearly half the attacks with improvised explosive device against U.S. troops in Afghanistan occured in Helmand province where the Marines are assigned.

While the concept of specially designed protective underwear is new to U.S. troops, the British military has worn similar gear for several years.

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Photo: Protective underwear worn by British troops. Credit: British Defense Ministry  

Comments

[C T Sherwin]

Not needed...Marines have "iron testicles" or they could not be Marines...just kidding; this should have been done years ago. What should be standard is a "cup" made of carbon fiber with the underwear as a overgarmet and another layer under the utility uniform. It is possible to do. It would give confidence to these young people; most would rather be dead than without their "gear"; we used to sleep with our helmets over the area as well as the Flak Jacket layed on top of that. Probably futile, but something is better than nothing.

[angela michaels]

Great idea. We saw many terribly wounded soldiers with urinary tract infections in our ER. It will save and improve lives of soldiers all over the world.

[DMAC]

So long as they're comfortable I think it's a great idea. What about long johns? Might as well cover the rest of the body.

[Brandon]

I am going to be a military nerd here and say that the photo that accompanies this article is misleading. Those are not Marines. Those are British soldiers because they are holding British SA80 rifles. Marines would never use those. Sorry, just had to point that out. I also wanted to point out how f-ing crazy it is to me that you can serve our country, get killed or maimed and yet not be able to buy yourself a beer when you get home from a tour. I would think anyone old enough to get their balls blown off in these craphole countries would also be able to have a beer. No one wants us there. Lets get the f out. Leave them to destroy themselves. Only keep Predator drones overhead to take out targets from the air. The ground war is never going to be successful with these religious fanatics. Oh, and thanks Obama for getting us into the Libya mess. Hopefully no pilots of ours get their balls blown off flying over yet another sh*th*le. Leave these people to their own revolution. It's none of our business.

[Fr0ntSight]

New boxers is the least that could be done for our Marines....its a step in the right direction though :)

[Borchy]

Just another GROSS waste of taxpayers money....

[numbersgame]

So this "super underwear" is designed to prevent dirt and debris from entering genital wounds, yet they still won't stop bullets or shrapnel from entering the wounds? So how exactly do you stop the dirt that goes through the holes caused when bullets and shrapnel shred this "super underwear" to pieces?

Nice try! Back to the drawing board! Perhaps a few layers of Kevlar would be nice?

[Val Vargaz]

What a Mr. Ed joke. Another brain/white wash part of the BIG LIE by our military leaders which are more like The Confederacy of Dunces who don't give a single solitary damn about wasting the lives of our kids fighting for allies that are in fact, our enemies. Every time their cash registers "cha-ching" its another dead American soldier. Bring ALL of our Marines and military HOME NOW and send in more drones. Lets take care of America for a change.

[anonymous]

Look great! You'd almost think they were out biking or something.

[David]

@Brandon, i agree that if you are old enough to get killed, you are old enough to drink. I disagree with the arguement with respect to Pres. Obama, Pres. Obama did not start these wars, the war in Aghanistan would have been won, if '43 had not decided to go into Iraq. The taliban was on the run, the current corrupt govt in Aghanistan is a Bush legacy as is the govt in Iraq. How do you quickly extricate yourself from a mess like that? If you leave those countries in haster you will have a situation that is worse than Aghanistan was under the Taliban, and in two places, assuming there is no spillover or involvement in other countries. Twice the number of posibble al quaeda strongholds, with all their inherent implications, and this is a best case scenario. That is Obama's dillemma, of course he wants US troops out of Iraq and Aghanistan but '43 left things in such a mess, that those places have to be able to take care of their security before US can leave. Wrt to Libya, democracies, and positive feelings to US is benificial to USA and safety of Americans. If several thousand Libyans were slaughtered in Benghazi, what would that do for success of democracy in Mid East or Pro American feeling, in mid east since America is prime advocate for democracy. Obama is doing a great job in my opinion.

[rick de Luna]

I think this is a great way of helping our troops and most important protecting them from harm, its this type of action that means so much to them and family knowing that as much as possible is being done.

[RuhRoh]

"It's almost as if they [the Taliban] have developed these bombs to inflict the maximum damage," said Navy Cmdr. James L'Esperance.

Really? I kinda figured that much. I guess the Taliban hasn't gotten the word bombs should blow feathers all over you and tickle you into submission.

Maybe they should work in conjunction with the Mormons and get some of their magic undies that protect you from all sorts of bugaboos.

[me]

If they weren't over there they wouldn't need them. Bring our troops home.

[Light]

DAVID, when are you and your ilk ever going to stop blaming President Bush for everything that idiot in the white house is doing? when are you going to open your eyes and realize he's nothing but a Chicago thug surrounded by morons and opportunists and ex hippies. I guess by the time he's leaving the white house in shame you'll still be blaming anyone but him for the problems in this country. it's people like you that sicken me and root for this abysmal failure in life. other than being behind the biggest hoax ever to be hatched on the American people, this fool has done NOTHING but bring this country to its knees. Keep on pointing your fingers at President Bush, the boogy man, or anyone else but this egotistical narcissist, that's the ticket. Idiot

[ReaganRepublican]

Those Marines who decide what equipment should be purchased and worn to protect them during combat should have taken a look at what some of the American law enforcement officers are spending their own money to buy, before wasting money on underwear that won't stop bullets or fragmentation:

http://nogamesgear.com/bugg/index.htm