[princess leah]

What's with the knee pads on the guy with the unusual shoes to the left of SH?

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

What's with the knee pads on the guy with the unusual shoes to the left of SH?

I believe these are now standard issue so one can hit the ground without jarring the back as much as we once did. I've seen them on lots of soldier's lately.

[TruthNtegrity]

They all wear them if they are on patrol - stopping cars, etc. I've seen pictures of them, on one knee, with gun at the ready. It saves the knees from mud. They may be in desert but they aren't always in dry terrain.

Look for some other pictures of troops from Iraq. You'll see the kneepads. Some even have them only on one knee, which looks a little stranger than this one.

TNT