[zarf]

How many billions of dollars do we taxpayers shell out for defense? The troops are just now, 1 year into the action, all wearing body armour.

Pathetic.

[Brad’s Gramma]

How many billions of dollars do we taxpayers shell out for defense?

Not enough.

[Poodlebrain]

You are wrong. The troops have always had body armor available. It is only recently that they have had the latest, and most effective body armor available.

Do you realize when the Army switched from the steel helmet to the Kevlar helmet that the procurement took several years to acquire sufficient helmets for all soldiers to be issued the new and improved helmets? It is not just a question of money, but also the ability to manufacture the helmets that took so long for the switch to be completed.

[Almondjoy]

Hmmm no amount of money in the world can boost production over night... Expansions had to be made in order for the vests to be made. It's the one problem with calling over thousands of reserves and going to war overnight.

[Fee]

Sevent percent of the DoD budget goes into pay, pensions, housing and benifits/services for the soldier and family. The rest is divided amongst R&D and procurements. Volunteer forces are not cheap.