Journalist Pack Introduction Choosing the correct protection is vital for journalists, as they face increasing and ongoing dangers from violent, volatile countries whilst performing their duties. There are two main parts involved; the �rst being the correct level of protection in terms of which threats/weapons to stop, and the second is the correct design/style or ‘system’, which refers to the outer carriers and their setup. We will discuss which weapons and ammunition pose the biggest threat in high-risk locations, and how to choose the ideal vest for your current situation. Background Armor is made up of layers of extremely strong, light and �exible materials. Most protective vests are made from Aramids (such as Kevlar) or UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene such as Dyneema), though the construction and amount of materials will di�er depending on the protection required. Body armor is rated and tested by many independent labs and organisations around the world including the UK HOSDB and the USA NIJ. The USA NIJ is the most globally used standard and thus will be used in this guide. Protection Types

There are 3 types of threats. These can be classi�ed into: Ballistic:This is rated from soft level IIa (low level handguns such as 9mm), up to soft level IIIa (high powered handguns such as a .44MAG). Hard armor ri�e plates are rated level III (standard AK47, 7.62 NATO round) and Level IV (armor piercing rounds such as the .3006 AP). Edged Blade (Stab):This is either rated level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and is measured by the amount of energy behind the blade, and construction of the blade (i.e. higher levels test against stronger knives). Spike:This is a pointed instrument such as a needle or ice pick and is rated the same as edged blade; level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and again is measured by energy behind the spike and the type of spike used. It is important to note, each threat needs speci�c construction methods and materials. A ballistic vest cannot guarantee protection against blades or spikes, and the reverse is true for stab or spike vests. There are multi-threat solutions that will protect against all or combinations of threats, but as always, the more protection you add, generally the heavier, more expensive and uncomfortable the vest will become.

The Risks With so many threats around the world, you need to be prepared for each new high-risk area you enter. For low-violence locations, a low-level protective vest may be ideal, such as a softer, lighter level II ballistic vest. However, entering a warzone in one of these would be a big mistake. Weapons and ammunitions in warzones are much more powerful and deadly, and will require di�erent protection. A shot from a ri�e such as an AK47 7.62 NATO (which would require Level III hard armor as a minimum) would penetrate a Level IIIa vest with ease. If you enter an area with a high stabbing rate, you would need a stab vest – a bulletproof vest doesn’t guarantee defence against blades or spiked weapons. There is a trade o� between the following three constraints: protection level, weight/comfort, and cost. The higher the protection, the heavier it will be, which makes it more uncomfortable and the greater the cost. You can make lighter solutions for any given protection level, and the lighter the solution, the higher the expense. One of the biggest risks we see is journalists choosing the wrong solution to their risks, two common cases to keep in mind: 1. Where they have armor that will not o�er enough protection, which is under spec for their requirements. The dangers are obvious; their equipment will not be su�cient and they will be in serious risk of getting hurt. 2. Where they have armor which is over speci�cation for their risks i.e. full military armor in non-military situations. The issue we see here is the armor is bulky, heavy and uncomfort able, and often times it will not be worn due to this. The biggest risk here is no armor at all being worn. Choosing the correct level of protection is vital – and should mirror the threats you will face. Styles And Systems The design and style of your armor will a�ect where and when it is suitable to be worn. It will a�ect how comfortable it is, or how suitable it is to your speci�c needs and tasks. The two main style concerns are covert (discreet, lightweight and worn under clothing) or overt (slightly bulkier, more hard wearing and worn over clothing). This choice is personal and should re�ect how you intend to wear the armor. However, if you intend on using Level III/IV ri�e plates (in military zones), they are usually (not always) used in overt solutions for ease of insertion and withdrawal. Also just by their general nature they can make your armor non-covert (the plates are 10”x12”) and can weigh up to 3kgs each. Another area to look at is the system in which the armor is used, and this for journalists is extremely important. Journalists who report in war zones may not always need full military armor, but may need protection against shrapnel or handguns for a lot of the time. What we see often is either the non ideal option of wearing your full military armor all the time (which often ends up

not being worn at all when not in a con�ict zone), or several vests for di�erent situations which can be costly and inconvenient. One solution to consider is a modular system, this is where the carrier design and protection inside is built to be ‘layered’. To give an example, while in war areas, some journalists may consider wearing a low level ballistic vest, with good fragmentation as a permanent base whilst out in low risk areas, but still o�ering protection from stray pistol rounds and shrapnel, and then they have a stand alone plate carrier with ri�e plates they can easily throw on when going into high risk areas. The base layer could be as light as 2kgs, whereas the stand alone plate carrier may add anywhere between 4kgs and 7kgs depending on the ri�e plates used. There are lots of di�erent combinations you may consider when choosing a modular system, and again doing a risk assessment of where you will be going and how you will be behaving when there will help determine the best solution. Hard Armor Plates If travelling to combat zones where high-powered weapons, such as ri�es are used, then you will need hard ballistic plates. There are di�erent forms of these. In terms of level III protection, these o�er protection against ri�es such as AK47s and rounds like the 7.62 x 39 NATO. Level IV plates o�er protection against armor-piercing rounds such as a .3006 AP, as well as those which level III plates protect against. These hard ballistic plates are manufactured from di�erent materials which have both positives and negatives.

Ceramic plates are cost-e�ective and normally cheaper than other types of plates. The standard weight of a 10”x12” plate has a weight of about 3kgs (6.6lbs). Ceramic plates need to be looked after to ensure they do not crack, which may reduce its e�ectiveness. The ceramic plate stops the bullet by breaking it up before catching it with its backing materials. Di�erent types of ceramic plates have di�erent backings: these help increase absorption and protect the plate from accidental breakage.

Polyethylene plates are one of the lightest hard ballistic plates available, with the weight of a Level III 10”x12” plate approximately 1.2kgs (2.6lbs), which normally makes them expensive. Polyethylene plates stop a bullet by melting around it, using the heat generated by the bullet’s friction as it passes through. Because of this design method, these plates can take multiple hits. IMPORTANT: Some non-NATO countries may use hardened steel cores in some of their ammunition. So a round that is usually classed as Level III, due to having a hardened core, would need Level IV armor. Unless you speci�cally know you only need Level III, when going to high risk areas, we would always recommend Level IV hard armor plates.

Conclusion

Choosing the right protection is an important choice, and needs thought and a proper risk assessment. Hopefully this guide can help educate you to make a better informed decision, or at least help you think about questions that will ultimately ensure your safety. If you need any help on advice please email journalist@safeguardarmor.com.

Journalist Pack Introduction Choosing the correct protection is vital for journalists, as they face increasing and ongoing dangers from violent, volatile countries whilst performing their duties. There are two main parts involved; the �rst being the correct level of protection in terms of which threats/weapons to stop, and the second is the correct design/style or ‘system’, which refers to the outer carriers and their setup. We will discuss which weapons and ammunition pose the biggest threat in high-risk locations, and how to choose the ideal vest for your current situation. Background Armor is made up of layers of extremely strong, light and �exible materials. Most protective vests are made from Aramids (such as Kevlar) or UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene such as Dyneema), though the construction and amount of materials will di�er depending on the protection required. Body armor is rated and tested by many independent labs and organisations around the world including the UK HOSDB and the USA NIJ. The USA NIJ is the most globally used standard and thus will be used in this guide. Protection Types

There are 3 types of threats. These can be classi�ed into: Ballistic:This is rated from soft level IIa (low level handguns such as 9mm), up to soft level IIIa (high powered handguns such as a .44MAG). Hard armor ri�e plates are rated level III (standard AK47, 7.62 NATO round) and Level IV (armor piercing rounds such as the .3006 AP). Edged Blade (Stab):This is either rated level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and is measured by the amount of energy behind the blade, and construction of the blade (i.e. higher levels test against stronger knives). Spike:This is a pointed instrument such as a needle or ice pick and is rated the same as edged blade; level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and again is measured by energy behind the spike and the type of spike used. It is important to note, each threat needs speci�c construction methods and materials. A ballistic vest cannot guarantee protection against blades or spikes, and the reverse is true for stab or spike vests. There are multi-threat solutions that will protect against all or combinations of threats, but as always, the more protection you add, generally the heavier, more expensive and uncomfortable the vest will become.

The Risks With so many threats around the world, you need to be prepared for each new high-risk area you enter. For low-violence locations, a low-level protective vest may be ideal, such as a softer, lighter level II ballistic vest. However, entering a warzone in one of these would be a big mistake. Weapons and ammunitions in warzones are much more powerful and deadly, and will require di�erent protection. A shot from a ri�e such as an AK47 7.62 NATO (which would require Level III hard armor as a minimum) would penetrate a Level IIIa vest with ease. If you enter an area with a high stabbing rate, you would need a stab vest – a bulletproof vest doesn’t guarantee defence against blades or spiked weapons. There is a trade o� between the following three constraints: protection level, weight/comfort, and cost. The higher the protection, the heavier it will be, which makes it more uncomfortable and the greater the cost. You can make lighter solutions for any given protection level, and the lighter the solution, the higher the expense. One of the biggest risks we see is journalists choosing the wrong solution to their risks, two common cases to keep in mind: 1. Where they have armor that will not o�er enough protection, which is under spec for their requirements. The dangers are obvious; their equipment will not be su�cient and they will be in serious risk of getting hurt. 2. Where they have armor which is over speci�cation for their risks i.e. full military armor in non-military situations. The issue we see here is the armor is bulky, heavy and uncomfort able, and often times it will not be worn due to this. The biggest risk here is no armor at all being worn. Choosing the correct level of protection is vital – and should mirror the threats you will face. Styles And Systems The design and style of your armor will a�ect where and when it is suitable to be worn. It will a�ect how comfortable it is, or how suitable it is to your speci�c needs and tasks. The two main style concerns are covert (discreet, lightweight and worn under clothing) or overt (slightly bulkier, more hard wearing and worn over clothing). This choice is personal and should re�ect how you intend to wear the armor. However, if you intend on using Level III/IV ri�e plates (in military zones), they are usually (not always) used in overt solutions for ease of insertion and withdrawal. Also just by their general nature they can make your armor non-covert (the plates are 10”x12”) and can weigh up to 3kgs each. Another area to look at is the system in which the armor is used, and this for journalists is extremely important. Journalists who report in war zones may not always need full military armor, but may need protection against shrapnel or handguns for a lot of the time. What we see often is either the non ideal option of wearing your full military armor all the time (which often ends up

not being worn at all when not in a con�ict zone), or several vests for di�erent situations which can be costly and inconvenient. One solution to consider is a modular system, this is where the carrier design and protection inside is built to be ‘layered’. To give an example, while in war areas, some journalists may consider wearing a low level ballistic vest, with good fragmentation as a permanent base whilst out in low risk areas, but still o�ering protection from stray pistol rounds and shrapnel, and then they have a stand alone plate carrier with ri�e plates they can easily throw on when going into high risk areas. The base layer could be as light as 2kgs, whereas the stand alone plate carrier may add anywhere between 4kgs and 7kgs depending on the ri�e plates used. There are lots of di�erent combinations you may consider when choosing a modular system, and again doing a risk assessment of where you will be going and how you will be behaving when there will help determine the best solution. Hard Armor Plates If travelling to combat zones where high-powered weapons, such as ri�es are used, then you will need hard ballistic plates. There are di�erent forms of these. In terms of level III protection, these o�er protection against ri�es such as AK47s and rounds like the 7.62 x 39 NATO. Level IV plates o�er protection against armor-piercing rounds such as a .3006 AP, as well as those which level III plates protect against. These hard ballistic plates are manufactured from di�erent materials which have both positives and negatives.

Ceramic plates are cost-e�ective and normally cheaper than other types of plates. The standard weight of a 10”x12” plate has a weight of about 3kgs (6.6lbs). Ceramic plates need to be looked after to ensure they do not crack, which may reduce its e�ectiveness. The ceramic plate stops the bullet by breaking it up before catching it with its backing materials. Di�erent types of ceramic plates have di�erent backings: these help increase absorption and protect the plate from accidental breakage.

Polyethylene plates are one of the lightest hard ballistic plates available, with the weight of a Level III 10”x12” plate approximately 1.2kgs (2.6lbs), which normally makes them expensive. Polyethylene plates stop a bullet by melting around it, using the heat generated by the bullet’s friction as it passes through. Because of this design method, these plates can take multiple hits. IMPORTANT: Some non-NATO countries may use hardened steel cores in some of their ammunition. So a round that is usually classed as Level III, due to having a hardened core, would need Level IV armor. Unless you speci�cally know you only need Level III, when going to high risk areas, we would always recommend Level IV hard armor plates.

Conclusion

Choosing the right protection is an important choice, and needs thought and a proper risk assessment. Hopefully this guide can help educate you to make a better informed decision, or at least help you think about questions that will ultimately ensure your safety. If you need any help on advice please email journalist@safeguardarmor.com.

Journalist Pack Introduction Choosing the correct protection is vital for journalists, as they face increasing and ongoing dangers from violent, volatile countries whilst performing their duties. There are two main parts involved; the �rst being the correct level of protection in terms of which threats/weapons to stop, and the second is the correct design/style or ‘system’, which refers to the outer carriers and their setup. We will discuss which weapons and ammunition pose the biggest threat in high-risk locations, and how to choose the ideal vest for your current situation. Background Armor is made up of layers of extremely strong, light and �exible materials. Most protective vests are made from Aramids (such as Kevlar) or UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene such as Dyneema), though the construction and amount of materials will di�er depending on the protection required. Body armor is rated and tested by many independent labs and organisations around the world including the UK HOSDB and the USA NIJ. The USA NIJ is the most globally used standard and thus will be used in this guide. Protection Types

There are 3 types of threats. These can be classi�ed into: Ballistic:This is rated from soft level IIa (low level handguns such as 9mm), up to soft level IIIa (high powered handguns such as a .44MAG). Hard armor ri�e plates are rated level III (standard AK47, 7.62 NATO round) and Level IV (armor piercing rounds such as the .3006 AP). Edged Blade (Stab):This is either rated level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and is measured by the amount of energy behind the blade, and construction of the blade (i.e. higher levels test against stronger knives). Spike:This is a pointed instrument such as a needle or ice pick and is rated the same as edged blade; level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and again is measured by energy behind the spike and the type of spike used. It is important to note, each threat needs speci�c construction methods and materials. A ballistic vest cannot guarantee protection against blades or spikes, and the reverse is true for stab or spike vests. There are multi-threat solutions that will protect against all or combinations of threats, but as always, the more protection you add, generally the heavier, more expensive and uncomfortable the vest will become.

The Risks With so many threats around the world, you need to be prepared for each new high-risk area you enter. For low-violence locations, a low-level protective vest may be ideal, such as a softer, lighter level II ballistic vest. However, entering a warzone in one of these would be a big mistake. Weapons and ammunitions in warzones are much more powerful and deadly, and will require di�erent protection. A shot from a ri�e such as an AK47 7.62 NATO (which would require Level III hard armor as a minimum) would penetrate a Level IIIa vest with ease. If you enter an area with a high stabbing rate, you would need a stab vest – a bulletproof vest doesn’t guarantee defence against blades or spiked weapons. There is a trade o� between the following three constraints: protection level, weight/comfort, and cost. The higher the protection, the heavier it will be, which makes it more uncomfortable and the greater the cost. You can make lighter solutions for any given protection level, and the lighter the solution, the higher the expense. One of the biggest risks we see is journalists choosing the wrong solution to their risks, two common cases to keep in mind: 1. Where they have armor that will not o�er enough protection, which is under spec for their requirements. The dangers are obvious; their equipment will not be su�cient and they will be in serious risk of getting hurt. 2. Where they have armor which is over speci�cation for their risks i.e. full military armor in non-military situations. The issue we see here is the armor is bulky, heavy and uncomfort able, and often times it will not be worn due to this. The biggest risk here is no armor at all being worn. Choosing the correct level of protection is vital – and should mirror the threats you will face. Styles And Systems The design and style of your armor will a�ect where and when it is suitable to be worn. It will a�ect how comfortable it is, or how suitable it is to your speci�c needs and tasks. The two main style concerns are covert (discreet, lightweight and worn under clothing) or overt (slightly bulkier, more hard wearing and worn over clothing). This choice is personal and should re�ect how you intend to wear the armor. However, if you intend on using Level III/IV ri�e plates (in military zones), they are usually (not always) used in overt solutions for ease of insertion and withdrawal. Also just by their general nature they can make your armor non-covert (the plates are 10”x12”) and can weigh up to 3kgs each. Another area to look at is the system in which the armor is used, and this for journalists is extremely important. Journalists who report in war zones may not always need full military armor, but may need protection against shrapnel or handguns for a lot of the time. What we see often is either the non ideal option of wearing your full military armor all the time (which often ends up

not being worn at all when not in a con�ict zone), or several vests for di�erent situations which can be costly and inconvenient. One solution to consider is a modular system, this is where the carrier design and protection inside is built to be ‘layered’. To give an example, while in war areas, some journalists may consider wearing a low level ballistic vest, with good fragmentation as a permanent base whilst out in low risk areas, but still o�ering protection from stray pistol rounds and shrapnel, and then they have a stand alone plate carrier with ri�e plates they can easily throw on when going into high risk areas. The base layer could be as light as 2kgs, whereas the stand alone plate carrier may add anywhere between 4kgs and 7kgs depending on the ri�e plates used. There are lots of di�erent combinations you may consider when choosing a modular system, and again doing a risk assessment of where you will be going and how you will be behaving when there will help determine the best solution. Hard Armor Plates If travelling to combat zones where high-powered weapons, such as ri�es are used, then you will need hard ballistic plates. There are di�erent forms of these. In terms of level III protection, these o�er protection against ri�es such as AK47s and rounds like the 7.62 x 39 NATO. Level IV plates o�er protection against armor-piercing rounds such as a .3006 AP, as well as those which level III plates protect against. These hard ballistic plates are manufactured from di�erent materials which have both positives and negatives.

Ceramic plates are cost-e�ective and normally cheaper than other types of plates. The standard weight of a 10”x12” plate has a weight of about 3kgs (6.6lbs). Ceramic plates need to be looked after to ensure they do not crack, which may reduce its e�ectiveness. The ceramic plate stops the bullet by breaking it up before catching it with its backing materials. Di�erent types of ceramic plates have di�erent backings: these help increase absorption and protect the plate from accidental breakage.

Polyethylene plates are one of the lightest hard ballistic plates available, with the weight of a Level III 10”x12” plate approximately 1.2kgs (2.6lbs), which normally makes them expensive. Polyethylene plates stop a bullet by melting around it, using the heat generated by the bullet’s friction as it passes through. Because of this design method, these plates can take multiple hits. IMPORTANT: Some non-NATO countries may use hardened steel cores in some of their ammunition. So a round that is usually classed as Level III, due to having a hardened core, would need Level IV armor. Unless you speci�cally know you only need Level III, when going to high risk areas, we would always recommend Level IV hard armor plates.

Conclusion

Choosing the right protection is an important choice, and needs thought and a proper risk assessment. Hopefully this guide can help educate you to make a better informed decision, or at least help you think about questions that will ultimately ensure your safety. If you need any help on advice please email journalist@safeguardarmor.com.

Journalist Pack Introduction Choosing the correct protection is vital for journalists, as they face increasing and ongoing dangers from violent, volatile countries whilst performing their duties. There are two main parts involved; the �rst being the correct level of protection in terms of which threats/weapons to stop, and the second is the correct design/style or ‘system’, which refers to the outer carriers and their setup. We will discuss which weapons and ammunition pose the biggest threat in high-risk locations, and how to choose the ideal vest for your current situation. Background Armor is made up of layers of extremely strong, light and �exible materials. Most protective vests are made from Aramids (such as Kevlar) or UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene such as Dyneema), though the construction and amount of materials will di�er depending on the protection required. Body armor is rated and tested by many independent labs and organisations around the world including the UK HOSDB and the USA NIJ. The USA NIJ is the most globally used standard and thus will be used in this guide. Protection Types

There are 3 types of threats. These can be classi�ed into: Ballistic:This is rated from soft level IIa (low level handguns such as 9mm), up to soft level IIIa (high powered handguns such as a .44MAG). Hard armor ri�e plates are rated level III (standard AK47, 7.62 NATO round) and Level IV (armor piercing rounds such as the .3006 AP). Edged Blade (Stab):This is either rated level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and is measured by the amount of energy behind the blade, and construction of the blade (i.e. higher levels test against stronger knives). Spike:This is a pointed instrument such as a needle or ice pick and is rated the same as edged blade; level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and again is measured by energy behind the spike and the type of spike used. It is important to note, each threat needs speci�c construction methods and materials. A ballistic vest cannot guarantee protection against blades or spikes, and the reverse is true for stab or spike vests. There are multi-threat solutions that will protect against all or combinations of threats, but as always, the more protection you add, generally the heavier, more expensive and uncomfortable the vest will become.

The Risks With so many threats around the world, you need to be prepared for each new high-risk area you enter. For low-violence locations, a low-level protective vest may be ideal, such as a softer, lighter level II ballistic vest. However, entering a warzone in one of these would be a big mistake. Weapons and ammunitions in warzones are much more powerful and deadly, and will require di�erent protection. A shot from a ri�e such as an AK47 7.62 NATO (which would require Level III hard armor as a minimum) would penetrate a Level IIIa vest with ease. If you enter an area with a high stabbing rate, you would need a stab vest – a bulletproof vest doesn’t guarantee defence against blades or spiked weapons. There is a trade o� between the following three constraints: protection level, weight/comfort, and cost. The higher the protection, the heavier it will be, which makes it more uncomfortable and the greater the cost. You can make lighter solutions for any given protection level, and the lighter the solution, the higher the expense. One of the biggest risks we see is journalists choosing the wrong solution to their risks, two common cases to keep in mind: 1. Where they have armor that will not o�er enough protection, which is under spec for their requirements. The dangers are obvious; their equipment will not be su�cient and they will be in serious risk of getting hurt. 2. Where they have armor which is over speci�cation for their risks i.e. full military armor in non-military situations. The issue we see here is the armor is bulky, heavy and uncomfort able, and often times it will not be worn due to this. The biggest risk here is no armor at all being worn. Choosing the correct level of protection is vital – and should mirror the threats you will face. Styles And Systems The design and style of your armor will a�ect where and when it is suitable to be worn. It will a�ect how comfortable it is, or how suitable it is to your speci�c needs and tasks. The two main style concerns are covert (discreet, lightweight and worn under clothing) or overt (slightly bulkier, more hard wearing and worn over clothing). This choice is personal and should re�ect how you intend to wear the armor. However, if you intend on using Level III/IV ri�e plates (in military zones), they are usually (not always) used in overt solutions for ease of insertion and withdrawal. Also just by their general nature they can make your armor non-covert (the plates are 10”x12”) and can weigh up to 3kgs each. Another area to look at is the system in which the armor is used, and this for journalists is extremely important. Journalists who report in war zones may not always need full military armor, but may need protection against shrapnel or handguns for a lot of the time. What we see often is either the non ideal option of wearing your full military armor all the time (which often ends up

not being worn at all when not in a con�ict zone), or several vests for di�erent situations which can be costly and inconvenient. One solution to consider is a modular system, this is where the carrier design and protection inside is built to be ‘layered’. To give an example, while in war areas, some journalists may consider wearing a low level ballistic vest, with good fragmentation as a permanent base whilst out in low risk areas, but still o�ering protection from stray pistol rounds and shrapnel, and then they have a stand alone plate carrier with ri�e plates they can easily throw on when going into high risk areas. The base layer could be as light as 2kgs, whereas the stand alone plate carrier may add anywhere between 4kgs and 7kgs depending on the ri�e plates used. There are lots of di�erent combinations you may consider when choosing a modular system, and again doing a risk assessment of where you will be going and how you will be behaving when there will help determine the best solution. Hard Armor Plates If travelling to combat zones where high-powered weapons, such as ri�es are used, then you will need hard ballistic plates. There are di�erent forms of these. In terms of level III protection, these o�er protection against ri�es such as AK47s and rounds like the 7.62 x 39 NATO. Level IV plates o�er protection against armor-piercing rounds such as a .3006 AP, as well as those which level III plates protect against. These hard ballistic plates are manufactured from di�erent materials which have both positives and negatives.

Ceramic plates are cost-e�ective and normally cheaper than other types of plates. The standard weight of a 10”x12” plate has a weight of about 3kgs (6.6lbs). Ceramic plates need to be looked after to ensure they do not crack, which may reduce its e�ectiveness. The ceramic plate stops the bullet by breaking it up before catching it with its backing materials. Di�erent types of ceramic plates have di�erent backings: these help increase absorption and protect the plate from accidental breakage.

Polyethylene plates are one of the lightest hard ballistic plates available, with the weight of a Level III 10”x12” plate approximately 1.2kgs (2.6lbs), which normally makes them expensive. Polyethylene plates stop a bullet by melting around it, using the heat generated by the bullet’s friction as it passes through. Because of this design method, these plates can take multiple hits. IMPORTANT: Some non-NATO countries may use hardened steel cores in some of their ammunition. So a round that is usually classed as Level III, due to having a hardened core, would need Level IV armor. Unless you speci�cally know you only need Level III, when going to high risk areas, we would always recommend Level IV hard armor plates.

Conclusion

Choosing the right protection is an important choice, and needs thought and a proper risk assessment. Hopefully this guide can help educate you to make a better informed decision, or at least help you think about questions that will ultimately ensure your safety. If you need any help on advice please email journalist@safeguardarmor.com.

Journalist Pack Introduction Choosing the correct protection is vital for journalists, as they face increasing and ongoing dangers from violent, volatile countries whilst performing their duties. There are two main parts involved; the �rst being the correct level of protection in terms of which threats/weapons to stop, and the second is the correct design/style or ‘system’, which refers to the outer carriers and their setup. We will discuss which weapons and ammunition pose the biggest threat in high-risk locations, and how to choose the ideal vest for your current situation. Background Armor is made up of layers of extremely strong, light and �exible materials. Most protective vests are made from Aramids (such as Kevlar) or UHMWPE (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene such as Dyneema), though the construction and amount of materials will di�er depending on the protection required. Body armor is rated and tested by many independent labs and organisations around the world including the UK HOSDB and the USA NIJ. The USA NIJ is the most globally used standard and thus will be used in this guide. Protection Types

There are 3 types of threats. These can be classi�ed into: Ballistic:This is rated from soft level IIa (low level handguns such as 9mm), up to soft level IIIa (high powered handguns such as a .44MAG). Hard armor ri�e plates are rated level III (standard AK47, 7.62 NATO round) and Level IV (armor piercing rounds such as the .3006 AP). Edged Blade (Stab):This is either rated level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and is measured by the amount of energy behind the blade, and construction of the blade (i.e. higher levels test against stronger knives). Spike:This is a pointed instrument such as a needle or ice pick and is rated the same as edged blade; level 1 (24 joules), level 2 (33 joules) or level 3 (44 Joules) and again is measured by energy behind the spike and the type of spike used. It is important to note, each threat needs speci�c construction methods and materials. A ballistic vest cannot guarantee protection against blades or spikes, and the reverse is true for stab or spike vests. There are multi-threat solutions that will protect against all or combinations of threats, but as always, the more protection you add, generally the heavier, more expensive and uncomfortable the vest will become.

The Risks With so many threats around the world, you need to be prepared for each new high-risk area you enter. For low-violence locations, a low-level protective vest may be ideal, such as a softer, lighter level II ballistic vest. However, entering a warzone in one of these would be a big mistake. Weapons and ammunitions in warzones are much more powerful and deadly, and will require di�erent protection. A shot from a ri�e such as an AK47 7.62 NATO (which would require Level III hard armor as a minimum) would penetrate a Level IIIa vest with ease. If you enter an area with a high stabbing rate, you would need a stab vest – a bulletproof vest doesn’t guarantee defence against blades or spiked weapons. There is a trade o� between the following three constraints: protection level, weight/comfort, and cost. The higher the protection, the heavier it will be, which makes it more uncomfortable and the greater the cost. You can make lighter solutions for any given protection level, and the lighter the solution, the higher the expense. One of the biggest risks we see is journalists choosing the wrong solution to their risks, two common cases to keep in mind: 1. Where they have armor that will not o�er enough protection, which is under spec for their requirements. The dangers are obvious; their equipment will not be su�cient and they will be in serious risk of getting hurt. 2. Where they have armor which is over speci�cation for their risks i.e. full military armor in non-military situations. The issue we see here is the armor is bulky, heavy and uncomfort able, and often times it will not be worn due to this. The biggest risk here is no armor at all being worn. Choosing the correct level of protection is vital – and should mirror the threats you will face. Styles And Systems The design and style of your armor will a�ect where and when it is suitable to be worn. It will a�ect how comfortable it is, or how suitable it is to your speci�c needs and tasks. The two main style concerns are covert (discreet, lightweight and worn under clothing) or overt (slightly bulkier, more hard wearing and worn over clothing). This choice is personal and should re�ect how you intend to wear the armor. However, if you intend on using Level III/IV ri�e plates (in military zones), they are usually (not always) used in overt solutions for ease of insertion and withdrawal. Also just by their general nature they can make your armor non-covert (the plates are 10”x12”) and can weigh up to 3kgs each. Another area to look at is the system in which the armor is used, and this for journalists is extremely important. Journalists who report in war zones may not always need full military armor, but may need protection against shrapnel or handguns for a lot of the time. What we see often is either the non ideal option of wearing your full military armor all the time (which often ends up

not being worn at all when not in a con�ict zone), or several vests for di�erent situations which can be costly and inconvenient. One solution to consider is a modular system, this is where the carrier design and protection inside is built to be ‘layered’. To give an example, while in war areas, some journalists may consider wearing a low level ballistic vest, with good fragmentation as a permanent base whilst out in low risk areas, but still o�ering protection from stray pistol rounds and shrapnel, and then they have a stand alone plate carrier with ri�e plates they can easily throw on when going into high risk areas. The base layer could be as light as 2kgs, whereas the stand alone plate carrier may add anywhere between 4kgs and 7kgs depending on the ri�e plates used. There are lots of di�erent combinations you may consider when choosing a modular system, and again doing a risk assessment of where you will be going and how you will be behaving when there will help determine the best solution. Hard Armor Plates If travelling to combat zones where high-powered weapons, such as ri�es are used, then you will need hard ballistic plates. There are di�erent forms of these. In terms of level III protection, these o�er protection against ri�es such as AK47s and rounds like the 7.62 x 39 NATO. Level IV plates o�er protection against armor-piercing rounds such as a .3006 AP, as well as those which level III plates protect against. These hard ballistic plates are manufactured from di�erent materials which have both positives and negatives.

Ceramic plates are cost-e�ective and normally cheaper than other types of plates. The standard weight of a 10”x12” plate has a weight of about 3kgs (6.6lbs). Ceramic plates need to be looked after to ensure they do not crack, which may reduce its e�ectiveness. The ceramic plate stops the bullet by breaking it up before catching it with its backing materials. Di�erent types of ceramic plates have di�erent backings: these help increase absorption and protect the plate from accidental breakage.

Polyethylene plates are one of the lightest hard ballistic plates available, with the weight of a Level III 10”x12” plate approximately 1.2kgs (2.6lbs), which normally makes them expensive. Polyethylene plates stop a bullet by melting around it, using the heat generated by the bullet’s friction as it passes through. Because of this design method, these plates can take multiple hits. IMPORTANT: Some non-NATO countries may use hardened steel cores in some of their ammunition. So a round that is usually classed as Level III, due to having a hardened core, would need Level IV armor. Unless you speci�cally know you only need Level III, when going to high risk areas, we would always recommend Level IV hard armor plates.

Conclusion

Choosing the right protection is an important choice, and needs thought and a proper risk assessment. Hopefully this guide can help educate you to make a better informed decision, or at least help you think about questions that will ultimately ensure your safety. If you need any help on advice please email journalist@safeguardarmor.com.