Making a noise about ear protection

摘要

AS LONG ago as the Herrick tours of 2014, soldiers were issued with ear protection that automatically filtered out dangerously loud background noise while allowing spoken communications to be heard. They could also be plugged into personal role radios (PRR). So, six years later, why are these not standard issue kit? Despite being a Reservist, I have only ever been given small yellow foam plugs or the big green ear defenders that do not plug into the communications system. Neither of these allow transmissions between soldiers and they cannot be worn on both ears with PRR in use. On exercise it is often easier to simply forgo this protection so that orders on the radio can be heard clearly. - Name and address supplied