One of my goals has been to ensure that women are well-represented in the design, testing, and evaluation of body armor. To that end, next month I head to Florida to present at the upcoming ASTM International standards meeting on body armor! (ASTM develops the standards armor manufacturers follow.)
The objective is simple: use the findings from my research, and the experiences shared by hundreds of women officers who have contributed to that research, to help inform discussions about how body armor is tested, certified, and fitted for women.
Why This Matters: Moving Beyond Flat Clay Blocks
Current body armor certification methods and standards have traditionally relied on a flat clay block for testing. For structured or female armor, the clay is built up to interface perfectly with the curvature of the vest.
News flash: Women are not shaped like flat clay blocks, nor does armor perfectly conform to their bodies.
Yet these are the testing and certification methodologies in use. If we want equipment that serves women well, we need testing methods that account for the women wearing it.
My long-term goal is to reduce the chronic musculoskeletal pain and other issues that armor can cause women and to help standards organizations transition toward testing approaches that incorporate anatomically accurate female manikins and realistic body-to-armor interfaces, including the air gaps that naturally occur in real-world wear.
Looking Ahead
Standards change slowly, but they change through data.
As ASTM committees continue evaluating the future of body armor certification, studies like mine provide the evidence needed to develop methods that better represent real-world users. The goal is not simply to improve testing. The goal is to improve the equipment that officers wear every day.