Operation Helmet Saves Soldiers' Lives

We will cease operations only when we are no longer needed, transferring any residual funds to charities helping our wounded troops and their families.

Right now (December, 2008), that seems far away, as the Army has decided to keep on purchasing and distributing the cheaper, harder pads it now uses.

We're still slugging it out with the powers that be to change hearts and minds.

If ONE soldier is killed or maimed because they took off their helmet even momentarily to relieve a headache and got caught in an IED blast or other ambush, shame forever on the Army.

Sadly, the other military Services now depend on the Army to tell them what kind of pads should be in their warrior's helmets.

Sad case of the Obstinate leading the Uninformed.

Manny troops still use the old, inferior helmet pads that are poorly designed and cause great pain to the soldiers. They offer very little protection against unexpected ambushes with IED's. "Operation Helmet" HQ receives daily email requests for replacement pads.

With our donations, helmet upgrade kits will be sent to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to those ordered to deploy in the near future.

The upgrade kits can be installed within 15 minutes by the soldiers themselves.

These are the benefits:

• Improved protection - the shock-absorbing pads keep the helmet from slapping the skull when hit with blast forces.


• Comfort - the helmets with new pads can be worn longer and more often; no need to remove them because of the pain. Bomb blasts can happen anytime!


• Stability - the pads help to keep the helmet firmly on top of the head and out of the eyes.

4 August 2008: Issued a kit at Ft. Riley, KS, but it has turned hard as a rock over the last 7 months. It becomes very painful to my forehead and temples after only 20 or 30 minutes in the turret. (Sent him two BLU-6 kits): The helmet kit is working very well, and is a great improvement. The second one went to a young infantry soldier who's out where the all the stuff you hear about on CNN is taking place (about 2-3 kilometers to out west). I keep an eye out for him, but we haven't run into each other in a while.

4 August: From jalabad: request for 30 kits for convoy/infantry...and the system we have is very uncomfortable. (Feel like hell: had to say 'sorry, we're broke')

18 Jul 2008: Here at [xxx] EOD company we will be sending a couple teams to Afghanistan to support [xxx]. We all have the crappy pads now. We have approx [xxx - a lot of] Techs here but I would say probably half of us could use them. if you cant get us that many, then any will suffice. Sgt , USMC

To watch the presentation, The Life You Save May Save Another! from Operation Helmet simply click on the image above.

July 3, '08: The helmet pads you have sent replaced worn out pads that have torn and left soldiers vulnerable to injury. Thanks to you our soldiers are properly and more comfortably geared for combat. It is humbling to receive such rapid and dedicated support; our country needs more citizens like you during this time of war and sacrifice by our armed services.

Attention America: this one is actually addressed to you who've supported the troops either through Operation Helmet or other means.

June 25,'08: Doc, I apologize for not contacting you sooner, we've been pretty busy. The helmet pads were a hit and I've had my platoon sergeant ask if I could find ten more. If you could spare them we'd gladly take them. The dry heat of the summers here is affecting the cheap adhesive on the pads causing hem to pull apart even quicker. We'll be here for another ten months or so, but soon enough the heat will be replaced by snow and sub zero temps. It should make for an interesting time of year. Thank you again for all you do.

June 24 '08: Thank you very much sir, got them today will pass out the warriors who can use them. Again, don't know the words to express our gratitude to you for what you do, but we will dedicate our missions to good men and women like yourself from the United States in this struggle to build a nation for the people of Afghanistan, thanks for standing shoulder to shoulder with us. You are out here with us and it means a lot to all the Military personnel out here.

19 Jun 08: We received the pads a couple days ago. You wouldn't believe the difference in comfort and breathability! It is amazing how much better these are and everyone appreciates them so very much. I did screw up on the order though, i must have punched 10, which did cover half my platoon, is there a way to get an extra 10 or is it too late? I have given the ones that we got to the Joes and the other lower enlisted and said more was on the way cause I know that we do a lot of the harder work...lol