BAGRAM AIRFIELD — Pfc. Alan McAllister successfully completed assembly of his Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) last week, after initially reporting difficulty choosing where to place his 16.25”-long Tactical Tomahawk, given the litany of restrictions imposed by his leadership.

McAllister, an Intelligence Analyst assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps, prominently displayed the vest, the Army’s newest and most durable iteration of ceramic plate-carrying protective equipment, in his office. He and his teammates even moved their flat screen television and Xbox One console to the back wall so their armor was better accessible.

“It was a real pain in the ass,” McAllister explained. “Our Battalion Commander gave out this long list of stuff that had to be on [the vest]: First aid kit, extra tourniquets, and six magazine pouches. Six!”