Are ballistic full face masks still in use?

The most challenging place to protect is the human head. From movies, you definitely see soldiers wearing full protective gear even down to their fingers. From plate carriers to boots and chest rigs, soldiers try to carry protective gear around. However, some places can prove difficult to cover totally. The eyes and nose are good examples.

Nevertheless, there are ballistic full face masks available for military personnel. In case you missed it, those helmets are also bulletproof. They are made of bullet-resistant plate carrier materials like Kevlar and pads to prevent shock. While the ballistic face masks are protective, their protection is very limited. When compared to plate carriers, ballistic helmets are weak and cannot even withstand an AK-47 bullet. They also come off as heavy and likely to suffocate soldiers. For these reasons, their usage has been largely restricted.

The big question is, are these ballistic full face masks still in use? In most cases, they are no longer in use. In some instances, security personnel still apply them, but combat soldiers do not use them anymore. The reasons are not far-fetched. First, soldiers go onlots of patrols, and the masks’ weight can prevent easy mobility.

Moreover, during combat, the masks may blur vision and cause unimaginable catastrophe to as little as one soldier or as much as one battalion. Asides from the fact that these face masks do not offer protection from high-grade rifles, those that do can still cause bruises and trauma. Also, army commanders surely do not want to lose their soldiers for lack of breath. So, they think the benefits of face masks are so little compared to their demerits.

Nowadays, soldiers stick to plate carriers, forearm coverings, and leg protection, while others may opt for a ballistic visor. But generally, ballistic full face masks are no longer in use. 

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