FORT BELVOIR, Virginia (Sept. 15, 2016) – A Soldier at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, survived not one but two potentially lethal bullets fired by Afghan insurgents five years ago because of the Enhanced Small Arms Protective Insert plate in his body armor.
Program Executive Office Soldier officials will reunite Army Sgt. Daniel Malm, 110th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Battalion, with the life-serving plate in a ceremony Sept. 19, 2016, at JBLM. Army Lt. Col. Kathy Brown, Product Manager Soldier Protective Equipment (PM SPE), will return the ESAPI plate.
PM SPE is the Army organization responsible for developing and fielding protective equipment, including body armor and helmets, to Soldiers. This Fort Belvoir-based organization is part of PEO Soldier’s Project Manager Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment.
After the plate saved Sergeant Malm’s life, it came back to PEO Soldier for scientific analysis. Technicians analyze combat-damaged personal protective equipment to determine how the gear performed under actual combat conditions and learn how to make protective equipment even better.
Time and Location:
·1:30 p.m. (Pacific), Sept. 19, 2016.
·110 CBRN Headquarters, Building 11984, D and 8th Streets, JBLM
Recipient:
Army Sgt. Daniel Malm – served with the 4-25th Field Artillery, 10th Mountain Division, on Sept. 14, 2011, when his ESAPI plate stopped insurgents’ bullets. The first impact knocked him to his knees. He rose to his feet and immediately took another round that knocked him flat on his back and broke several ribs. He stayed down while his fellow Soldiers killed the insurgents. He is a veteran of three deployments.
Presenters:
Army Lt. Col. Kathy Brown – responsible for development of helmets, body armor, ballistic eyewear, bomb disposal suits, and other protective equipment Soldiers wear. Her organization is currently developing a new generation of lighter weight body armor that Soldiers can modify to suit the threats and mission requirements.
Army Master Sgt. Corey Ingram – PM SPIE Senior Enlisted Adviser.