Body Armor:
There are several body armor carrying systems (vests, rigs) and plates that offer ballistic protection. Given Bill Roggio and Michael Yon's guidance and the nature of the prominent threats in Iraq (IED's and snipers with potentially armor piercing rounds), my decision was easy: I chose the OTV vest with Level III and Level IV ceramic plate inserts. Level IV is the highest protection rating, only obtainable with "hard body armor" materials. It's rated to stop one .3006 Armor Piercing round at 2,850 fps, and will probably handle two. The Level III rating stops 6 (or more) .308 Winchester Full Metal Jacket or 7.62 X 51 mm NATO rounds at 2,750 fps. The ceramic works its lifesaving magic by shattering in a controlled manner at the point of impact, thus dispersing the initially focused energy along radial cracks.

This extreme level of protection exists on the front and back torso, where the ceramic plates hang in velcro sealed pouches on the vest. I also added rifle plates that offer Level III protection* for potentially vulnerable sides.

The aramid fiber on the vest itself is "tested to stop 9mm FMJ at 1,400 fps" and probably a .44 magnum (considered Level IIIA protection), plus shrapnel tossed from various explosives (usually considered a Level I threat). The vest completely covers the torso and includes a detachable neck guard and hanging groin flap. Michael Yon is a stickler for wearing these at all relevant times, stressing that the groin protection wasn't to protect the goods as much as the two femoral arteries that run down one's thighs. My immediate thought: "But, uh, what about the goods?"

This generation of body armor has been a great success during the Iraq war, saving many lives and reshaping the nature of wartime medical treatment to focus on trauma to the extremities. Unfortunately, the vest with the plates is fairly heavy at 32-35 lbs. Wearing it lends a feeling of invincibility, movement is slightly hampered and three runs around a city block are pretty tiring with the added weight. But overall, it's not nearly as uncomfortable as I'd imagined, given that I only weigh 155 lbs. Cost: $2000.

Helmet:
Again at Roggio's advice, I picked up the MICH-style helmet, which is light, allows head mobility from the prone position (helpful when someone is shooting or, in my case, taking pictures) and comes with a configureable set of velcro pads (similar to a football helmet).

Although molded like the current, standard-issue Personnel Armor System, Ground Troops (PASGT) helmet in use since the early 1980s, the MICH trims away the edge for improved visibility, unobstructed hearing, reduced weight (less than 3 pounds without communication equipment) and easier integration with body armor.

Plus, it stops small/intermediate caliber rounds:

Until the MICH, there had never been a helmet designed to stop bullets. The MICH uses a different version of Kevlar combined with different bonding techniques to form a shell capable of halting a submachine gun's 9 mm round in addition to protecting against fragmentation. The PASGT Kevlar helmet only protects against fragmentation and at most can deflect bullets.

Though my measurements indicated a medium, I have a bit of trouble incorporating more than two pads into the dome, as the helmet winds up perching on the very top of my apparently odd-shaped head.

Even with most of the pads removed and the helmet seated in its proper place, my failure to fill it out gifts me a striking resemblance to Dark Helmet from Spaceballs. Thankfully, I'm not headed to a fashion show, plus any shouted orders to "comb the desert" might get a laugh from Marines old enough to recognize the reference.

Quibbles aside, it's a pretty light, strong headpiece, apparently favored by special operators. Cost: $500.

Ballistic Eye Protection:
Proper combat protection for the eyes is designed to save eyesight from lighter projectiles like shrapnel and buckshot, as well as more standard intruders like dust and light.

The most popular makers of ballistic eyewear are Wiley X and Oakley. I opted for a set of Nerve goggles and a pair of Air Rage Sunglasses. Since I require vision correction, I had high hopes for the prescription inserts to the goggles; unfortunately, two attempts at inserts from Wiley X failed to produce adequately clear vision. Unless I can find a way to get working inserts, I'll probably have to opt for contact lenses when wearing eye protection, which is less than ideal in a dry, dusty environment. Joe Katzman wrote an informative post on the utility and obtention of ballistic eyewear here. Cost: $80 apiece (glasses, goggles), $100 extra for prescription insert

There are other elective protective items, like flame-retardent clothing, kevlar arm sleeves and gloves (the latter of which I bought) , but armor, helmet and eyewear are the essentials. Overwhelming odds tell me that these systems won't be tested on my trip, but I'm sure they'll come in awful handy if necessary.

* Though similar to Level III, the ceramic side rifle plates are not technically rated Level III, as their surface area is too small to absorb 6 .308 rounds.