Did you know that Level III armor is effective against 5.56-millimeter ammunition that is not of military standard? Your ability to counter any handgun and most rifles will determine the extent to which you are safe in many situations. Although it is harder to conceal, Level III armor offers a higher level of protection than much other body armor.

To choose body armor, you should consider the kinds of risks that you could face throughout a typical workday. Because firearms are prohibited inside jails, those who work in corrections, for instance, do not need to worry about the possibility of being shot. On the other hand, the rate at which they are stabbed is significantly higher than that of any other type of law enforcement officer. It is recommended that prison officials always wear armor that is resistant to stab wounds rather than ballistic armor.

When deciding which type of body armor to use, another consideration is the degree to which you are willing to sacrifice wearability in exchange for more ballistic protection. Your level of protection will drop in direct proportion to the increase in the level of comfort you experience. For instance, if you want lightweight ballistic armor that is soft and flexible, you will have to make sacrifices in terms of the level of protection it offers. If you want a higher level of security, you’ll need a Level IV or level III armor system, but doing so will require you to make sacrifices in terms of comfort and mobility.

Once you have chosen the hazard level that is appropriate for your needs, you will need to decide whether you require Stand-Alone (SAL) plates or In-Conjunction With (ICW) plates. Since most body armor is regarded to be Stand-Alone, it does not require a soft armor backer to achieve the threat level it was designed for. For In-Conjunction plates to maintain their rating, they must be worn over soft armor. “Level III armor/IV ICW” plates are ones that are categorized as either level III armor or level IV armor depending on whether they have an additional supporter.

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