Trends

While I'm doing the Great GURPS Body Armor list...

I've noticed a trend in several nations and how body armor gets used.

First it becomes available, but not widely issued or used.

Then it becomes widely available, but neither issued or used.

Then it becomes widely issued, but left behind in the barracks.

Then it becomes accepted by the troops who nearly always wear it.

In the Korean war we had enough vests to equip all of our combat arms troops.  Hardly any units issued any vests.

In Vietnam, there was plenty of body armor to go around, but only the Marines insisted the troops wear it.  Most M69 vests sat under the bunk of the soldier they were issued to. 

For the US, troop acceptance and near universal use of body armor starts with the PASGT gear.

The common phrasing of "hot and uncomfortable" disappearing from the description of the armor correlates well with troops wearing the armor more.