Pentagon Evaluation Group Reviews Ballistic Ball Caps for Military Testing

A Pentagon evaluation group is reviewing ballistic ball caps and patrol caps for possible testing by military units. Kevin Kelly, a Department of Defense contractor with the Sustainable Technology Evaluation and Demonstration Program, said the items are under consideration after display at the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.

The caps are manufactured by R-12 and were designed by a trauma surgeon. They are intended to slow the energy of NIJ Level IIIA handgun threats but do not protect against rifle ammunition, according to the manufacturer and the National Institute of Justice.

R-12 states that in a shooting, the kinetic energy of a bullet may still cause skull damage or brain swelling, though such injuries could be treatable with prompt surgical care. Each cap weighs 11 ounces, costs $365, and is designed for replacement every two years.

Kelly said the caps could also be used by law enforcement or other federal personnel exposed to potential harm. Other items under review by the same group include suppressors and biometric swim-safety devices.

National Guard units, including the West Virginia National Guard, have expressed interest in the caps. , in which Spc. Sarah Beckstrom was killed and Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe was wounded. Kelly's group tests commercially available equipment before larger purchases are considered by the military or federal agencies.