Caption: Airborne in a Black Hawk helicopter, U.S. Army flight medic Staff Sgt. Robert B. Cowdrey, of La Junta, Colo., with Task Force Pegasus, attends to a Marine wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack, over Marjah.
Here's a question for army/marine aviation aircrews--are these kevlar helmets with ear cups becoming standard gear for combat aircrews? Obviously there would be additional weight and neck strain, along with the risk of "impact loads" or G-force strain on the neck during a crash sequence. Still I know there are many cases from OEF/OIF of pilots killed by 7.62 rounds through the HGU-56 helmet where these helmets could have easily saved their lives.
Modified with goggle mounts, ICS cords and visors (or just issued sunglasses) I think these helmets could be just as capable as the HGU-56, and with much better ballistic protection. Get some of those noise-cancelling earphones the SEALs have too, then you'd have a sweet mellon protector.