Congressmen Abe Hamadeh Secures Protective Body Armor Equipment for Reserve Airmen
Successfully secured the replacement of defective body armor
WASHINGTON DC – Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) is pleased to announce that he has successfully secured the replacement of defective body armor for our Air Force Reserve Defenders. Congressman Hamadeh was advised of the critical change in equipment via a letter from Lieutenant General John P. Healy, Chief of Air Force Reserve, this week.
In July, Congressman Hamadeh and Congressman Eli Crane (AZ-02) sent a letter of concern to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth regarding the purchase and distribution of the Eagle Industries ballistic vests, due to disturbing reports coming out of the 943rd Security Forces Squadron, stationed Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB).
Lieutenant General John P. Healy advised the Congressmen in a letter dated August 11, 2025:
Once this issue was identified, AFRC ceased purchasing the vest and worked with the company to provide resolution. Discussions with the vendor immediately took place, however, resolution was not achieved. We have since filed a formal complaint to address this failed resolution.
The safety and readiness of our Citizen Airmen is my highest priority. For our Air Force Reserve Defenders, proper PPE is not only essential to their individual safety, it also directly enables mission effectiveness in high-risk operational environments.
After the initial purchase and distribution of the Eagle Industries PPE, there were reports from the 943d Security Forces Squadron (943 SFS), located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, that the PPE was malfunctioning. Once this issue was identified, AFRC ceased purchasing the vest and worked with the company to provide resolution. Discussions with the vendor immediately took place, however, resolution was not achieved. We have since filed a formal complaint to address this failed resolution.
I am happy to report that the 355th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB provided all 943 SFS members currently scheduled for mobilization with new, fully compliant, PPE to replace any defective equipment. Furthermore, you have my full commitment that no Air Force Reserve Security Forces member will deploy without first being equipped with verified, functional protective gear that is mission-ready.
While we are prioritizing PPE for our deployers, we are actively working to permanently replace any defective PPE across all AFRC Security Forces Units. Programmatic discussions with Air Force Material Command are ongoing to ensure Air Force Reserve Defenders are equipped with the same PPE as their active-duty counterparts.
As a former U.S. Army Reserve Intelligence officer, and the only Arizona Member on the House Armed Services Committee, Congressman Hamadeh has been working to serve those who serve this nation.
“I want to thank Congressman Crane for joining me in this fight to protect those who protect us,” stated Congressman Hamadeh. “For too long our service members have been at the mercy of a flawed system that provides shoddy and unnecessary equipment at great cost to our taxpayers. The Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee are committed to changing the acquisitions process so that our Armed Forces have the best available gear.”