What would be your recommendations for what is the most practical for someone in that position?
Yeah those darn officers. Almost as bad as those mid-divorce, alcoholic NCOs that you need to bail out on Monday morning for their weekend DWI. Body armor follows a rating system with I think IIIA being the minimum that will stop 5.56 x 45 and 7.62 x 39. In response to the comment above, I did not think that even plate armor could stop a 7.62 x 54 AP but I guess it would depend on the range. The OP may want to ask his grandson what his armor’s rating is and start from there.what ever the Army issues.
Plus, what ever can be hidden from officers who throw fits about "unauthorized equipment".
Balanced against what the individual can actually wear/carry.
Good (and smart) officers allow a fair bit of leeway when their troops are "on the sharp end". But not all officers are good or smart. Unauthorized equipment is a violation of regulations, and when you get one of those "by the book and only by the book" types in command, it will be taken away from the troops and sometimes, they will even bring charges against the troop for having it.
Yeah those darn officers. Almost as bad as those mid-divorce, alcoholic NCOs that you need to bail out on Monday morning for their weekend DWI.
The newer (2015 ish I think?) plates have steel over ceramic. They aren't exactly light and will float straight to the bottom of the ocean but they'll stop AP.I did not think that even plate armor could stop a 7.62 x 54 AP but I guess it would depend on the range. The OP may want to ask his grandson what his armor’s rating is and start from there.
Level IV armor has been tested to stop .30cal steel core armor piercing rifle ammunition.