Shattered Minds: How the Pentagon Fails Our Troops with Faulty Helmets

Shattered Minds is the first book to investigate how American military bureaucracies have let our troops down by failing to upgrade one of the most important pieces of personal safety equipment - the combat helmet. Two longtime employees of North Dakota defense contractor Sioux Manufacturing discovered that the required density of the Kevlar material woven into netting of combat helmets was being shorted. After bringing their discovery to the attention of management, their boss accused them of stealing company secrets and having an adulterous affair. Both employees were fired, leading to a lawsuit and a judgment they won in court, which eventually brought the company's bad faith practices to light.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 336 pages
\n Publication date: 01 March 2019
\n Publisher: Potomac Books Inc
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Shattered Minds is a groundbreaking book that delves into the shocking failure of American military bureaucracies to upgrade one of the most crucial pieces of personal safety equipment: the combat helmet. Two longstanding employees of Sioux Manufacturing, a North Dakota defense contractor, made a startling discovery while inspecting the Kevlar material used in combat helmets. They found that the required density of this material was being shorted, putting soldiers at risk of severe head injuries. Instead of addressing this illegal practice, the employees were accused of stealing company secrets and engaging in an adulterous affair. Tragically, both were fired, leading to a lawsuit and a judgment that exposed the company's unethical practices.

Coinciding with this, retired Navy doctor Robert Meaders became embroiled in a bizarre and irrational struggle with Army and Marine bureaucracies when his Marine grandson informed him about the inadequate protective webbing inside military helmets. Meaders' investigation revealed that the military was resistant to upgrading its combat equipment, despite the alarming risk of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) that plagues soldiers long after their combat days.

Authors Robert Bauman and Dina Rasor, with their combined 85 years of experience covering and investigating the Pentagon, explore the underlying reasons behind this betrayal of American troops. They shed light on the military's resistance to change, citing factors such as bureaucratic inertia, political pressure, and a lack of accountability. The authors also offer practical solutions to address the problem, including mandating stricter quality control measures, increasing transparency, and fostering collaboration between the public, press, and military departments.

By highlighting the personal stories of these whistleblowers and providing a comprehensive analysis of the military's shortcomings, Shattered Minds serves as a powerful call to action. It underscores the importance of prioritizing the safety and well-being of our troops, and demands that the military take immediate steps to rectify this issue. The book offers a roadmap for reform, ensuring that U.S. troops receive the best possible helmet protection to safeguard them against the dangers of combat.

\n Weight: 654g\n
Dimension: 162 x 236 x 34 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781640120365\n \n