Body armor to be independently reviewed

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army's body armor will undergo independent assessment, based on a government recommendation for such a review, Army Secretary John McHugh said.

The National Research Council will perform the independent assessment as recommended by the Government Accountability Office as a way to address potential concern about current testing methods, McHugh said Friday in a release.

"We are committed to providing our war-fighters with world-class equipment, and are confident that our body armor continues to defeat the threat to our soldiers," McHugh said. "The Army welcomes this independent review, and is grateful for the analysis and expertise of the National Research Council."

The NRC assessment is to ensure that the Army maintains the highest standards for testing processes and protocols, the Pentagon said.