When Did The US Military Start Issuing Hearing Protection

35,628 Views | 35 Replies | Last: 3 yr ago by Agent--Orange
Madman
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
?

And before it was standard issue for combat troops what if anything was common for front line guys to use to protect their hearing?
NormanAg
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Don't know the answer to your question, but I've known quite a few folks who worked around early jets in the 50's and 60's who were hearing impaired - and a few who were actually deaf.

My FIL, who worked for Boeing Wichita for 36 years starting in the early 50's, was one.
Trinity Ag
How long do you want to ignore this user?
S
I entered it 1991 and it was a standard uniform item in the Armor world.

You used to wear earplugs from the button of your BDU pockets, with the unit crest on the earplug case.

We wore them in combat when I first deployed in 2004.

Zip 88
How long do you want to ignore this user?
At least in '90; flightline work.
CT'97
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
My father started his Navy career in 78 and any time he was on board a ship I remember his ear plugs hanging from his pocket. I assume he wore them in loud areas of the ship but he has lost a lot of hearing.

As far as combat today, it's very dependent on what you are doing. In my experience the guys riding in vehicles all wore the Peltor/Bose ear muff style internal communication systems. Everyone who dismounted took those off and didn't wear anything.

It's issued, it's inspected prior to going on a mission, but rarely if ever did I see it worn.
Madman
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
The WWII generation is mostly gone. It seemed to me that most of those guys were stone deaf. The guys I have met from later conflicts seem to have faired better which got me thinking about hearing protection as a possible answer.
redag06
How long do you want to ignore this user?
No hearing protection in the 60's in Vietnam.
terata
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
1974
stbabs
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Terata is pretty close. Army was doing the plugs in the button hole thing by 74. Marine Corps started pushing them a couple years later; but too late to save my hearing. High freq was gone by then.
WBBQ74
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Agree with Terata. Had them at my Armor BOC at Fort Knox in Jan75. Agree with TrinityAG on the BDU button hole location, too, later on.

Read your posts on SSG Romesha on other threads, Trinity. You did good on his behalf and America's behalf as well. God speed.

New Boot Goofin
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I've always been curious about this. So for the guys who have served in combat, how does it affect communication between team members or the ability to hear enemies while clearing houses. I realize hand signals and all...but it seems like it could also cause problems.

I have tinnitus and slight hearing loss due to firearms and playing drums for 20+ years. I can't imagine trying to clear houses with muffled hearing.

[This message has been edited by 04txag007 (edited 2/14/2013 9:29a).]
F4GIB71
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I was at Fort Sill for Summer Camp in 1970. No hearing protection (other than sticking fingers in ears when shooting mortars or 106mm recoil less rifle). Switched to Air Force for opportunity to fly. Vaguely remember ear plugs and muffs being "available" but never pushed. Didn't like wearing ear plugs under flight helmet and too much trouble to remove and store before putting on helmet. No where to store muffs in a fighter cockpit subject to negative G's. Our maintenance troops did wear muffs though.
I have paid the price though. I am very conscious now as old fart, competitive shooter trying to maintain what I still have.
Post removed:
by user
Gator2_01
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Everyone I know who actively cleared buildings used Peltors. Wearing those you can comfortably have a conversation speaking normally at a firing range. Amazing things!
Gator2_01
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Also, all the radio comms were routed through them.
terata
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Even though hearing protection was available, it wasn't always used as "required." Any soldier, marine, sailor, air crapper who has ever been on a flight line, an airborne operation, helicopters, armor, infantry in the field, or combat can tell you punching something in your ears as the guns go off ain't the first priority. I did have HP, but I also suffered a high frequency hearing loss and have tinnitus after 25 years on active duty. HP helped, but it did not the issue. I volunteered, I knew the job was dangerous when I took it, I accept the consequences of my actions. I would still spend time on active duty if I had to do it all over again.

[This message has been edited by terata (edited 2/17/2013 8:13p).]
Post removed:
by user
Hey Nav
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
What? Say again.
HollywoodBQ
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
At ROTC Advanced Camp in 1992, I remember going through the medical screening station and getting fitted for earplugs and then they stamped in our medical records:
EARPLUGS ISSUED AND FIT
They came in 3 sizes
APHIS AG
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Had a pair of earplugs as part of my uniform for my fatigues hanging from the top button hole when I joined the Army in 1976.
Redpot76
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Late 70's I felt the ear plug case was a part of the uniform to be seen and not used. As an artillery officer I preferred spent primer casings. Of course, I have bad hearing and even worse with respect to my wife (selective hearing)so the primer case short cut in not having to open and close that little plastic case might not have worked out so well after all. But when you're young and bullet proof...
harleyds2
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Started flight school in AF in 1984. Issued
Say Chowdah
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Fort Knox OSUT in 1990

Issued ear plugs during reception. Was a part of uniform during all training and then in Germany.

Let the 1SG catch you at the range without using hearing protection and it was your ass, your PSG's ass, your tank commander's ass etc.
Msgt USAF Ret
How long do you want to ignore this user?
We were issued ear plugs when I was in Tech school in '59 and they were available to us throughout my career. An amusing thing about ear plugs, some aircraft had plastic jars in them which had something that looked like bubble gum in them. It was actually ear plugs made from soft wax impregnated cotton. You would roll them between your finger and thumb and form them into a sort of cone then insert them in your ears. I've seen several guys pop them in their mouth and bite down before realizing it wasn't meant for human consumption.

Redpot, If you forgot your ear plugs when you went to the firing range they made us put empty cases in our ears. These were .30 Carbine empties and later they started isueing muffs for us to use with or without plugs.
Martin Cash
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Still have the ones I was issued by the army in 1975. Wear them every time I mow, weedeat or till.
Bronco71
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
I entered active duty in 1971 and I remember having to carry ear plugs, although I obviously didn't insert them into my ears often enough. I also remember having to put a red dot on the face of our watches to remind us of safety. I'm still here so I guess it worked.
mrbill757
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I attended undergraduate pilot training back in 1976. Hearing loss prevention was not part of the curriculum as it now is today. We wore these cheap hard plastic ear muffs out to the flight line. One would at times grab a pair of foam ear plugs on the way out to the flight line at the chute shop, but often they were not available. I, along with many others did not wear ear plugs since they adversely affected one's ability to hear the radios and one's screaming instructor. It was all I could do to concentrate on what was being said without having earplugs to muffle what I was hearing. The real problem was transitioning from wearing the plastic ear muffs to donning the helmet. Quite often as one was doing that a screaming T37 would taxi by or perhaps begin to start engines. As a student, I did not have the luxury to wait 4 or 5 minutes until the aircraft next to us had started engines and taxied out toward the runway. Experts say that when wears a helmet there is enough leakage to cause hearing damage over time if one were not to be wearing earplugs. I ended up as an instructor pilot in the T37 after my first operational unit and flew the world's loudest dog whistle for over 3 years. To this day, I am convinced my hearing loss was caused by my time in the T37. I have worn hearing aids for about 10 years now and also have tinitus. I am in the middle of filing for disability due to the noise from this aircraft. Time will tell. I've lost over 1/2 my hearing.
mrbill757
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Honey.....you never listen!! I say, "That's because I can't hear you!!!!!"
Rabid Cougar
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Lost a Marine Corps Scholarship in 1984 due to failed hearing test (80% loss in right ear) before going to Quantico. They wouldn't give me a waiver because I could claim disability if I lost the rest of my hearing, which they knew I would.

Plus side...... you can sleep with the windows open and not hear all the critters outside.
NCBeekeeper
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Combat Engineer, 1976 thru 1989. Honestly can't remember being issued earplugs. Constant ringing/crickets in my ears and hearing loss. Largest charge I remember initiating was 250lbs out in Ft. Irwin. Also multiple 40lb cratering charges, small arms fire, Browning 50cal, M60.
DC-Aggie-78
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
terata said:

1974
APHIS AG
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Hearing protection was part of my fatigue uniform in 1977. Wore the case with plugs through my top button hole.
Martin Cash
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Fort Know 1975. We were firing Sheridans with 155 mm gun. We had finished firing and we were sitting in the bleachers behind the firing line. Range officer called cease fire. Removed my ear plugs. The Sheridan right in front of us fired off a round. My ears have been ringing ever since.
74OA
How long do you want to ignore this user?
AG
Earplugs and ear muffs were standard issue when I joined in 1974.
88Warrior
How long do you want to ignore this user?
When I went in the USAF in 1990 those of us that worked the flight-line were issued them. We wore them along with some David Clarks over the top..
Page 1 of 2
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.