something i've wondered

[texas_rebel_1980]

this may sound goofy but i have always wondered this.

when i am shooting the AR or the AK, i MUST wear ear protection because they are so damned loud. i always wondered, do soldiers in combat wear any ear protection? i can't imagine how loud a firefight can be and i know the military has bigger guns than me like say artillery? like i said its a goofy question but where better to ask?

[Radio Relay]

Combat beats the hell out of your ears. Not only small arms fire, but incoming and outgoing, and any variety of explosions.

Back in the day, there was nothing for your ears except wax ear plugs (which I only saw at the range). After an intense firefight, my ears would ring for about an hour.

When I was an FNG in country, I bitched about it, but my complaints fell on deaf ears (pun intended). After awhile I got used to it, and my ears seemed to get back to normal, but I've had tinnitus to this day from my time in Vietnam, 40 years ago.

[Dave Starr]

+1 on the tinnitis. Same reason.

[Smoke_Works]

Adrenaline gets you past loud bang bangs when your life is on the line. Sure the ringing lasts a while, but at least you can still hear ringing and not the 72 virgins dating service calling up 'NEXt'

[texas_rebel_1980]

thanks for the answers to my trivial little question. i know you have more to worry about in combat than saving your hearing, i don't know why i have been hung up on the ear thing. and thanks for your service to the country.

[matlt]

Never came close to seeing any combat, but we were issued these cheap plastic earplugs that supposedly had two different modes. One ended worked like normal ear plugs, the other let more sound through and close a valve inside when presented with a loud noise. I used them while working on aircraft and really couldn't see a difference between either "mode". I wouldnt be surprised at all if ground pounders are issued something similar, but something that actually works. Even if they do get issued something like this, the majority of people wouldnt use them anyway. Wearing body army and a kevlar all day is uncomfortable enough, the hearing protection makes it much worse.

[yocan]

Some guys on the 240s will wear it occasionally. I believe the arty guys cover their ears or wear muffs depending on their position (needing to hear commands and what not) while firing.

Takes 72 hours after a firefight to be able to hear again. That scene in blackhawk down where the SAW made him deaf, its not an exageration from what I can understand.

You do think about your ears the first couple of times, but the adrenaline cushions the effects you percieve/keeps them from blowing (still damage but never heard of actual holes) You get used to it. In training this weekend everyone near the 240s had to wear eye and ear pro. Including the observers, our escorts, the gun crew, and our section leader. Though some of the gunners took off the glasses due to not liking the eye protection while shooting (I think in training thats just stupid, in Iraq you have to wear glasses.

[matlt]

I went through several rounds of qualification with an M16 during basic without any hearing protection at all. Actually didn't have any issue at all and my hearing is just fine. (according to audiograms supposedly better than average for my age)

[Tally XD]

Another sufferer of tinnitus. Was a tanker in the Army. 105mm, 7.62 and .50cal will make you hurt.

[Smoke_Works]

Originally Posted by yocan

Some guys on the 240s will wear it occasionally. I believe the arty guys cover their ears or wear muffs depending on their position (needing to hear commands and what not) while firing.

Takes 72 hours after a firefight to be able to hear again. That scene in blackhawk down where the SAW made him deaf, its not an exageration from what I can understand.

You do think about your ears the first couple of times, but the adrenaline cushions the effects you percieve/keeps them from blowing (still damage but never heard of actual holes) You get used to it. In training this weekend everyone near the 240s had to wear eye and ear pro. Including the observers, our escorts, the gun crew, and our section leader. Though some of the gunners took off the glasses due to not liking the eye protection while shooting (I think in training thats just stupid, in Iraq you have to wear glasses.

Ha, good times. I was in Arty, M198 155mm Howies, nice bang bang there, I tell ya...huh who said that?

We used to put used cigarette butts in our ears when it got loud.