The soldier of the future

Back to the Future is the motto. In 1959, the US magazine "LIFE" presented the soldier of the future: he wears a nylon combat vest, an infrared night vision device, and a few other things that are quite reminiscent of the present.

It also includes wearing a helmet with an integrated radio, which is not entirely accurate, but it does resemble a modern MICH with comtacs.

The night vision device looks very up-to-date.

Face protection is currently relevant again, especially when you think of the Crye AirFrame and its chops, the cheek protection. This warrior here has face protection, which is probably primarily for protection against flames. Gloves are also an essential part of combat gear today. In 1959, however, this had a completely different background: this warrior is supposed to win a nuclear war.

On his back, he is carrying what is now a slap charge used for breaching doors. Back then, they thought that the future GI would blow up his own foxhole.

The vest is made of nylon and bulletproof. However, it does not look like a modern armor yet, but more like the classic flak jacket known from the Vietnam War. The uniform certainly blends in better than the UCP from 50 years later.