Name: Responder Ballistic PPE Vest - Level IIIA
Brand: North American Rescue
Price: 999.99 USD
Availability: InStock

$999.99

PRODUCT INFORMATION

North American Rescue · Soft Armor Vest

Responder Ballistic PPE Vest - Level IIIA

Soft armor built by a medical company for medical responders: Rapidly adjustable shoulder straps so one vest sizes across a rotating crew, fitted external plate pockets, PFAS-free construction for all-shift wear against the skin, and 9.1 lb total. NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA with additional fragmentation special-threat testing. Twelve solid and high-visibility colorways.

NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA as statedFrag special-threat testedPFAS-free9.1 lb · 62 in. Max waist

Shared armor only works if someone owns it. Size it, inspect it before every shift, and pull it from service after any ballistic event even when nothing looks wrong.

What's Included

One carrier and two soft armor panels per order, in the selected colorway. Nothing about what ships changes with colour. Tap a section to read what is in the package and which colorways are offered.

VIEW ▾In the Package — carrier plus front and rear soft armor panels

1x Responder Ballistic PPE Vest carrier, in the selected colorway
1x Front soft armor panel, 15 x 18 x 0.5 in. · NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA as stated by the manufacturer
1x Rear soft armor panel · NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA as stated by the manufacturer
Fitted external plate pockets, front and rear - hard armor plates are NOT included
Rapidly adjustable shoulder straps, to a 62 in. Maximum waist
PFAS-free construction throughout
The vest cummerbund and the RTF Chest Pouch are separate products and are NOT included
No medical equipment, tourniquets, IFAK, pouches or patches are listed as included

VIEW ▾Colorways — twelve options, solid and reflective

Black
Black w/Orange Reflective
Black w/Yellow Reflective
Red
Red w/Orange Reflective
Red w/Yellow Reflective
Navy Blue
Navy Blue w/Yellow Reflective
Coyote Tan
Coyote w/Orange Reflective
Coyote w/Yellow Reflective
Multicam - offered as a solid colorway only, with no reflective option

▾Specifications

Responder Ballistic PPE Vest IIIA - specifications as published

Specification	Detail
Manufacturer	North American Rescue
Stated protection level	"NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA + fragmentation special-threat tested" and describes the vest as "NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA certified." Reproduced with the standard and edition exactly as printed. No model or part number and no NIJ Compliant Products List entry is published on the page, so the certification cannot be verified from this listing alone.
Rifle protection	None. Soft armor "is not rated against rifle-caliber rounds." The external pockets accept hard plates, sold separately, for environments with a rifle threat.
Fragmentation testing	Special-threat testing against fragmentation, in addition to the NIJ 0101.06 threats. See the Ballistic Test Data section.
Total weight	9.1 lb
Panel dimensions	15 x 18 x 0.5 in.
Strike-face marking	Not stated on the legacy page. Confirm the strike-face orientation on the panel label before the vest is worn.
Maximum waist	62 in.
Shoulder straps	Rapidly adjustable the vest fits all sizes within the stated maximum waist
Plate pockets	Fitted external, front and rear; hard plates sold separately
PFAS-free	Yes
Warranty	Not stated on the legacy page. A warranty and a service life are different things and neither substitutes for the other.
Colors	Twelve - see the Colorways section
Shipping restriction	MED-TAC does not ship body armor to Connecticut or New York, and this vest ships with its armor panels.

An NIJ level attaches to a specific armor model tested to a specific standard edition and listed on the NIJ Compliant Products List - request the model number and the NIJ listing from NAR before an agency accepts this vest into service.

▾Who Carries It

Fire and EMS services issuing daily-wear or callout armor, with high-visibility reflective colorways for scene safety · Rescue Task Force teams entering the warm zone alongside law enforcement during active-violence response · Agencies that issue per shift rather than per person, using the rapid-adjust straps to size one vest across a rotating crew · Hospital and event medical teams staging for mass-casualty incidents where a secondary threat cannot be excluded.

Level IIIA is a handgun and fragmentation class, not rifle protection - if the assessed threat includes rifle fire, the external pockets take hard plates that you source and verify separately. Shared armor needs an owner: Assign someone to inspect the panels, stitching and carrier before each shift, and to remove the vest from service after any ballistic event even when no damage is visible. Confirm fit under turnout gear or coveralls with your own PPE before agency-wide issue.

▾Ballistic Test Data As Published

Reproduced exactly as published by North American Rescue on the legacy product page. MED-TAC has not tested this vest and does not restate, convert or extrapolate these figures. V50 is a ballistic limit velocity; P-BFS is perforation and backface-signature performance.

Standard	Threat	V50 / P-BFS
NIJ 0101.06	.357 SIG 125gr TMJ	V50 1,867 ft/s · P-BFS 27.3 mm
NIJ 0101.06	.44 Mag 240gr JHP	V50 1,661 ft/s · P-BFS 36 mm
Special threat	9mm +P+ 127gr SXT	V50 1,754 ft/s · P-BFS 24.6 mm
Frag special threat	2gr RCC frag	V50 3,060 ft/s
Frag special threat	17gr FSP (.22 cal)	V50 2,017 ft/s
Special threat	5.7x28 27gr SS195	P-BFS avg 17 mm

The legacy page states: "Soft armor protects against the threats for which it is certified and tested; it is not rated against rifle-caliber rounds." Rows marked "Special threat" and "Frag special threat" are additional manufacturer testing outside the NIJ 0101.06 certification threats and are not part of any NIJ level. Refer to NAR documentation and your agency armor policy for fitting, plate selection and threat-level guidance.

Genuine North American Rescue

Sourced direct from the manufacturer or an authorized master distributor. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.

Built around MARCH. Every kit we sell maps to the MARCH protocol — Massive hemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia. Learn the sequence in our complete MARCH guide.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Available Options:

Negro
Negro con reflectante naranja.
Negro con reflectante amarillo
Rojo
Rojo con reflectante naranja
Rojo con reflectante amarillo
Azul marino
Azul marino con reflectante amarillo
Coyote Tan
Coyote con reflectante naranja
Coyote con reflectante amarillo
multicámara

SPECS & MEASUREMENTS

Specifications coming soon. Contact us for detailed product information.

SHIPPING & RETURNS

Domestic & Military Shipping

Free Standard Shipping: Automatically applied at checkout on all orders $200 and above within the 48 contiguous United States (CONUS).

APO/FPO Military Addresses: Unconditionally free standard shipping on every order, with no minimum purchase required.

Order Processing & Tracking

Standard Gear: In-stock medical devices, consumables, and tactical packs process within 48 hours.

Stocked Kit Bags: Custom-built kits ship within 7-10 days as they are assembled by hand at our South Florida facility.

Automated carrier tracking details are emailed immediately upon shipment dispatch.

30-Day Returns & Medical Safety

Returns: Unused, unopened equipment in original manufacturer packaging is eligible for return within 30 days of delivery.

Bio-Safety Notice: To ensure sterility and patient safety, medical consumables with opened or broken tamper-evident seals cannot be returned.

Return Facility: MED-TAC International Corp., 15757 Pines Blvd, Suite 154, Pembroke Pines, FL 33027.

Export Compliance

North American Rescue (NAR) products and rifle hard armor plates are strictly restricted to US and APO/FPO addresses and cannot be exported internationally.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is the NAR Responder Ballistic PPE Vest Level IIIA designed specifically for Fire/EMS?

Yes. North American Rescue designed the Responder Ballistic PPE Vest IIIA specifically for Fire/EMS daily wear and RTF deployment. Key design priorities include rapidly adjustable shoulder straps to fit different crew members, a maximum waist size of 62" to accommodate all first responder body types, thin profile compatible with turnout gear, external fitted plate pockets for comfort during extended wear, and PFAS-free construction for occupational health safety.

What ballistic threats does the NAR Responder Ballistic PPE Vest stop?

The vest is NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA certified, stopping .357 SIG 125gr TMJ (V50: 1,867 ft/s), .44 Mag 240gr JHP (V50: 1,661 ft/s), and 9mm +P+ 127gr SXT (V50: 1,754 ft/s). It is additionally special-threat tested for fragmentation including 2gr RCC frag (V50: 3,060 ft/s), 17gr FSP (V50: 2,017 ft/s), and 5.7×28mm 27gr SS195.

What does PFAS-free mean for the NAR Responder Ballistic PPE Vest?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a class of synthetic chemicals historically used in some body armor manufacturing processes. Growing research links long-term PFAS exposure to health risks, particularly concerning for first responders who wear armor daily. The NAR Responder Vest is manufactured without PFAS, addressing occupational health concerns for Fire/EMS personnel who wear body armor for extended periods.

Can one NAR Responder Vest be shared between shift workers?

Yes. The rapidly adjustable shoulder straps allow quick resizing between different operators without tools, making it practical for fire departments and EMS agencies that issue a single vest per seat rather than per person. Proper sanitation procedures between users are recommended.

Does the NAR Responder Ballistic PPE Vest Level IIIA have plate pockets?

Yes. The vest includes fitted external plate pockets on the front and rear, designed to accept supplementary hard armor plates for upgraded rifle-threat protection. The external pocket position, rather than internal, is noted as more comfortable for extended wear and simplifies plate insertion and removal.

Is the Responder Ballistic PPE Vest IIIA rated for rifle rounds?

No. Level IIIA soft armor stops pistol calibers up to .357 SIG and .44 Mag, plus fragmentation as tested. It is not rated against rifle rounds (5.56, 7.62, etc.). For environments with a confirmed rifle threat, the vest's external plate pockets accept hard armor plates (sold separately) to upgrade protection level.

Can the Responder Vest be worn under turnout gear?

The Responder Vest is specifically designed for Fire/EMS use, including under-PPE wear. The slim profile and 15 × 18 × 0.5 in panel dimensions are compatible with most turnout gear and EMS coveralls. Confirm fit with your specific PPE before agency-wide issuance.

What is the service life of the Responder Ballistic PPE Vest?

North American Rescue specifies the recommended service life in the product IFU. Soft armor typically has a 5-year rated service life from date of manufacture under standard NIJ guidelines. Inspect the vest before each shift for damage to panels, stitching, and carrier. Remove from service after any ballistic event, even if no visible damage is present.

Is the Responder Vest PFAS-free?

Yes. The NAR Responder Ballistic PPE Vest IIIA is manufactured without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS-free construction is particularly important for daily-wear armor worn directly against the skin, where long-term PFAS exposure is an occupational health concern for Fire/EMS personnel.

What is the NSN for the Responder Ballistic PPE Vest IIIA?

Contact MED-TAC International for current NSN, government pricing, and procurement vehicle options. Fire/EMS agency procurement may be eligible for FEMA BRIC/BSIR grant funding or cooperative purchasing through GSA or applicable state contracts.