Most body armor worn by Fire/EMS is adapted from a military or law-enforcement product and handed to medical responders as-is. The NAR Responder Ballistic PPE Vest IIIA answers a different question: what does ballistic protection look like when a medical company designs it for medical responders? The result prioritizes Fire/EMS realities — rapid sizing between crew members, compatibility under turnout and EMS coveralls, slim profile, all-shift weight — while meeting the same NIJ 0101.06 standard as LE armor.
If your department shares armor across shifts, can one vest size to every responder who wears it — and is it safe against the skin all day?
Rapidly adjustable shoulder straps let a single vest size quickly to different operators — key for agencies that share armor rather than issuing individually — with a 62 in. max waist covering the full range of responder body types. Fitted external plate pockets (front and rear) distribute weight more comfortably than internal pockets for extended wear. PFAS-free construction addresses the occupational-health concern about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in gear worn against the skin for full shifts. Multiple solid and high-visibility reflective colorways serve both tactical RTF and daily EMS roles.
Why This Vest
Designed by a medical company around responder needs — under-PPE fit, all-shift weight, and rapid sizing — not a repurposed tactical carrier.
NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA certified, with added special-threat testing against fragmentation — relevant to blast and secondary-device threats at an MCI.
Rapidly adjustable shoulder straps and a 62 in. max waist let one vest fit a rotating crew — economical armor for agencies that don’t issue individually.
Manufactured without per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — now best practice for daily-wear armor against the skin.
Ballistic Test Data
| 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 | 5.7×28 27gr SS195 | P-BFS avg 17 mm |
Test data as published by North American Rescue. Soft armor protects against the threats for which it is certified and tested; it is not rated against rifle-caliber rounds. Refer to NAR documentation and your agency’s armor policy for fitting, plate selection, and threat-level guidance.
Color Options
| Solid | Reflective |
|---|---|
| Black | Black w/Orange · Black w/Yellow |
| Red | Red w/Orange · Red w/Yellow |
| Navy Blue | Navy w/Yellow |
| Coyote Tan | Coyote w/Orange · Coyote w/Yellow |
| Multicam | — |
Who Wears It
Daily-wear and RTF protection with high-visibility reflective options for scene safety.
Warm-zone active-violence response where medical crews enter alongside law enforcement.
Departments issuing per-shift rather than per-person, needing fast cross-crew sizing.
Build The System
Extend coverage and add front-of-armor trauma capability to the responder vest.
Level IIIA lateral coverage that closes the side gap.
Front-of-armor trauma load for warm-zone response.
Hard armor plates and additional protective platforms.
Up Close
Level IIIA with frag testing, rapid cross-crew sizing, PFAS-free — built for the shift, not adapted from a battlefield.
Specifications
| Protection Level | NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA + fragmentation special-threat tested |
| Weight | 9.1 lb |
| Dimensions | 15 × 18 × 0.5 in |
| Maximum Waist | 62 in. |
| Plate Pockets | Fitted external (front and rear) |
| Shoulder Straps | Rapidly adjustable — fits all sizes |
| PFAS-Free | Yes |
| Manufacturer | North American Rescue |
Related searches: NAR responder ballistic vest, Level IIIA fire EMS armor, RTF ballistic vest, PFAS-free body armor, reflective ballistic vest, daily wear soft armor, adjustable IIIA vest.
All products sourced direct from North American Rescue. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
Available Options:
- 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
Specifications coming soon. Contact us for detailed product information.
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