Reading: SEAL Team – Behind the kit – Helmets

Bravo throughout the 3 seasons of SEAL Team have been using chiefly 2 well known manufacturers of ballistic helmets, Ops-Core (Gentex) and Team Wendy. There have been some extra US and not US manufacturers american samoa well seen sporadically, though the show has remained true to actual kit and equipment assigned to and chosen by the elite. The below blog breaks down the helmet types and aims to highlight when and where they were used aboard any interesting / alone accessories seen used. As previously mentioned in my blogs, Bravo are a team of singular individuals and each has the ability to choose within reason the equipment that they use, that is on put up to the United States military. Personalisation of kit is overabundant and again this shows in the teams helmet setups.

I ‘ve analysed a huge number of pictures and to the best of my cognition I ‘ve managed to identify the majority of helmets and accessories, but there ‘s constantly more to spot out there ! ahead of this blog there are two types of helmet that are deserving separating, ballistic and bump. Ballistic as the name implies means that the helmets are tested to specific conditions and are to a limit, ballistic proof. Bump helmets offer no ballistic protection and are designed to protect the operator from deaden injury such as a bump by flying debris, a fall or a sudden affect.

GENTEX & Ops-Core

GENTEX CORPORATION are the name behind the Ops Core ballistic helmets used extensively through SEAL Team. GENTEX HQ is in Pennsylvania and has offices across the US and UK. originally the company began as a silk throwing plant in 1894 and over the years has expanded into ballistic protective covering and helmet accessories. GENTEX not entirely provide equipment to the military forces but besides to emergency services and jurisprudence enforcement. It has over the years progressed to be a leader in force protective equipment.

Ops-Core is a separate of the GENTEX portfolio of helmet design for defense, emergency response and security system forces.

Visit the Ops-Core website here for Ballistic helmets

Visit the Ops-Core website here for Non-Ballistic helmets

Ops-Core helmets available;

1 – Ops-Core FAST MT Super High Cut ( ballistic ) 2 – Ops-Core FAST XP High Cut ( ballistic ) 3 – Ops-Core FAST LE High Cut ( ballistic ) 4 – Ops-Core FAST SF Super High Cut ( ballistic ) ( now replaced the FAST MT ) 5 – Ops-Core FAST SF Carbon Composite ( bump ) 6 – Ops-Core FAST Carbon High Cut ( blow ) 7 – Ops-Core FAST Bump High Cut ( blow )

ballistic helmets 1 – 4 show below.

Whilst reviewing the footage and images for Bravo to identify the helmets used, there is one bare partially of the Ops-Core family that helps to differentiate between the types – rails ( although do note that rails can be swapped ). Looking at the below persona and specifically at the rails, each of the helmet types has a different train and the fixings and attachment points are perceptibly different. ( The FAST LE and FAST XP are both identical, hence only the FAST LE prototype being shown below ).

Looking at the rear of the rails of the above helmet types, it can be seen that each is unlike again. The most noticeable differences seen are the attachment grooves located above the rails rear fixing degree .

Helmet covers did make identification of helmet discrepancy difficult but broadly the rails did help to identify them.

The Ops-Core brand is the dominant allele helmet used throughout the seasons by Bravo. It ‘s been seen in function by the team, steer impound elements, corroborate elements in the plain and by other not US forces.

Team Wendy

team Wendy provides equipment to the professionals in the Military, Search & Rescue, Law Enforcement and for Adventurers. Team Wendy was actually yield from calamity in 1997 when the founders daughter died from a skiing accident. TW was created to produce equipment to never let this happen to anyone else. TW focuses on auspices against dangerous and dangerous head trauma injuries and their advanced helmet liner and embroider has aided in protecting soldiers providing safety and consolation. TW products are manufactured in Ohio next to their engineer and chemistry labs in their huge fabrication facility.

Visit the Team Wendy website here for Ballistic and Non-Ballistic helmets

Team Wendy helmets available;

1 – EXFIL Ballistic 2 – EXFIL Ballistic SL 3 – EXFIL LTP ( bump ) 4 – EXFIL Carbon ( bump )

Again whilst reviewing the footage and images for Bravo to identify the helmets used, there are a combination of things that help to differentiate between the types. The independent identifier between ballistic and dislodge for Team Wendy in the newer models, is that ballistic has no tune vents whilst the bulge variants do. Looking at the under effigy and specifically at the circle sections ;

Red – All – ahead of ear share of helmet in Ballistic & SL variants is gently sloping and thick complex. In the Carbon & LTP variants, this is thin polycarbonate / carbon substantial. Green – Carbon / LTP – one standout identifier is the size of the air vents. The carbon has smaller streamlined air vents. Blue – LTP – mold marks can be seen in this segment.

Looking at the rear of the helmets, it can be seen that each is different again. The most obtrusive differences seen highlighted in bolshevik are between the Carbon and the LTP where the air vent section again varies.

Helmet covers did make recognition of helmet random variable unmanageable but by and large the front of ear section did help to identify between ballistic and Carbon / LTP.

The Team Wendy brand whilst new to Bravo nowadays looks to be embedded in Bravos cages as a authentic and lightweight alternative to ballistic helmets.

Helmet accessories

Bravo as mentioned will setup their helmets specifically ahead of their mission with the accessories that they ‘ll need to complete the mission. As such helmet setups change regularly but there are a phone number of reproducible pieces of equipment used no matter where they deploy. Below is a dislocation of accessories used across the team and across the seasons ;

Jason Hayes

Jason predominantly uses the Ops-Core FAST MT in the AOR1 practice. This is fitted with the provide standard MT rails.

The Ops-Core FAST MT is late seen in the seasons with the Ops-Core Skeleton ARC Rails (FAST MT & SF) fitted which raises the rail up the helmet and creates a gap between it and the brim of the helmet ( as seen in the 3rd picture below ). As Bravo advance in fourth dimension and across operational theatres, the TW Exfil Carbon / LTP is used again by Jason, notably with helmet covers attached.

Ray Perry

Ray is one of the team that alternates rails frequently across the seasons on his helmets. In the foremost season he utilises the Ops-Core FAST MT fitted with the standard Ops-Core ARC rails as seen in 1st and 2nd mental picture and swaps between the ARC rails and the Ops-Core Skeleton ARC rails as shown in 3rd picture. As with the rest of Bravo when manoeuver in Europe he changes with the team to use a TW Exfil Carbon / LTP.

Brock Reynolds

Brock uses the Ops-Core FAST XP with the Ops-Core FAST ARC XP & ST rails fitted. Brock belated transitions to use the TW Exfil Carbon / LTP with the standard Multicam helmet cover.

Sonny Quinn

Sonny has chiefly through the seasons been using the Ops-Core FAST SF helmet. Through the episodes his helmet has been one of those that has remained unaccented and without many accessories attached.

During the Yemen embassy siege bipartite it ‘s believed that he ‘s used the Team Wendy Exfil Carbon. This is due to the fact that he and the team are either using pre-manufactured versions of the Carbon or some careful craft and sculpting from the effects team has filled in the air vents on top of the helmet. The front of auricle section as seen in the 3rd visualize below is identical to the Exfil Carbon.

Trent Sawyer

trento continues to use his Crye AIRFRAME and it ‘s either the standard Airframe helmet or the Airframe ATX variant ( Law Enforcement interpretation ). Helmet is fitted with the Crye Precision Airframe rails to provide real number estate for accessories.

trent further uses the TW Exfil LTP as seen in the VIP catch in Europe. It ‘s highly likely to be this adaptation of the Exfil as a charity event photograph shows his plate carrier and helmet on a board. A detectable variation between the LTP and Carbon is that the LTP has larger air hang holes compared to the Carbon, a well as the incorporate Wilcox shroud.

Clay Spenser

Clays mainstay helmet is the Ops-Core FAST MT, which belated in the season does get swapped for the TW Exfil Carbon / LTP. The Ops-Core FAST Carbon High Cut helmet which is a blow interpretation and not a ballistic adaptation, did feature in the Mumbai rescue episode and has appeared sporadically as shown in the 6th picture below.

Scott Carter ‘Full Metal’

Full Metal by and large wears the Ops-Core FAST MT and when engage in an urban environment switches to the TW Exfil Carbon / LTP.

Summer Kairos – EOD

EOD Specialist Summer who is attached to Bravo during numerous deployments wears the standard Ops-Core FAST MT helmet.

Staff Sergeant Vanessa Ryan

Ryan was assigned to Bravo for one mission as a contribution of the CST ( civilian Support Team ) in a cultural liaison function. Ryan uses the standard MICH (Modular Integrated Communications Helmet) 2000.

3C9 – Charlie Team

In ‘The Spinning Wheel ‘ episode where Bravo and Charlie must work together to breach and clear an enemy bunker, one of the scenes involves Sonny confronting 3C9. A snapshot of the helmet worn by 3C9 appears to show it as exchangeable to the Nexus SF Helmet, identified by the high cut and the rail having ‘EMS ‘ moulded into it.

Thoughts and opinion

Helmets are a personal option and it all depends on the environment you ‘ll be operating in. In open grassland / forest it has its ‘ merits and will allow you to mount all the necessity kit should your day op stray into a night op. In an urban environment I ‘d highly recommend a helmet whether it be ballistic or bulge to protect your head when entering a room at accelerate, climbing up / down ladders or when debris is flying through the air. The second choice is ballistic or bump. This all depends on what you ‘ll be using it for. For the most parts a blow helmet will wholly suffice, plus with it being lighter, when adding accessories to it it ‘ll still be better than adding them to an already heavy ballistic helmet. Bravo use Ops-Core and Team Wendy. There are other manufacturers out there that fabrication ballistic and demote helmets that do n’t necessarily originate from China. If what you ‘re after is strictly aesthetic, you can save cost by purchasing a replica. Again it depends on what you want to afix to it. If you ‘re attaching £4k NVDs, it ‘ll be worth purchasing real sword as quality and life is guaranteed. I ‘ve previously used a multitude of helmets, both ballistic and bump. I always come back to bump because of the system of weights factor and wanting to reduce neck strain.

One extra point that I barely see covered anywhere in reviews or manufacturers promo video ( or in-depth reviews ), is the fact that if the helmet suffers any wrong such as a ballistic affect, blunt trauma from acme / sudden impact, you need to get the helmet checked. For a ballistic impact it ‘s likely that in the military / LEO the helmet would be replaced, alike for a dislodge. A hairline fracture in the helmet compounds can have catastrophic / baneful consequences !

If you want to focus on build that SEAL Team impression, you will need to spend money to get it accurate using actual steel parts. If you choose to go down the replica path, a approximate enough mental picture can besides be achieved. As I constantly say, if buy real steel, be at peace knowing that you will be buying quality long permanent products that wo n’t let you down.

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Final Note

SEAL Team – Behind the kit – Helmets