FORT CAMPBELL, KY - Female soldiers from Fort Campbell in Afghanistan will field the first Army body armor that is shorter and better tailored specifically to fit women's physiques.

Members of a female engagement team from the 101st Airborne Division, who will be directly interacting with Afghan women during the upcoming deployment, will be equipped with the female prototypes of the newest generation of Army tactical vests.

Maj. Joel Dillon, who has helped develop the vests, said the ballistics protection inside the vest is exactly the same as their male counterparts, but the female vests are shorter to accommodate smaller torsos and have been tailored to fit around the chest.

Only 19 female vests will be fielded this year, but the Army expects to have a full brigade equipped by next year.