CIRAS CIRAS ( Combat Integrated Releasable Armor System ) is a modular protective vest designed for US Special Operations Forces by Eagle Industries . The vest features PALS webbing , making it MOLLE compatible and allowing the attachment of various pouches or accessories . Two versions of the vest are available known as the " Land " and the " Maritime " versions . The vest consists of front and rear panels with pockets for BALCS or SPEAR cut soft armor panels and standard issue SAPI ( Small Arms Protective Insert ) plates . This gives the wearer up to NIJ Level IV protection on front and back and Level IIIA protection on the sides . On the lower rear side of the front of the vest there are two quick - releasable buckles for attaching groin protection . The wearer ' s sides are covered by an external cummerbund which is also covered with PALS webbing . The vest body is constructed of 1000 Denier Cordura Nylon and the interior is lined with heavy duty mesh to aid in cooling the wearer . The difference between the “ Land ” and “ Maritime ” versions is how the outer cummerbund is attached at the front and where the quick - release handle is located . Both comes with an internal cummerbund which overlaps across the stomach and is secured with Velcro . The " Maritime " version has a solid center panel and two side flaps with Velcro panels underneath of them . Each side of the cummerbund attaches to the Velcro on its corresponding side . The release handle is located at the top of the front panel near the wearer ' s neck which allows ambidexstrous use . This version provides the wearer with a wide , uninterrupted section of webbing on the center of the vest which allows pouches for multiple magazines to be placed on the center of the body for easy access . On the Land version the external cummerbund wraps around and overlaps over the user ' s stomach and is secured under a single center flap rather than the two side flaps of the " Maritime " version . The release handle on the " Land " vest is located on the left side of the front panel , just above where the cummerbund wraps around . This version breaks up the amount of continuous webbing on the user ' s front , but allows the vest to be fitted with a different cummerbund which has additional pockets for 6x8 " side plates . The addition of these plates can bring the vest of to full Level IV protection for the entire torso , meaning the vest can stop rifle rounds from all sides instead of just front and back . Additionally , both the " Land " and " Maritime " versions can be fitted with extra coverage for the neck , biceps , deltoids , and , as previously mentioned , the groin area . These inserts provide up to Level IIIA coverage except for the groin which has a Level IV plate available . Critiques of this vest include its weight when fully loaded with plates and inserts , its lack of " breathing " due to its coverage , and difficulty donning the vest by ones self . Release feature . Both versions of the CIRAS come with a quick - release cable ; with a pull of the handle , a steel cable holding the cummerbund and shoulder straps in place is released , allowing rapid removal of the vest . This is utilized for decontamination procedures , medical access needs , and water emergencies where the weight of the vest can cause the wearer to drown unless removed quickly . This last reason was the primary initiative behind the design of quick release vests as a helicopter crash in 1999 led to several US Marines drowning because they could not remove all their layers of armor and load bearing equipment fast enough . This is also described under the Full Spectrum Battle Equipment Amphibious Assault Vest entry , which the CIRAS was developed from . At the time this vest was introduced , it was a unique feature , but it has since been replicated on a number of other vests . The current vest uses a simplified system to attach and release the vest components , making reassembly quicker and easier . The pull handle for the vest is itself secured with a Velcro loop to prevent accidental pulling .