Chris Gisbrecht, 21, is happy to home and alive after an IED nearly killed him in Afghanistan. Chris has some serious concerns though about the small light-weight vests they wear overseas, and he may not be alone in his worry.

Flak jackets that are worn on the battlefield claim to be able to stop of a bullet or a knife and protect our military men and women. However, according to Gisbrecht and his family, the latest model didn't do its job.

"I had my oldest son put a hole in the vest," said Chris's father Don Gisbrecht. "I wanted to see what they do. The bullet went straight through it."

Don Gisbrecht put a bullet in the jacket out of frustration, after his son nearly died. Chris Gisbrecht has extensive damage to his throat and shrapnel wounds to the chest. He said while the new vests are easier to move in, they don't get the job done when your life is on the line.

"Flak jackets are smaller now," said Chris Gisbrecht. "You are move exposed."

WJAC spoke with Thomas Kovach, another veteran from the Iraq war, who used the older, bulkier Flak jackets in 2004.

"Why wear lighter vests if its not going to protect the guys," said Kovach. "It's bulkier but it's going to save your life."

Kovach admits the old jackets were hot and heavy, but he insists they were safer.

"These thin, flimsy vests, I wouldn't use them," said Kovach. "I would throw them away."

Kovach said the technology exists to make the vests stronger and he thinks the military needs to come to the table with a better design.

While Kovach sympathizes with wounded soldiers like Chris Gisbrecht, he said faulty military equipment is unfortunately nothing new.

"I had to actually super glue my vest to keep it from coming open," said Kovach. "Then when we were done with them, we would hand them off to the next guy. They shouldn't have to fight to get the equipment they need."

Kovach said they also had to use scrap metal to better protect their HumVees. However he admits, there have been a lot of improvements to military vehicles since then. He hopes improvements are made soon to the armor as well.