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Instructions for the Chin Strap on an Army M1 Helmet

The Army M1 series combat helmet, often referred to as a "brain bucket," was fielded to service members in 1951. The M1 helmet was ineffective at preventing direct gunshot wounds but did offer resistance to shrapnel and grazing bullets. An adjustable chinstrap made of cotton webbing was affixed to either side of the helmet to create a snug fit. Until the mid-1990's, the M1 helmet was issued to garrison troops; however, combat use ended with the introduction of the Army Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops (commonly called the PASGT) helmet after World War II.

Things You'll Need

Flat-head screwdriver

Instructions

Installation
- 1
  Unscrew the two screws below the inner ear indentations of the Army M1 helmet using a flat-head screwdriver. Place the screws in a safe location.
- 2
  Align the chinstrap properly before affixing it to the helmet. The chinstrap consists of two contoured pieces of cotton webbing attached to two straight straps. The shorter piece of webbing is designed to cover the front of the wearer's chin, while the longer piece is intended to go under the wearer's chin. Align the chinstrap so that the short piece of webbing will be on top of the longer piece of webbing when the helmet is worn.
- 3
  Place the two screws through the holes in each end of the chinstrap. The screws must face outward.
- 4
  Place each screw, with the chinstrap attached, inside its original hole. Screw each screw in place using the flat-head screwdriver.
Use
- 5
  Place the M1 helmet on your head with the chinstrap touching the top front edge of the helmet.
- 6
  Lower the chinstrap until it is touching your chin.
- 7
  Adjust the chinstrap by pulling or releasing the short end of the chinstrap to tighten or loosen the strap. Small metal teeth in the adjustment clasp will hold the chinstrap in place.

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